Engineering Technical Elective Abroad: Renewable Energies in Navarre, Spain June 27 to July 22, 2011

Transcription

1 Engineering Technical Elective Abroad: Renewable Energies in Navarre, Spain June 27 to July 22, 2011 Renewable Energies Course The main objective of the Renewable Energies Course, organized by the Pamplona Learning Spanish Institute together with the Association of Industrial Technical Engineers of Navarre, is to provide students with the skills they need for their professional careers in the energy sector, with a focus on renewable energy sources. Our location is significant, as the Navarre region of Spain has been a world leader in implementing renewable energy technologies and public policies. The College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky offers this course, CME 599 Renewable Energies, as a six credit hour technical elective. The course content is appropriate for students in chemical, civil, electrical, materials, and mechanical engineering programs and the syllabus has been designed to be compatible with U.S. accreditation criteria. Objectives: To understand the framework and current status of the renewable energy industry sector, with particular emphasis on public policy, economic and social differences between the Navarre region of Spain and the United States. To analyze the different renewable technologies in order to implement them in different industrial and cultural settings. To understand and evaluate the technical viability of new projects in the field of renewable energies, selecting the most appropriate alternative. To gain a working knowledge of renewable energy facilities and their components: wind turbines, solar collectors, cells and photovoltaic panels, biomass energy production technologies, hydraulic generators and turbines and geothermic installations. To understand and evaluate the environmental effects of renewable energy projects. Methodology: The course is eminently practical, and the classes are complemented by tours of the most representative facilities in Navarre related to the course material. The classes will have a practical component based on the introduction, analysis and discussion of practical cases. - Classroom sessions Taught by professionals who are active in the field and have a great deal of professional experience in these areas, who combine theoretical knowledge with their vast professional experience. - Practical cases During the course, we will refer to examples of facilities that are currently in operation and that reflect experiences similar to those that the student will encounter upon entering the working world. - Technical tours In addition, we will take several technical tours of the most important technological centers in Navarre in order to observe in practice the application of theoretical knowledge from the course. Students will visit facilities within 60 km of Pamplona, such as: 1

2 Biomass and biogas production plants. A wind turbine testing laboratory. Wind farms. A bioclimatic building. Photovoltaic facilities connected to the power grid. SHW installations powered by solar thermal energy. A small hydroelectric power station. Structure: The course will be held over four weeks, from Monday to Friday. It will combine theoretical classroom lessons with practical cases and technical tours. It is intended for: Graduates or students in the final years of their science or engineering degree programs who wish to engage in professional careers in the energy sector, in particularly those interested in renewable energy systems. The course provides: 1) comprehensive coverage of technologies associated with renewable energy sources, 2) instruction by practicing engineers in this field, and 3) field trips to renewable energy installations. Our 2010 class included students from five universities who either had completed their first two years of engineering study and were seeking broad-based technical electives or who were entering the profession or graduate school. Two-thirds of these students took advantage of Spanish immersion instruction at PLSI, starting two weeks before the renewable energy course. Technical elective credits earned via this University of Kentucky course can be transferred to engineering programs at other U.S. institutions. Duration and course dates: The course will consist of 100 contact hours: 5 hours a day, 4 days a week for classroom sessions, in addition to 4 days of technical tours (one per week). Course times: From 9:00 am to 2:25 pm, with a 25 minute break, Monday-Friday. Location: Headquarters: Association of Technical Industrial Engineers of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain. Note: wind turbines are visible from the classroom! Language: English Evaluation: The evaluation will consist of a final exam, which will evaluate the knowledge acquired. 2

3 Certificate: In order to receive the course certificate, students must pass the final exam and have attended at least 90% of the course contact hours. Application deadline: April 1, Course enrollment March 1, Study abroad scholarship (UK students) Syllabus 1. Energy policy in Navarre a. Situation of the energy sector in Navarre, Spain. Fuels used. Balance of final energy Fuel consumption Energy sources used Changes that have occurred Degree of energy dependence b. Energy policy since 1990: Resource evaluation Measuring sun and wind parameters Biomass potential study Study of hydroelectricity in Navarre Energy savings and efficiency Energy audits Aid available for investment in energy savings Energy infrastructures: Oil products and natural gas c. Development of renewable energies. History Wind power development start Wind power plan and expansion in Navarre Photovoltaic solar power development CENER Foundation CENIFER: Renewable Energies Training Centre. 2. United States a. Energy Panorama in the United States U.S. energy resources A look backward how did we get here? Renewable energy resources o Biomass o Geothermal o Hydroelectric o Photovoltaic 3

4 o Thermal o Wind Research strategies o Government focus o Industry approach Energy policy issues o US resource utilization o Climate change o Emerging market sector nanomanufacturing Visions of the future 2020 and beyond Resource materials US Department of Energy studies on energy resources, research strategies Energy policy o Federal and local issues o Special interest groups o Other 3. Renewable energies in Navarre, Spain a. Mini-hydroelectric plants: Technology, uses and applications Introduction Characteristics of hydroelectric energy Types of mini-hydroelectric plants Design of a hydroelectric plant Civil engineering installations Electromechanical equipment Economic, administrative and environmental factors Advantages of mini-hydroelectric plants: Environmental and socioeconomic benefits b. Wind power Resource evaluation o Methods for wind measurement o Potential for electricity production o Evaluation of the wind energy produced at a site Types and components of wind turbines o Operation. o Power generated Systems of regulation and control o Power and speed control o Guidance systems 4

5 Wind farms o Site search criteria Electrical installations o Electrical system. Electrical installations Sustainability and environment: o Environmental and socioeconomic aspects o Operation and maintenance of wind farms c. Photovoltaic solar power Introduction Basic concepts and elements o DC and AC voltage o Voltage and Current sources o Basic Electronic Components General concepts of Power Electronics Power Semiconductors DC DC Converters DC AC Converters. Converter Stage on Photovoltaic Systems o Inverter topologies for grid tie Photovoltaic Systems. o Inverter topologies for Stand alone Photovoltaic Systems. Solar radiation Solar Cell and Photovoltaic Module Operation Principles d. Thermal solar power Solar thermal sensors: Types and characteristics Components of a thermal installation: Operating scheme Applications for ACS and air conditioning Safety elements and control Overheating of installations Thermal development in Navarre: Current regulations and help from the Public Administration e. Biomass Introduction: o What is biomass?. o Why use biomass?. o General characteristics. o Benefits of using biomass. Types of biomass and evaluation of sources. 5

6 Solid biomass. o Pellets, Wood Chips, Dry waste from industry, etc. o Definition. o Prime materials on producing solid and dry biomass. o Applications. o Main characteristics. Liquid Biomass. o Biodiesel. o Bioethanol. o Definition. o Prime materials on producing solid liquid biomass. o General characteristics in this industry and process. o Applications. o Main characteristics. Biogas. o Definition. o Prime materials and sources on producing biomass gas. o Applications. o Main characteristics. Forest biomass. o Field operations. o Sustainable use of forest biomass. o Transforming forest biomass. Agricultural biomass. o Farming biomass. o Different possibilities. Food industry biomass. o Waste biomass. o Urban solid waste. o Other kinds of waste. Technology of changing biomass into energy. o Introduction. o General characteristics. o Technology of direct combustion o Equipments and process. o Boilers. Heat generation. Electricity generation. Organic Rankine Cicle. ORC. Technology of gasification and subsequent combustion. o Equipments and process. o Digestors. o Heat generation. o Electricity generation. 6

7 o External combustion engine. o Stirling Engine. Technology of co - combustion. Practical example. o Initial data. o Biomass source. o Different options. o Evaluation of the selected option. 4. Other forms of Energy Utilization in Navarre Geothermal power Introduction: General characteristics. Benefits of using geothermal energy. High temperature, geothermal energy. Low temperature, geothermal energy. Types and examples of installations. o Ground exchanger. Horizontal. Vertical. o Inside installation. Heat pump. Piping. Regulation. Maintenance. Practical example. o Initial data. o Different options. o Evaluation of the selected option 5. Regional Course-related Field Trips Mini-hydroelectric plant Wind farm Solar garden Biomass plant 7