Energy Environment and Society [EX 757]

Syllabus

Lectures: 2 Teaching Hours per week

Tutorial: 0 Teaching Hours per week

Course Objectives

To understand the various types of energy sources and their environmental impact. To know the role of engineers for creating better and responsible society.

Theory

  1. Technology and Development (3 hours)
    1. Introduction to Technology
    2. Appropriate Technology
    3. Role of Appropriate Technology in Transformation of Society
    4. Importance of Technology Transfer
    5. Impact of technology on Society
  2. Energy Basics (4 hours)
    1. Importance of Energy in achieving Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs, Human Development Index and Energy Consumption
    2. Current Energy Trends, Demand and Supply of Energy in World and Nepal
    3. Introduction to Global warming, Clean Development Mechanism, and Sustainability Issues
    4. Conventional and Non-Conventional/Renewable Energy Sources
    5. Conventional Energy Sources: Fossil fuel, Nuclear Energy
  3. Renewable Energy Sources (8 hours)
    1. Solar Energy
      1. Solar radiation
      2. Solar thermal energy
      3. Solar Cell (Photovoltaic Technology)
    2. Hydropower
      1. Water sources and power
      2. Water turbines and hydroelectric plants
    3. Hydro Power Plant Classification
      • Based on capacity and operation (pico, micro, small, medium, large)
    4. Wind Energy
      1. Availability of Wind Energy sources
      2. Wind turbines, wind parks and power control
    5. Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell
      1. Basics of electrochemistry
      2. Polymer membrane electrolyte (PEM) fuel cells
  4. Applications of RE Sources to Power Electronic Equipment (8 hours)
    1. Simple Design of PV power system to power institutional electrical appliances in remote areas without access to National Grid
    2. Simple Design of PV power system to power telecommunication equipment such as BTS and Earth Station installed at remote areas without access to National Grid
  5. Environmentally Friendly Application of Solar Electricity for better livelihood (3 hours)
    1. Application of solar electricity for drinking water pumping in remote areas without access to National Grid
    2. Application of solar electricity for cooking food in kitchen along with comparisons and Environmental benefits
  6. Energy Storage (3 hours)
    1. Forms of energy storage
    2. Hybrid vehicles
    3. Smart Grid Systems
    4. V2G and G2V
    5. Batteries
    6. Super-capacitors
  7. Environmental Impact of Energy Sources (4 hours)
    1. Emission hazard
    2. Battery hazard
    3. Nuclear hazard

Evaluation Scheme

S.N. Chapter Hours Marks Distrubution
1 1 3 4
2 2 3 4
3 3 6 8
4 4 8 13
5 5 3 3
6 6 3 4
7 7 4 4
Total   30 hours 40

References

1. Godfrey Boyle, "Renewable Energy, Power for a sustainable future", Oxford University Press, latest edition
2. Aldo V. da Rosa, "Fundamentals of Renewable Energry Processes"

Attributions to the Contributors:

Krischal Khanal