Portale di Ateneo - En.Unibs.it

(1) Quantification of some perennial energy sources potentials - The solar energy. The hydraulic energy. The biomass production. The wind energy. The geothermal energy. The ocean temperature gradient.
(2) Classification and use of the perennial energy sources - The thermal uses. The production of the electrical energy. Other uses.
(3) The Solar Energy - Incoming solar radiation and climatic data. Flat- plate and focusing collectors. The solar ponds. The pointing methods of the focusing collectors. The running of the solar collector fields (some outlines). Evaluation of the performances of the solar collectors. Thermal energy storage (short notes). (3.i) The production of heat. (3.ii) The production of electrical energy by the thermodynamic conversion. (3.iii) The photovoltaic energy conversion. (i) Working principles of the photovoltaic cells (only brief notes). (ii) The photovoltaic modules and the characteristics of the photovoltaic modules. (iii) Examination of some realized plants: performances and economic discussion.
(3.a) Solar Tower Steam Generators
(4) The hydroeletric energy. (4.a) Hydropower plants. (i) Preliminary hydrologic evaluation of the hydropower potential of a basin: the hydrometric regime of a basin; the measurement of the flow rates and the flow duration curves; characteristic curves of utilization; concentration curves and flow control by a reservoir. (ii) Different types and components of a hydroelectric plants; intake, canal, forebay, tunnels, surge tanks and penstocks; simplified theory of Pelton and Francis turbines. (iii) Hydraulic aspects in the design and in the running of hydroelectric plants: typical steady and unsteady flow problems; mass oscillations and water hammer; an introduction to the method of characteristics; (iv) Legislation of water power exploitation; the Italian dam legislation; “ecological flow” and environmental impact of hydropower exploitation. (4.b) "Mini-hydroelectric" systems. (i) Role and potential of "mini-hydroelectric" in Italy. (ii) The resource available. (iii) Layouts and components of the plant - peculiarities of the "mini- hydroelectric". (iv) The typical hydraulic turbines. (v) The procedures for the authorization of a plant and the incentive analysis (notes).
An example: Economic technical analysis of a real "mini-hydroelectric" case. (4.c) Examples of typical hydroelectric plants in the Brescia area: run-of-river plants without a diversion canal; run of river plants with canal and penstock (Cividate); reservoir controlled plants with penstock; pumped storage plants (S.Fiorano, Edolo). Small run of river hydropower plants. Visit to a hydropower plant.
(5) The Biomass Energy - The characteristics of the vegetable biomass: typical composition, the effect of the humidity, the main conversion technologies. The combustion and gasification in the plants for electricity production and for heating by biomass. The heat generation. The Rankine engines with organic fluid as working fluid. Examples of typical biomass systems. The environmental pollution. Presentation and discussion of some illustrative examples.
(6) The Geothermal Energy - Anomalous thermal gradients in the earth’s crust, hydrothermal systems, geo-pressured systems, hot dry rocks (short accounts). Exploitation of the geothermal energy. The electrical energy plants (vapour plants, flashed steam systems, binary cycles).
(7) The Wind Energy - Evaluation of the power of the wind turbines: the impulse theory for horizontal axial turbines. The minimum, the design and the maximum power of a wind turbine. Power-velocity characteristics of wind turbines. Connection problems with the electric grid. Economic aspects and the optimum size power.
(8) Other Renewable Energy Sources – Some notes - Discussion of the basic principles and a brief presentation of some research and prototype plants.
(9) "The renewable energies and the electrical market in Italy".
(10) Technical visits to (a) a biomass plant, (b) an hydroelectric plants, (c) a manufacturer of hydraulic turbines.