GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Master of Engineering (Mechanical, Energy Engineering)

Subject Code: 3723918
Semester – II
Subject Name: Solar Thermal Energy and Utilization

Type of course: Core Course

Prerequisite: Knowledge of thermodynamics and Heat transfer

Rationale: The course intends to provide knowledge of solar energy geometry, solar thermal energy
collection devices, application of solar thermal energy and solar economics to graduate students.

Teaching and Examination Scheme:

Teaching Scheme Credits Examination Marks

Total
Theory Marks Practical Marks
L T P C Marks
ESE (E) PA (M) ESE (V) PA (I)
3 0 2 4 70 30 30 20 150

Content:
Total
Sr. No. Content
Hrs.
Solar Radiation: Source of radiation, solar radiation geometry, solar radiation on horizontal
1 surface and tilted surface, Empirical relation for the calculation of solar radiation, Solar 6
radiation measuring instruments.
Solar Non-Concentrating Collectors: Introduction and classification of solar non-
concentrating collector, Transmissivity-Absorptivity product, Overall losses and heat transfer
coefficient and its calculation using empirical correlations in solar flat plate collector,
2 12
Evacuated solar collector, Solar air-heater, Performance of solar flat plate collector and solar
air-heater, Transient analysis, Testing procedure for solar flat plate collector and solar air-
heater. Effect of various parameters on the performance of collector.
Solar Concentrating Collectors: Introduction and classification of solar concentrating
collector, Tracking modes and performance of cylindrical parabolic collector, Solar swing
angle, tracking requirement and performance of compound parabolic collector, Calculation of
3 9
overall loss coefficient for concentrating collector, Effect of various parameters on the
performance of collector, second law analysis, minimum entropy generation rate, optimum
collector, temperature, non-isothermal collector.
Solar Thermal Applications: Introduction of central receiver tower and its performance
evaluation, Introduction, working and performance analysis of solar pond, Solar water heating
system - active and passive, Solar space heating system - active and passive, Solar cooling
system - absorption and adsorption refrigeration system, Solar desalination systems – solar
4 8
stills, Solar dryer, Solar chimney, Solar irrigation system, Solar dehumidifier, Solar power
system, Solar Furnace, Solar Cooker, Solar production of hydrogen. Introduction and basic
fundamentals of energy storage - sensible, latent heat and thermo- chemical storage, f-charts
for basic solar system and utilizability methods.
Solar Economic Analysis: Various cost involved in solar economic analysis, Life cycle
5 analysis, time value of money, description of the life cycle analysis method, the P1, P2 method, 7
uncertainties in economic analysis.
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 GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Master of Engineering (Mechanical, Energy Engineering)
Subject Code: 3723918

Suggested Specification table with Marks (Theory): (For BE only)

Distribution of Theory Marks
R Level U Level A Level N Level E Level C Level
10 20 20 20 20 10

Legends: R: Remembrance; U: Understanding; A: Application, N: Analyze and E: Evaluate C: Create

and above Levels (Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy)
Note: This specification table shall be treated as a general guideline for students and teachers. The actual
distribution of marks in the question paper may vary slightly from above table.

Reference Books:
1) Solar Energy – Principles of Thermal Collection and Storage, S. P. Sukhatme, McGraw Hill.
2) Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, J. A. Duffie and W. A. Beckman, Wiley.
3) Solar Energy: Fundamentals, Design, Modeling and Applications, G. N. Tiwari, Alpha Science
International Limited.
4) Solar Energy Engineering – Process and Systems, Soteris A Kalogirou, Academic Press.
5) Principles of Solar Engineering, D. Y. Goswami, F. Kreith and J. F. Kreider, Taylor and Francis.
6) Solar Energy: Fundamentals and Applications, H. P. Garg and Jai Prakash, McGraw Hill.
7) Engineering Thermodynamics of Thermal Radiation for Solar Power Utilization, R. Petela, McGraw
Hill.
8) Fundamentals for solar energy conversion, Edward E. Anderson, Addison Wesley Publ. Co.

Course Outcomes:
Sr. Marks %
CO statement
No. weightage
CO-1 To appraise the concept of solar radiation and principle of measuring instruments. 12%
CO-2 To analyze non-concentrating collectors. 30%
CO-3 To analyze concentrating collectors. 20%
CO-4 To discuss various applications of solar thermal energy. 20%
To make calculations of the life cycle analysis method and uncertainties in solar
CO-5 18%
economic analysis.

List of Experiments:
1) To study and performance of the solar radiation measuring instruments.
2) To study and performance evaluation of solar flat plate collector.
3) To study and performance evaluation of solar air heater.
4) To study and performance evaluation of concentrating collectors.
5) To study and performance evaluation of solar still.
6) To study and performance evaluation of solar air-dryer.
7) To study and performance evaluation of box type solar cooker.
8) To study and performance evaluation of solar pond.
9) To study and performance evaluation of solar water heater.
10) To study the solar thermal power systems, solar irrigation system and solar chimney.

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 GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Master of Engineering (Mechanical, Energy Engineering)
Subject Code: 3723918
Major Equipment:
Pyrenometer with shading ring, Pyreheliometer, Sunshine recorder, Solar flat plate collector, Solar air heater,
Cylindrical Parabolic Collector, Compound Parabolic Collector, Box type solar cooker, Solar drier, Solar
still, Solar pond, Solar water heater.

Requirement: Solar energy data book containing correlations are required for examinations.

List of Open Source Software/learning website:

1) http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/energy-courses/
2) https://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105051/
3) https://nptel.ac.in/courses/121106014/18

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