SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

MODULE 10
RENEWABLE ENERGY

INTRODUCTION
The development and optimal use of the country's renewable energy
resources is central to the Philippine's sustainable energy agenda.
Renewable energy is an essential part of the country's low emissions
development strategy and is vital to addressing the challenges of
climate change, energy security, and access to energy.
The National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) outlines the policy
framework enshrined in Republic Act 9513. It sets the strategic building
blocks that will help the country achieve the goals set forth in the
Renewable Energy Act of 2008. The NREP signals the country's big leap
from fragmented and halting RE initiatives into a focused and sustained
drive towards energy security and improved access to clean energy.
In accordance with the law, the Department of Energy (DOE) led the
formulation of this National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), in
consultation with its stakeholders.
RE has long been a major contributor to the country's primary energy
supply mix. In 2010, the country's total primary energy supply reached
40.7 million tons of oil equivalent (MTOE). Of this amount, 23.4 MTOE
was sourced locally, setting the energy self sufficiency level at 57.5%.
RE resources contributed the highest share (68.1%) of the indigenous
energy supply mix. Among the renewables, geothermal provided the biggest
share of 53.2% of the RE supply mix. This is followed by biomass at
33.3% and hydro at 12.1%.

OBJECTIVE
After completing this module, you should be able to design a Renewable
Power Plant.

DISCUSSION

Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural

sources or processes that are constantly replenished. For example,
sunlight and wind keep shining and blowing, even if their availability
depends on time and weather.
While renewable energy is often thought of as a new technology,
harnessing nature’s power has long been used for heating,
transportation, lighting, and more. Wind has powered boats to sail the
seas and windmills to grind grain. The sun has provided warmth during
the day and helped kindle fires to last into the evening. But over the
past 500 years or so, humans increasingly turned to cheaper, dirtier
energy sources, such as coal and fracked gas.

Types of Renewable Energy Sources

1. Solar Energy
Humans have been harnessing solar energy for thousands of years—
to grow crops, stay warm, and dry foods. According to the National
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Renewable Energy Laboratory, “more energy from the sun falls on the
earth in one hour than is used by everyone in the world in one year.”
Today, we use the sun’s rays in many ways—to heat homes and businesses,
to warm water, and to power devices.
Solar, or photovoltaic (PV), cells are made from silicon or other
materials that transform sunlight directly into electricity. Distributed
solar systems generate electricity locally for homes and businesses,
either through rooftop panels or community projects that power entire
neighborhoods. Solar farms can generate enough power for thousands of
homes, using mirrors to concentrate sunlight across acres of solar
cells. Floating solar farms—or “floatovoltaics”—can be an effective
use of wastewater facilities and bodies of water that aren’t
ecologically sensitive.

PV SYSTEM DESIGN AND SIZING

Figure 1. The functional block diagram of the required PV system for powering both AC and DC loads

1.1 Loads consumption demand

Loads consumption must be determined to be able to determine the
specification of PV system components. The loads consumption is
determined for the living room utilities. PV system has high power
dissipation through its components. Thus a safety margin has to be
taking into consideration is the system design. The following
calculations show a comparison between the load consumption using normal
loads and power saving. This consumption based on powering the main
requirements of the living room and the lighting for both the bathroom
and the kitchen, one TV, one fan, three light bulbs. The system is
designed to power the required loads for 5 hours per day.

1.1.1 Load Consumption using Normal loads:

                                        
  One 75W fan used 5 hours per day: 75*5 = 375 Wh
Three-100W light Bulb used 5 hours per day: 3*100*5 = 1500 Wh=1.5KWh
One 100W Desktop with Monitor used 5 hours per day: 100*5=500Wh
TOTAL DAILY LOAD 2725 Wh /day

3.1.2 Load Consumption Power Saving Loads:


  One 22W LED television 19” used 5 hours per day: 22*5 = 110 Wh
One 20W fan used 5 hours per day: 20*5= 100 Wh
Four -4W light Bulb used 5 hours per day: 4*4*5 = 80Wh
One 60W Lab top used 5 hours per day: 60*5=300Wh
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

1.1.3 TOTAL DAILY LOAD 590Wh /day

From this calculation, it is obvious that the normal loads consume
much more power than the power saving loads. These calculations
confirm that using power saving loads reduces the overall cost of
the PV system. As it reduces the overall required daily power
consumption, it requires less number of solar panel. Also, the
requirements of the system components reduce.
Thus the total power consumed by the required loads is 590Wh/day.
The system is design to deliver 650 Wh/day as a safety
margin for the design.

1.2 Panels’ estimation

From loads calculations, the power from the solar panel must be
calculated using the following rule

The number of solar panels used varies based on the load

requirements. To size the panels, to determine the required number of
panels to be used with its required power, the total peak watt produced
must be calculated. The peak watt (Wp) produced depends on size of the
PV module and climate of site location. In system design, six hours of
sunshine all over the day is assumed. Thus, each watt peak (Wp) of solar
panel would therefore deliver 6Wh/day. Thus the required power from the
solar panel is calculated using equation above.
The daily energy loads consumption is 650 Wh. The hours of usable
sunlight during day is assumed to be 6 hours. Thus the required output
power from the solar panel is 109W. Thus a 120W solar panel is used as a
safety margin for the design.

1.3 Charge Controller Design and Sizing

The charge controller is used in PV system for controlling
charging and discharging operation of battery from solar panels.
The main objective of charge controller is to regulate the charge to the
batteries and preventing any overcharging. When the battery becomes full
the charge controller disconnects it from panels.
The input power from panels to charge controller is calculating using
equation below, assuming the worst case efficiency of charge controller
equals to 85%:

Thus the input power to the controller is 141W.

The charge controller rating is calculated by dividing its input power
by the maximum voltage of the used solar panel. The maximum voltage of
the solar panel is 18V. Thus the rating of the charge controller to be
used for the PV system is 7.88A. It is designed to be 10A, 12V as a
safety margin for the design.
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

1.4 Batteries
The battery is used to store the generated energy from the solar
panel and deliver it to the load. There are many types of the battery.
The dry battery is the type which is used in this paper. It is most
common used because it has a long lifetime
and it is good in maintenance.
The capacity of battery is measure in ampere-hours (Ah). It is
calculated by using equation below:

Assume that the battery has efficiency of 85 %. To save its

lifetime, it is assumed to discharging to 60 % from its value. So
the capacity of the required battery to be used in this system is
calculated using equation below.

Assuming the worst case of using 85% battery efficiency and 60%
depth of discharge and 12V battery, as the total watt-hours per day is
650W, thus the battery storage energy is calculated using equation above.
It is found to be 106Ah. A 120Ah battery is used for design safety.

1.5 The Inverter

The inverter is used to convert direct current (DC) produced from panel,
to alternative current (AC) that needs to power the AC loads in home.
The efficiency of inverter is in the range of 90% to 95% because the
power loss occurs in the conversion process. The efficiency of inverter
can be calculated by using equation

Assuming worst case inverter efficiency to be 90%, so the input power to

the inverter coming from the charge controller is
calculated using equation

The inverter power must be sufficient to handle the total amount of

Watts that required by the system. The inverter size should be 25-30%
greater than the required watt for the load. To size the inverter, the
total power of the used load must be calculated. It is around 118W. Thus
a 150W inverter is required for design safety margin.
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

2. Wind Power
Wind power or wind energy describes the process by which the
wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines
convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This
mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain
or pumping water), or can be converted into electricity by a generator.

Wind is a form of solar energy caused by a combination of three

concurrent events:
a. The sun unevenly heating the atmosphere
b. Irregularities of the earth's surface
c. The rotation of the earth

Useful Formulas:
1. Kinetic Energy
KE = ½ m v² where m - mass of air, kg
v - air velocity, m/s
2. Mass of Air
m = ρV where ρ- density of air, kg/m³
V - volume of air, m³
3. Wind Power
1
P = 2ρAv³ where A - swept area of blades,A=πr²

Sample Problems:
1. Determine the power in the wind if the wind speed is 20 m/s and blade
length is 50 m.(ρ=1.23 kg/m³)
Given:
v = 20 m/s
L = 50 m
ρ=1.23 kg/m³
Required:
P = ?
Solution:
Solving for A,
A = πr²
= π(50)²
= 7850 m²
Solving for P,
1
P = 2(1.23 kg/m³)(7850 m²)(20 m/s)³
1N
= 38622000 kg-m²/s³ x 1 kg−m/s2
= 38622000 N-m/s or J/s or Watts Ans.

2. A wind turbine travels with the speed of 10 m/s and has a blade
length of 20 m. Determine the wind power.
Given:
v = 10 m/s
L = 20 m
ρ=1.23 kg/m³
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Required:
P = ?
Solution:
Solving for A,
A = πr²
= π(20)²
= 1256.64 m²
Solving for P,
1
P = (1.23 kg/m³)(1256.64 m²)(10 m/s)³
2
1N
= 772833.6 kg-m²/s³ x 1 kg−m/s2
= 772833.6 N-m/s or J/s or Watts Ans.

3. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is a way to renewably
produce energy from the difference in water temperature from the surface
to the depths of the ocean.

3.1 Closed Cycle OTEC.

In a closed cycle system, the working fluid is evaporated by the

temperature of the warm seawater and then the vapor expands through
the turbogenerator producing electricity.In order to complete the
cycle, the expanded vapor goes through the condenser, condensed by
the cold seawater, and then pressurized by the boiler feed pump.
Warm, surface seawater is pumped through a heat exchanger where the
working fluid is vaporized and driven through a turbine, which then
generates electricity. Cold, deep seawater is then pumped through a
second heat exchanger where the working fluid vapor condenses back
into a liquid and is recycled through the system. The best working
fluids for a closed cycle OTEC system have a very low boiling points;
for example, ammonia, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons(HFCs).The
disadvantages for using closed cycle OTEC are the properties of the
working fluid and the possible biofouling of the heat exchangers.

Sample Problem
The closed cycle OTEC system situated in Hawaii uses Ammonia as a
working fluid. The water will be pumped from the sea floor
approximately 1000 meters deep. The schematic of the cycle is
presented in Figure below. Data from a buoy off the coast of Hawaii
has been selected for the target OTEC plant location with optimal
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

conditions. The average surface water temp is 26.9 °C. The depth at
this location is 4,919 meters. Water from 1000 meters deep will be
approximately 5 °C. This is just above freezing and will be enough
to condense the working fluid so that it can go through another
cycle. It will then be determined if the OTEC plant can produce
enough power to sustain itself and provide power output. The
efficiency will be examined in comparison to the Carnot efficiency
and work of the pump and turbine will be examined at as well.

Figure:

a) Schematic Diagram b)T-S Diagram

Solution:
a. Solving for Turbine Work,

b. Solving for Pump Work

where,
P2 - Pressure at the boiler
P1 - Pressure at the condenser
c. Heat Added

d. Heat Rejected
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

e. Cycle Efficiency

f. Carnot Efficiency

3.2 Open Cyle OTEC

An OTEC system in which warm, surface seawater is the working fluid.

In open-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion, warm, surface
seawater is placed in a low-pressure container that causes the water
to boil, turning a turbine as the steam expands. The steam is then
exposed to cold, deep seawater and condenses into freshwater.

Useful Formulas:
1. Conversion efficiency,η

T1−T2
η= x100 where T1 - Temperature of warm water, K
T1
T2 - Temperature of cold water, K
2. Overall OTEC Efficiency

ηe = ηx EF x 100 where ηe - Overall OTEC efficiency

EF - Relative efficiency factor, 0.4
to 0.6

Sample Problem
Determine the efficiency of an OTEC plant if warm water temperature
is 27 deg. C and cold water temperature at a depth of 1000 m is 7
deg. C. Assume the relative efficiency factor of 0.50.

Solution:
Solving for T,K
T1 = 27 + 273 = 300 K
T2 = 7 + 273 = 280 K
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Solving for ηe,

T1−T2
ηe = T1 x EF x 100

300−280
ηe = x 0.50 x 100
300

ηe = 3.33%

3.3 Hybrid Cycle OTEC

An OTEC system in which both seawater and a working fluid are

circulated.
In hybrid cycle ocean thermal energy conversion, warm, surface
seawater enters a vacuum chamber where it is flash-evaporated into
steam. The steam is used to vaporize a working fluid with a low-
boiling point, which then turns a turbine to generate electricity.

Useful Formulas:
1. Work Net
Wnet = WT(Turbine) - WP(Pump)
2. Heat Transfer
QH = m h
3. Maximum Cycle Efficiency
ηcarnot = (1 - TL/TH)x100%
4. Actual Cycle Efficiency
ηcycle = (WNET/QH)x100%

5. Pump Work
WP = v (P2-P1) where v - specific volume of working
Fluid
P1 - Pressure at the condenser
P2 - Pressure at the boiler
6. Turbine Work
WT = hIN - hOUT
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Sample Problem
A Hybrid Cycle OTEC plant operates at 500 kPa,27 deg. C of sea water
entering the Ammonia evaporator and leaving the evaporator at 22 deg. C.
The sea water pump worked is 5 kW. The pressure entering the turbine is
8.57 bar at 20 deg. C and 200 kg/s of ammonia. The pressure leaving the
condenser is 6.149 bar. The condenser pump work is 5 kW at 300 kPa
discharge pressure. (ρSW =1020 kg/m³). Determine the following:
1. Mass flowrate of sea water, kg/s
2. Amount of heat absorbed at the Evaporator
3. The work of turbine
4. Mass flow rate of potable water
5. Work net
6. The maximum efficiency of the cycle
7. The efficiency of the system

Solution:
1.Solving for msw,
WPSW = v(POUT-PIN)
= v(POUT-PIN)
5 kW = v(500-101.325)
v = 0.01254 m³/s
Thus,
m = v*ρSW
= 0.01254 * 1020
= 12.80 kg/s Ans.
2. Heat Absorbed,QH
QH = mh1
= 12.80 (1463.9)
= 18737.92 kJ/s
3. Turbine work, WT
WT = m (h1-h2)
h2 = hf + xhfg ; x = s-sf/sfg
= hf + (s-sf/sfg)hfg
= 275.1 + (5.095-0.881/5.213-0.881)(1463.9-275.1)
= 1431.52 kJ/kg
h1 = hg @ 8.57 bar = 1463.9 kJ/kg
Thus,
WT = 200 kg/s (1463.9 - 1431.52)kJ/kg
= 6476 kJ/s or 6.5 MW Ans.

4. Mass flow rate of potable water, mPW

WPW = v(POUT-PIN)
v = WPW /(POUT-PIN)
= 5 kW/(300-101.325)
= 0.02517 m³/s
Thus,
mPW = v * ρPW
= 0.02517 m³/s (1000 kg/m³)
= 25.14 kg/s Ans.
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

5. Work Net, WNET

WNET = WT - WP
= 6476 - (5+5)
= 6466 kW
6. The maximum efficiency of the cycle
ηcarnot = (1 - TL/TH)x100% TL - Temperature at 6.149 bar
= (1 - 10/20)x100%
= 50% Ans.

7. The efficiency of the system

ηcycle = (WNET/QH)x100%
= (6466/18737.92)*100%
= 34.51% Ans.