Non- Conventional Energy Engineering

Dr. Bimal Das

 Non- Conventional Energy
Module 1 Engineering
Subject
Introduction to energy science code : CHE
and technology, law of 612
conservation of energy, energy
calculations, energy demand, various resources of non-conventional energy;
introduction to wind energy forms and energy conversion systems; applications of wind
turbine generator units, horizontal axis propeller type wind turbine generator units,
three blends, horizontal axis wind turbine (WAWT), vertical axis wind turbines,(10 hrs )

Module 2
Solar energy - historical review and future prospects, fundamentals and applications,
Solar thermal energy conversion systems, solar collectors, solar thermal power plants,
solar photovoltaic cells, V-I characteristics of a solar cell, efficiency of a solar cell;
Construction and performance analysis of solar flat plate collectors. Heat losses from
FPC by radiation and natural convection, overall heat loss coefficient, collector
efficiency factor, tilt factors, collector heat removal factor, Hottel-Willier-Bliss equation.
Solar concentrating collectors: CPC, PTC, spherical paraboloids, modes of tracking,
performance analysis.
Salt gradient solar ponds: construction, operation, technical problems. Solar drying and
dehumidification: Solar cabinet dryers, convective dryers (10 hrs )
Module 3
Geo-thermal energy – history of resources and applications, hydrothermal
(convective) resources, geothermal electrical power plants, vapor dominated (stream)
geothermal electrical power plants, liquid dominated (hot-water) geothermal electrical
power plants, liquid dominated slashed steam geothermal electrical power plant,
binary cycle liquid dominated geothermal power plants, comparison of various liquid
dominated geothermal systems;
Other Non-conventional Energy sources – introduction and brief idea about ocean
energy, tidal energy and nuclear energy systems. (10 hrs)

Module 4
Bio-mass energy - introduction, various resources and applications, processes,
thermo-chemical-bio-chemical and hybrid-biogas- plant; Bio ethanol, Bio diesel, H2
production and algal biofuel. Fuel Cells - introduction, types of fuel cells, working
principles, electrolyte, membrane, catalyst, use etc.;
Fuel from waste materials

Waste : Solid, liquid, gas and their effects. Treatment technologies: Physical,
Chemical, Advanced and Integrated treatment systems.
 ENERGY SCENARIO

INTRODUCTION
Any physical activity in this world, whether carried out by human beings or by nature, is
cause due to flow of energy in one form or the other. The word ‘energy’ itself is derived
from the Greek word ‘en-ergon’, which means ‘in-work’ or ‘work content’. The work
output depends on the energy input.

Energy is one of the major inputs for the economic development of any country. In the
case of the developing countries, the energy sector assumes a critical importance in view
of the ever increasing energy needs requiring huge investments to meet them.
 Consumption by sector in World
(% of total) (2020-21)
Residential or Domestic 23.85
Industrial 38.64
Agriculture 19.62
Commercial 7.24
Traction 9.89

Consumption by sector in India

(% of total) (2020-21)
Residential 24.76
Industrial 41.16
Agriculture 17.69
Commercial 8.24
Traction 1.52
Per capita Energy consumption
Average electrical energy Average power per
Rank Country/Region Population per capita capita
(kWh per person per year) (watts per person)
— World 7,800,000,000 3081 350
1 China 1,427,647,000 4,617 527
2 United States 328,200,000 12,154 1,387
3 India 1,384,660,000 1208 138
4 Russia 146,700,000 6,685 763
5 Japan 126,860,000 7,150 816
6 Brazil 210,000,000 2,830 323
7 Canada 37,534,000 14,612 1,667
8 Korea, South 51,710,000 10,192 1,163
9 Germany 83,200,000 6,306 719
10 France 66,980,000 6,702 765
219 Niue 1,190 1,193 136
219 Gaza Strip 1,753,327 0.1 0.01
11 Saudi Arabia 33,413,000 9,407 1,073
12 United Kingdom 66,800,000 4,496 513
13 Italy 60,244,000 4,928 562
35 Pakistan 216,565,320 557 64
73 Iceland 361,310 51,699 5,898
87 Sri Lanka 21,803,000 616 70
111 Ethiopia 112,078,730 80 9
112 Luxembourg 619,900 9,383 1,070
113 Cameroon 25,876,380 261 30
114 Ivory Coast 25,716,540 260 30
122 Afghanistan 38,041,750 158 18
128 Nepal 28,608,710 229 26
141 Bhutan 763,090 3,126 357
186 Greenland 56,230 8,812 1,005
 Cost o petrol Rs. 105 /lit > Rs.5.50/KWh
 Cost of Kerosene Rs. 70/lit>
 Diesel Rs. 92/lit> 5.92/Kwh

 An average residential 5kW solar system costs Rs. 63 to 71.4

per watt, which amounts to Rs. 3,15,000 – 3,57,000 with
installation
Classification of energy resources:

1. Based on usability of energy:

a) Primary resources: Resources available in nature in raw form is

called primary energy resources. Ex: Fossil fuels (coal, oil & gas),
uranium, hydro energy. These are also known as raw energy resources.
b) Intermediate resources: This is obtained from primary energy
resources by one or more steps of transformation & is used as a vehicle
of energy.
c) Secondary resources: The form of energy, which is finally supplied to
consume for utilization. Ex: electrical energy, thermal energy (in the
form of steam or hot water), chemical energy (in the form of hydrogen
or fossil fuels).
 Primary and Secondary Energy
Primary energy sources are those that
are either found or stored in nature.
Common primary energy sources are
coal, oil, natural gas, and biomass (such
as wood). Other primary energy sources
available include nuclear energy from
radioactive substances, thermal energy
stored in earth's interior, and potential
energy due to earth's gravity. The major
primary and secondary energy sources
are shown in Figure.
Primary energy sources are costly converted in industrial utilities into
secondary energy sources; for example coal, oil or gas converted into
steam and electricity. Primary energy can also be used directly. Some
energy sources have non energy uses, for example coal or natural gas
can be used as a feedstock in fertilizer plants.
2. Based on traditional use:

a) Conventional: energy resources which have been traditionally used

for many decades. Ex: fossil fuels, nuclear & hydro resources
b) Non-conventional: energy resources which are considered for large
scale & renewable. Ex : solar, wind & bio-mass

3. Based on term availability:

a) Non-renewable resources: resources which are finited, & do not get

replenished after their consumption. Ex : fossil fuels, uranium
b) Renewable resources: resources which are renewed by nature
again & again & their supply are not affected by the rate of their
consumption. Ex : solar, wind, bio-mass, ocean ( thermal, tidal &
wave), geothermal, hydro
4. Based on commercial application:

a) Commercial energy resources: the secondary useable energy

forms such as electricity, petrol, and diesel are essential for
commercial activities. The economy of a country depends on its
ability to convert natural raw energy into commercial energy. Ex
: coal, oil, gas, uranium, & hydro

b) Non-commercial energy resources: the energy derived from

nature & used –directly without passing through commercial outlet.
Ex: wood, animal dung cake, crop residue.
 Commercial Energy and Non Commercial Energy

Commercial Energy

The energy sources that are available in the market for a definite
price are known as commercial energy. By far the most important
forms of commercial energy are electricity, coal and refined
petroleum products. Commercial energy forms the basis of industrial,
agricultural, transport and commercial development in the modern
world. In the industrialized countries, commercialized fuels are
predominant source not only for economic production, but also for
many household tasks of general population.

Examples: Electricity, lignite, coal, oil, natural gas etc.

Non-Commercial Energy

The energy sources that are not available in the commercial market for
a price are classified as non-commercial energy. Non-commercial
energy sources include fuels such as firewood, cattle dung and
agricultural wastes, which are traditionally gathered, and not bought at
a price used especially in rural households. These are also called
traditional fuels. Non-commercial energy is often ignored in energy
accounting.

Example: Firewood, agro waste in rural areas; solar energy for water
heating, electricity generation, for drying grain, fish and fruits; animal
power for transport, threshing, lifting water for irrigation, crushing
sugarcane; wind energy for lifting water and electricity generation.
5. Based on origin :

a) Fossil fuels energy

b) bio-mass energy
b) Nuclear energy
g) geothermal energy
c) Hydro energy
h) tidal energy
d) Solar energy
i) ocean thermal energy
e) Wind energy
j) ocean wave energy
 The need for alternatives:

1. The average rate of increase of oil production in the world is

declining & a peak in production may be reached around 2050.
There after the production will decline gradually & most of the oil
reserves of the world are likely to be consumed by the end of the
present century. The serious nature of this observation is apparent
when one notes that oil provides about 30% of the world‘s need for
energy from commercial sources & that oil is the fuel used in most
of the world‘s transportation systems.

2. The production of natural gas is continuing to increase at a rate of

about 4% every year. Unlike oil, there has been no significant
slowdown in the rate of increase of production. Present indications
are that a peak in gas production will come around 2025, about 10
years after the peak in oil production.
3. As oil & natural gas becomes scarcer, a great burden will fall on
coal. It is likely that the production of coal will touch a maximum
somewhere around 2050.

4. Finally, it should be noted that in addition to supplying energy,

fossil fuels are used extensively as feed stock material for the
manufacture of organic chemicals. As resources deplete, the need for
using fossil fuels exclusively for such purposes may become greater.
Importance of Non-conventional energy resources:

The concern for environmental due to the ever increasing use of fossil
fuels & rapid depletion of these resources has lead to the
development of alternative sources of energy, which are renewable &
environmental friendly. Following points may be mentioned in this
connection.

1) The demand of energy is increasing by leaps & bounds due to

rapid industrialization & population growth, the conventional
sources of energy will not be sufficient to meet the growing
demand.

2) Conventional sources (fossil fuels, nuclear) also cause pollution;

there by their use degrade the environment.
3) Conventional sources (except hydro) are non-renewable & bound to
finish one day.

4) Large hydro-resources affect wild-life, cause deforestation & pose

various social problems, due to construction of big dams.

5) Fossil fuels are also used as raw materials in the chemical industry
(for chemicals, medicines, etc) & need to be conserved for future
generations.

Due to these reasons it has become important to explore & develop

non-conventional energy resources to reduce too much
dependence on conventional resources. However, the present trend
development of nces indicates that these will serve as supplements
rather than substitute for conventional sources for some more time to
time.
SALIENT FEATURES OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
RESOURCES

Merits:
1. NCES are available in nature, free of cost.
2. They cause no or very little pollution. Thus, by and large, they are
environmental friendly.
3. They are inexhaustible.
4. They have low gestation period.

Demerits:
1) Though available freely in nature, the cost of harnessing energy
from NCES is high, as in general, these are available in dilute forms of
energy.
2) Uncertainty of availability: the energy flow depends on various
natural phenomena beyond human control.
3) Difficulty in transporting this form of energy.
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
RESOURCES:

ADVANTAGES:
1) Coal: as present is cheap.
2) Security: by storing certain quantity, the energy availability can be
ensured for a certain period.
3) Convenience: it is very convenient to use.

DISADVANTAGES:
1) Fossil fuels generate pollutants: CO, CO2, NOX, SOX. Particulate
matter & heat. The pollutants degrade the environment, pose health
hazards & cause various other problems.
2) Coal: it is also valuable petro-chemical & used as source of raw
material for chemical, pharmaceuticals & paints, industries, etc. From
long term point of view, it is desirable to conserve coal for future needs.
3) Safety of nuclear plants: it is a controversial subject.
4) Hydro electrical plants are cleanest but large hydro reservoirs cause
the following problems
a) As large land area submerges into water, which leads to
deforestation
b) Causes ecological disturbances such as earthquakes
c) Causes dislocation of large population & consequently their
rehabilitation problems.
About 87% of the world‘s energy
supply comes mainly from fossil
fuels. The share of fossil fuels is
more than 90% in case of India.
Installed capacity by source in India as on 31 October 2020

 Coal: 199,594.5 MW (53.4%)

 Lignite: 6,260 MW (1.7%)
 Gas: 24,956.51 MW (6.7%)
 Diesel: 509.71 MW (0.1%)
 Nuclear: 6,780 MW (1.8%)
 Large Hydro: 45,699.22 MW (12.2%)
 Small Hydro: 4,740.47 MW (1.3%)
 Wind Power: 38,263.05 MW (10.2%)
 Solar Power: 36,317.57 MW (9.7%)
 Biomass: 10,314.56 MW (2.8%)