MCN-201:

SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING
Module 4
Bushara A R
AP, ECE
KMEA ENGINEERING COLLEGE
 Module 4
★ Resources and its utilisation: Basic
concepts of Conventional and
non-conventional energy
★ Solar energy
★ Fuel cells
★ Wind energy
★ Small hydro plants
★ Bio-fuels
★ Energy derived from oceans and
Geothermal energy.
1. Basic concepts of Conventional and
non-conventional energy
The two major sources of energy is classified as:

● Conventional Sources
Energy Sources
● Non-Conventional Sources

Conventional Non-Conventional
Sources Sources

Commercial Non-Commercial
Solar Energy
Coal Fire wood Wind Energy
Petroleum Dried dung Tidal Energy
Electricity Straw Bio energy
Conventional Sources of Energy
Conventional Sources of Energy are also known as non-renewable sources
of energy and are available in limited quantity apart from
hydroelectric power. Further, it is classified under commercial and
non-commercial energy.
● Commercial Energy Sources
Coal, electricity and petroleum are known as commercial energy since
the consumer needs to pay its price to buy them.
● Coal: Coal is the most important source of energy.The annual
production went up to 343 million tons in India
● Electricity: Electricity is a common form of energy used for
domestic and commercial purposes, and it is mainly utilized in
electrical appliances like fridges, T.V, washing machines and air
conditioning.
● Non-commercial Energy Sources
Generally, the freely available energy sources are considered
non-commercial energy sources. Examples of non-commercial energy
sources include straw, dried dung, firewood.
Non-Conventional Sources of Energy
Non-conventional sources are also known as renewable sources of
energy. Examples of non-conventional sources of energy include solar
energy, bioenergy, tidal energy and wind energy.
● Solar Energy
Solar Energy is produced by sunlight. The photovoltaic cells are
exposed to sunlight based on the form of electricity that needs to be
produced. The energy is utilized for cooking and distillation of
water.
● Wind Energy
Wind energy is generated by harnessing the power of wind and mostly
used in operating water pumps for irrigation purposes. India stands as
the second-largest country in the generation of wind power.
● Tidal Energy
Tidal energy is generated by exploiting the tidal waves of the sea.
This source is yet to be tapped due to the lack of cost-effective
technology.
Conventional Sources of Energy Non-conventional sources of
energy

These sources of energy are These sources of energy are

also known as a non-renewable also known as a renewable
source of energy source of energy

They find both commercial and They are mainly used for
industrial purposes household purposes

These can be considered to be These are not responsible

one of the reasons for the for the cause of pollution
cause of pollution

Coal, fossil fuels are two Wind, solar energy and

examples Biomass two examples
 2. Solar energy
★ Solar energy is a sustainable energy and is inherently more sustainable
than fossil fuel energy sources. As a way of converting the sun's energy
into electrical energy, solar panels make use of the single most
sustainable resource on the planet - the light of the sun.

Solar Sustainability
★ Sustainability means "development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs."
★ Solar energy embodies this widely accepted definition of sustainability
because the sun's energy can be used indefinitely without diminishing its
future availability.
★ Most experts agree that the sun is the most important source of renewable
energy.
Renewable
● Solar energy is considered a renewable
resource, as opposed to non-renewable
energy sources, such as fossil fuels,
which are finite.
● There is more than enough solar power to
provide for all the energy needs of the
planet, even if the Earth's population
continues to grow and consume more
energy, making it an important component
of effort to combat climate change.

Non-Polluting
● Fossil fuels cause pollution as they are
consumed, while solar energy does not,
which is another way that it embodies the
principles of sustainability.
● Solar panels sit idly on rooftops or in
large solar arrays, creating no waste
products, noise or any other outputs -
just clean electrical energy.
Disadvantages of Solar

High Costs
A major reason why solar energy has not become more widespread is
that it is not yet economically sustainable.

Non-Renewable Materials
★ While the sun is in an inherently sustainable energy source,
some of the materials needed to make solar panels are not
sustainable.
★ Solar panels are built with rare minerals, such as selenium,
that will eventually be exhausted if solar panel manufacturers
continue to extract them at an accelerating pace.
Applications of solar technologies include:-

Solar water heating:

★ Heat from the sun is used to heat water in glass panels on
our roof.
★ Water is pumped through pipes in the panel.
★ Using the heat from the sun, water pipes get hot and heat
the water without using electricity.

Solar Cars:
★ It is an electrical vehicle which is recharged from solar
energy or sunlight.
★ Solar panels are used on this car that absorb light and then
convert it into electrical energy.
★ This electrical energy is stored in batteries used within
the car, so that we can drive these vehicles in night time
too.
 3. Fuel cells
❖ Fuel cells is an electrochemical cell that generates
electrical energy from fuel via an electrochemical reaction.
❖ In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are combined to generate
electricity, heat, and water.
❖ Fuel cells are used today in a range of applications, from
providing power to homes and businesses, keeping critical
facilities like hospitals, grocery stores, and moving a
variety of vehicles including cars, buses, trucks, trains,
and more.
These are 4 common categories of fuel cells:
● Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells
● Alkaline fuel cells
● Solid oxide fuel cells
● Phosphoric acid fuel cells
● A fuel cell is composed of an anode, cathode, and an electrolyte
membrane. A typical fuel cell works by passing hydrogen through the
anode of a fuel cell and oxygen through the cathode.
Advantages

❏ Fuel cell systems are a clean, efficient, reliable, and quiet source of power.
❏ Fuel cells do not need to be periodically recharged like batteries, but
instead continue to produce electricity as long as a fuel source is
provided.
❏ Fuel cells are also scalable. This means that individual fuel cells can be
joined with one another to form stacks. In turn, these stacks can be
combined into larger systems.

Disadvantages

❏ Overall production cost is high.

❏ Hydrogen is very prone to catch fire, or even exploding
 4. Wind energy

➔ Wind is a form of Solar energy

➔ Wind is caused by the uneven heating of
the earth’s surface and rotation of the
Earth Wind
➔ Turbines convert the kinetic energy in
the wind to mechanical power
➔ The wind turns the blades, which spin a
shaft, Which connects to a generator.
➔ A generator can convert the mechanical
power into electricity
What is Wind Energy?

● Wind energy is the converting of wind power to

electrical power through the use of windmills or
turbines.
● Electricity produced is sent to transformers where
voltage is increased and sent to the power grid
via transmission lines.
Advantages of Wind Power

❏ The wind blows day and night, which allows windmills to

produce electricity throughout the day.
❏ Wind energy is a domestic, renewable source of energy that
generates no pollution and has little environmental impact.
❏ The decreasing cost of wind power and the growing interest in
renewable energy sources should ensure that wind power will
become a viable energy source in worldwide.
❏ Produces no waste or greenhouse gases.
❏ Wind farms can be tourist attractions.
❏ A good method of supplying energy to remote areas.
Disadvantages of Wind Power

❏ Suitable areas for wind farms are often near the coast, where land
is expensive.
❏ The wind is not always predictable - some days have no wind.
❏ Can kill birds - migrating flocks tend to like strong winds.
❏ Can affect television reception if you live nearby.
 5. Small hydro plants
★ Hydroelectricity refers to the
electricity generated by hydropower;
the production of electric power
through the use of gravitational
force of the falling or flowing
water.
★ Hydropower is renewable, clean and
non-polluting energy resource.
Through hydropower, the energy in
falling water is converted into
electricity.
❖ Flowing water is directed to a turbine through a passage called “penstock”.
❖ The flowing water causes the turbine to rotate, converting the water’s kinetic
energy to mechanical energy.
❖ The mechanical energy produced by the turbine is converted into electrical
energy using a turbine generator.
❖ The electrical energy is then fed into gridlines to be used in homes
industries etc.
Advantages of Hydropower Disadvantages of Hydropower
Plants Plants

● Water is available ● Embankment construction

throughout the year cost is high
● Operational and ● Land space requirement
maintenance cost is lower for set up is large
than other power plants ● Water must be abundant
● The cost of fuel is nil to continue the process
● Hydro Plants are made for ● Aquatic life is
multiple purposes
effected
● The requirement of working
● Embankment areas need
staff is less. The cost of
to be evacuated for
expenses is lower as
compared to other plants.
flood plains.
 6. Bio-fuels
★ Biofuel, any fuel that is derived from biomass—that is,
plant or algae material or animal waste.
★ Since such feedstock material can be refill readily,
biofuel is considered to be a source of renewable
energy
Types of Biofuels
two categories: gaseous biofuel and liquid biofuel.

★ Gaseous Biofuel: two types - Biogas and syngas are

★ Biogas and Biomethane : Biogas is methane generated in the
process of anaerobic digestion of organic matter by
anaerobes.
★ Syngas: Syngas is a mix of carbon monoxide, hydrogen,
and other hydrocarbons, which is produced by partial
combustion of biomass.

★ Liquid Biofuel: two types - bioethanol and biodiesel.

★ Bioethanol: Bioethanol is a type of alcohol produced by
fermentation, often from carbohydrates made in sugar or
starchy crops like corn, sugarcane, or sweet sorghum.
★ Biodiesel :Biodiesel, as the most common biofuel in
Europe, is generated from oils or fats using
transesterification.
Biofuel Generations

There are four generations of biofuels based on how they are made.
Biofuels Advantages
● Efficiency
Biofuel is produced from renewable resources and relatively
less-flammable than fossil diesel.
● Cost
As of now, the cost of biofuels in the market is the same as
gasoline.As the demand for biofuels increases, it is also
possible that they will become cheaper in the future.
● Durability
Biofuels are compatible with current engine designs and work
very well in most conditions.
● Easy Access to Resources
Biofuels are made from various sources, including manure,
crop waste, algae, other byproducts, and plants grown
specifically for fuel.
● Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Studies show that biofuels decrease greenhouse gases by up to
65 percent.
Biofuels Disadvantages
● Food Shortage
Biofuels are obtained from crops and plants that
contain large amounts of sugar. However, most of
these crops are also accepted as food products.
● Weather Limitations
Biofuels are less suitable for application in low
temperatures.
● Use of Fertilizers
This is a problem that biofuel crops, food crops,
gardens, and lawns have in common all over the world.
The growth of all of these plants is better when
fertilized.
7. Energy derived from oceans and Geothermal energy
● Ocean Thermal Energy, also called Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion (OTEC), is an electricity generation system
● OTEC using the temperature difference between the deep
parts of the sea, which are cold and the shallow
parts of the sea, which are cold, to run a heat engine
and produce useful work.
● The deeper parts of the ocean are cooler because the
heat of sunlight cannot penetrate very deep into the
water.
● Greater the temperature difference, the greater the
efficiency.
● In open cycle OTEC, the seawater plays
a multiple role of a heat source,
working fluid, coolant and heat sink.
● Warm surface water enters an evaporator
where the water is flash evaporated to
steam under particle vacuum.
● Low pressure is maintained in the
evaporator by a vacuum pump.
● The low pressure so maintained removes
the non-condensable gases from the
evaporator.

● The steam and water mixture from evaporator then enters a

turbine, driving it thus generating electricity.
● The exhaust from the turbine is mixed with cold water from deep
ocean in a direct contact condenser and is discharged to the
ocean.
● The cycle is then repeated. Since the condensate is discharged
to the ocean, the cycle is called open.
● Here, a separate working fluid such
as ammonia, propane or Freon is used
in addition to water.
● The warm surface water is pumped to
a boiler by a pump.
● This warm water gives up its heat to
the secondary working fluid thereby
losing its energy and is discharged
back to the surface of the ocean.
● The vapours of the secondary working
fluid generated in the boiler, drive
a turbine generating power.
● The exhaust from the turbine is
cooled in a surface condenser by
using cold deep seawater, and is
then circulated back to the boiler
by a pump.
Advantages of OTEC

1. Ocean is an infinite heat reservoir which receives

solar incidence throughout the year.
2. Energy is freely available.

Disadvantage of OTEC

1. Efficiency is very low, about 2.5%, as compared to

30-40% efficiency for conventional power plants.

2. Capital cost is very high.