Prospects and Limitations of

Conventional Energy Resources

used in Energy Systems
Lecture 2
 Prospects of conventional energy resources
as used in existing energy systems
a. They are available in abundant
b. They are available at affordable cost.
c. Easier to extract, produce and use.
d. Continuous supply of energy resource is possible.
 Limitations of conventional energy
resources as used in existing energy systems
a. These are exhaustible.
b. Not freely available.
c. These resources once used, cannot be recovered.
d. Both initial and maintenance costs are high.
e. Not environment friendly
 Environment Hazards due to Conventional
Energy Resources
 In the current global energy scenario, fossil fuels are the most used conventional sources of
energy.
 They contribute to several environmental hazards and global warming.
i. Environmental Hazards:
Pollution is the major disadvantage caused by fossil fuels.
When burnt they give out carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas which
causes global warming.
Rise in temperature of earth has resulted in melting of polar ice caps,
flooding of low lying areas and rise in sea levels.
 Environment Hazards due to Conventional
Energy Resources
Acid Rain: When burnt, the Sulphur content in the fossil fuels get
oxidized to Sulphur dioxide gas. When it rains this reacts with water producing acid
leading to acid rain.
Acid rain affects historical monuments made up of brickwork or
marbles, and even affects agriculture.
Coal mining results in destruction of abundant land and endangers the
lives of mineworkers.
The natural gas causes nasty smell and is associated with a lot of
problems during transportation. Transportation of crude oil causes oil spills over
seas polluting the sea endangering the aquatic life.
 Environment Hazards due to Conventional
Energy Resources
Human Health Getting Affected: The ozone layer surrounding the atmosphere is a
preventive layer which protects the earth surface from the effect of harmful UV radiation.
Release of greenhouse gases from the fuels creates holes in this layer through which the harmful
UV rays enter the earth surface thus affecting human life causing diseases like cancer. The
melanin present in the skin reacts with the infrared rays causing skin cancer.

Non-Renewable: Formation of fossil fuels takes millions of years. The current rate of
extraction is far too high in comparison to its formation and hence they will get exhausted
soon
 Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

 The greenhouse effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is
absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions.

 Since part of this re-radiation is back towards the surface and the lower atmosphere, it
results in an elevation of the average surface temperature above what it would be in the
absence of the gases.
 Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

 Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an atmospheric constituent that plays several vital roles in the
environment. It absorbs infra-red radiation in the atmosphere. It plays a crucial role in the
weathering of rocks. It is the raw material for photosynthesis and its carbon is incorporated
into organic matter in the biosphere and may eventually be stored in the Earth as fossil
fuels.

 Most of the sun's energy that falls on the Earth's surface is in the visible light portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum. This is in large part because the Earth's atmosphere is
transparent to these wavelengths. Part of the sunlight is reflected back into space. Part of
the sunlight is absorbed by the Earth and held as thermal energy. This heat is then
reradiated in the form of longer wavelength infrared radiation.
 Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

 While the dominant gases of the atmosphere (nitrogen and oxygen) are transparent to
infrared, the so-called greenhouse gasses, primarily water vapor (H2O), CO2, and methane
(CH4), absorb some of the infrared radiation. They collect this heat energy and hold it in
the atmosphere, delaying its passage back out of the atmosphere.

 Due in part to the warming effects of the greenhouse gases, if the global average
temperature is about 15°C. Without the greenhouse gases the global average temperature
would be much colder, about -18°C.
 Remedial action to Global Warming

 We can't realistically stop the rise of CO2 in the near term, but we can slow it and therefore
reduce the consequences that will occur. Some of the remedial measures are listed below.

 fuel-efficient cars

 use of mass transit

 improved insulation to decrease the fuel burned to heat and cool our homes

 more efficient appliances

 use of LED lamps instead of CFL, fluorescent and incandescent bulbs

Remedial Action to Global Warming

 monitoring home electricity usage

 use of alternate energies like wind and solar power
 planting trees and ensuring sustained growth
 stopping deforestation in the tropical forests
 Need of Renewable Energy resources

 The most significant feature of renewable energy is its abundant supply.

 It is unlimited.

 Renewable energy sources are hygienic sources of energy that have a much lesser negative
environmental impact than conventional fossil energy technologies.

 Most renewable energy investments are spent on materials and personnel to build and
maintain the facilities, rather than on costly energy imports.
Need of Renewable Energy resources
 Global warming is a huge hazard which is being caused by burning of coal, oil and natural
gas. It is very harmful for the planet and the living beings on it.

 But renewable energy resources are cleaner and do not produce poisonous harmful gases.
Moreover, fossil fuels are finite. They will certainly end one day.

 Therefore, before the crucial stage comes up, experts of energy sectors must maintain a
positive attitude in this regard and should try their level best to replace fossils fuels with
renewable energy sources as the main sources of generating electricity.
Need of Renewable Energy resources
 Renewable energy is dependable and plentiful and will potentially be very cheap, once this
technology and its present infrastructure are enhanced.

 The major sources of renewable energy include solar, wind, biomass, geothermal,
hydropower and tidal energy.

 Nonrenewable energy, such as coal, natural gas and oil, require costly explorations and
potentially dangerous mining and drilling, and they will become more expensive soon.

 Renewable energy produces only small levels of carbon emissions and therefore, helps
battle climate change caused by fossil fuel burning.
 Need of Renewable Energy resources
 Renewable energy sector is comparatively new in most countries and this sector can attract
a lot of companies to invest in it.

 This can create a pool of new jobs for the unemployed. Therefore, renewable energy can
play a very significant role in bringing the unemployment scale down in many countries,
especially the developing ones.

 This, in turn, will make a substantial difference to their economies. Renewable energy can
make the electricity prices stable. It is because their cost is dependent only on the initial
invested capital and is free of the fluctuating costs of coal, oil and natural gas.
Historical and Latest developments
 Before the discovery of coal deposits around the time of the Industrial Revolution, most of
the energy we used for lighting and heating was from organic sources. Throughout most of
human history and pre-history, we burned what would today be known as―biomass, plant
material such as wood, grass, mosses and so on, to fuel our fireplaces or grates.

 From one perspective, the discovery and utilization of fire is a history of civilization .
Humanity continued in that fashion for many thousands of years before the discovery of
oils in ancient times and the mass drilling of oil during the industrial age.
Historical and Latest developments

 Other uses of renewable include animal power (using cattle to drive ploughs or turn
millstones) and wind for the sail that has driven trade for some 8,000 years of human
history. The use of water sources, such as creating dams to harness the power of the fluid
motion of water.
 Historical and Latest developments
 According to a report by the International Energy Agency, the increase of amount of
electricity produced from renewable sources increased from just over 13% in 2012 to 22%
the following year.

 They also predict that there will be an increase in the future. 26% of our present usage is
through renewable energy resources. More clearly a lot to be done, but these figures are
encouraging from the perspective of the use of renewable on its own.

 Most long-term forecast models predict that use will triple between 2012 and 2040, with a
greater amount should the planet hit 2°C of warming.
 Solar Energy
 Sun is a primary source of energy, and all forms of energy on the earth are derived from it.

 The sun has provided energy for practically all living creatures on earth, through the
process of photosynthesis, in which plants absorb solar radiation and convert it into stored
energy for growth and development.

 Scientists and engineers today seek to utilize solar radiation directly by converting it into
useful heat or electricity.
 The solar energy can be utilised in direct form as well as
indirect form

A. The direct form of utilisation of solar energy are

 Helio–electrical

 Helio- thermal processes

Mention the different forms of solar energy utilisation
B. The indirect forms of solar energy are

 Biomass energy (Helio-chemical)

 Wind energy, Tidal energy , ocean thermal energy, Hydel energy etc.,
 Helio-electrical Process :

 Solar energy can be directly converted into direct current by photovoltaic cells.

 The devices used in photovoltaic conversion are called solar cells. When solar radiation
falls on these devices it is converted directly into DC electricity. The principal advantages
associated with solar cells are that, they have no moving parts, require little maintenance
and work quite satisfactorily with beam and diffuse radiation.
 Advantages of solar energy
 Solar energy is inexhaustible and the most abundant source of energy available freely in nature

 It is a clean source of energy

 Since it is freely available in nature, it can be used as an alternative to high cost energy sources

 Being a clean source of energy it can be used for household applications

 Since solar energy can be converted into other forms of energy, it can be used for a wide range
of applications
Dis-advantages
 It is a dilute source of energy. Large collectors are required to obtain energy at a useful rate

 Solar collectors are relatively expensive and require regular maintenance

 Availability of solar energy varies with time and weather conditions. Hence not a
dependable source of energy at all times.
 Solar Water Heating
 Solar water heaters are used to heat water for domestic or process use. They are composed
of a solar collector, a storage tank and a circulating pump for the active systems. The types
of solar collectors used for domestic purpose are

 Batch collectors

 Flat plate collectors

 Evacuated tube collectors

Batch Collectors
 Batch Collectors: It is the simplest form of solar collector. Figure 2.1 is showing a batch
collector system.
Batch Collectors

 It consists of a water metallic storage tank in an insulated box, covered by a glass plate.

 The storage tank is painted black or with a coating that effectively transfers heat from
sunlight.

 The inside of the container can include a reflective surface to increase heat absorption.

 The insulation and glass cover trap heat from sunlight inside the box to create an oven-like
environment.
Batch Collectors
 They are good for households with significant daytime and evening hot-water needs; but
they do not work well in households with predominantly morning draws because they lose
most of the collected energy overnight. These solar collectors are suited for areas where
temperatures rarely go below freezing.

 Batch collectors are only effective in hot and warm temperatures regions they can be very
effective in Oman
 Flat Plate Collectors
 Flat plate collectors are the most common and basic type of solar heat collector.
Flat Plate Collectors
 They composed of a box insulated on the sides and at the bottom.

 On top of the insulation is a dark colored absorber plate made of copper or aluminum sheet
that has tubes attached to it.

 The collector box has a glass or plastic cover it can be double glazed to reduce heat loss to
the surroundings.
Flat Plate Collectors
 When the sun hits a flat plate collector it heats the absorber plate, which heats the tubes
that contain a liquid, usually water. The glass or plastic cover, in combination with the
insulation, trap the heat. Depending on the system, the heated water is then moved from
the tubes by water pressure, gravity or a pump.

 The heating capabilities of a flat plate collector vary considerably with the availability of
sun and the outside air temperature, i.e., they are less effective in cold regions than in
sunny regions.
Solar Domestic Water Heating System
(Passive Collector):
 Solar Domestic Water Heating System (Passive Collector): The above mentioned flat plate
collector can be used to heat water at home. This setup does not contain any pump, so no
electrical energy is required. Such a system is called passive solar collector, in opposite if
any pump or power consumption device is used we name it as active solar collector
Passive Collector
Passive Collector

 These systems rely on the natural convection of warm water rising to circulate water
through the collectors and to a storage tank located above the collector.

 As water in the solar collector heated up its density reduces, becomes lighter and rises
naturally into the tank above. Meanwhile, the cool water with higher density flows down
through the pipes to the bottom of the collector, and thus enhancing the circulation.
Indirect Thermo syphon systems use a glycol fluid in the collector loop as a heating
medium.
Evacuated Tube Collector

 Evacuated Tube Collector: This type of collector is composed of a series of evacuated

glass tubes that each contain an internal pipe for liquid. The internal pipe is covered with a
heat transferring coating.

 Sunlight passes through the evacuated glass and heats the internal pipe and the liquid.
Because of the vacuum, the heating potential for this system stays relatively constant in a
variety of sun and air temperature conditions, including being effective in winter.
Evacuated Tube Collector
2.Solar Drying

 Solar Drying The equipment used to dry any product using solar energy is called solar
drier.

 They are broadly classified into two types, direct and indirect type driers.
 Direct type solar drier

Solar cabinet drier is a normally used direct type of solar drier. These type of cabinet driers are
used for dehydration of vegetables and fruits.
Direct type solar drier
Direct type solar drier

 A chamber is provided with either single or double glass top, through which the sunlight
falls directly on the product, which gets dried. The water vapour liberated escaping through
holes on the top sides of the chamber, while fresh air enters at the bottom.
Indirect type solar drier

 Indirect type solar drier: In this type of solar drier the sunlight will not have direct contact
with the product. Instead the air will be heated by sunlight and that will move up either by
natural convection or by forced convection. In the course of travel, the hot air dries the
product kept in the trays.
 Indirect type solar drier

 The collector is to be mounted with the optimum tilting to get maximum solar radiation
depending upon the location and season. The use of solar air heater for drying the grains
indicates that 10 to 15°C rise in the temperature of air is enough to reduce the relative
humidity of air to 60% or less. This dry air can reduce the moisture content of grains kept
in the tray from 30% to 16%.
Indirect type solar drier
Indirect type solar drier
Solar Cooking

 Solar Cooking The awareness to use solar energy for cooking is now extensively
growing. We see the basic three types of solar cookers.

 i. Box cooker

 ii. Panel cooker

 iii. Parabolic cooker

 Solar Cooking

Explain the three solar cooking

technologies