The document outlines the curriculum for RET401 Solar Energy Fundamentals and Applications, covering solar energy basics, photovoltaic cells, and their applications. It includes detailed units on solar radiation analysis, PV system design, solar thermal energy systems, and other solar applications such as solar pumps and cookers. The course emphasizes both theoretical concepts and practical applications, including design simulations and performance analysis.
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RET401 Module Descriptor
The document outlines the curriculum for RET401 Solar Energy Fundamentals and Applications, covering solar energy basics, photovoltaic cells, and their applications. It includes detailed units on solar radiation analysis, PV system design, solar thermal energy systems, and other solar applications such as solar pumps and cookers. The course emphasizes both theoretical concepts and practical applications, including design simulations and performance analysis.
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Module Code and Title : RET401 Solar Energy Fundamentals and Applications
Unit I: Solar Energy and Physics of Photovoltaic Cells
1.1 Introduction to Solar energy and its potential
1.2 Solar Radiation Analysis 1.2.1 The electromagnetic energy spectrum of sun & Planck's radiation law 1.2.2 Available solar radiation on earth surface 1.2.3 Atmospheric attenuation and airmass calculation 1.2.4 Determination of solar constant, local solar time and solar angles (zenith, azimuth, elevation, incident angle) 1.2.5 Sun’s position, sun chart, available sunlight 1.3 Measurement of solar radiation and estimation 1.3.1 solar energy measurement devices, pyrheliometers and pyranometers 1.3.2 Estimation of directed, diffused, global radiation on horizontal and inclined surfaces. 1.3.3 Calibration and standardization 1.4 Physics of solar cells 1.4.1 Fundamental of Photo voltaic effect, semiconductor materials, photon energy, Energy band model, fermi-level, p-n junction, solar cell materials doping materials 1.4.2 Silicon mono, poly, amorphous, Thin film solar cell materials, Organic solar cells 1.4.3 PV module -mmanufacturing process (Si-PV) 1.4.4 Crystal growth, Wafering, Cell fabrication, Module fabrication 1.4.5 Recent developments (PERC solar cell, Back contact solar cell, glass-glass module, tandem solar cells, novel materials) 1.4.6 Current-voltage characteristics and efficiency of PV cells 1.4.7 PV module test conditions and international standards
Unit II: Solar photovoltaic energy Application
2.1 PV systems (stand alone, grid-connected)
2.2 Balance of system (BoS), structure and installation 2.2.1 Different types installation (fixed angle, tracking, roof mounted, ground mounted) 2.3 Components of PV system; solar module, array, inverter, storage battery, AC load, DC load, switchgear and control 2.4 PV module parameters; open circuit and short circuits, temperature effect, fill factor, shading effect and bypassed diodes, mmaximum power point tracking and various efficiencies of PV system 2.5 Series and parallel connections in PV modules 2.6 PV system configurations; DC-DC converters, types of inverter configurations: modular, string, multi-string, centralized and hybrid inverters. 2.7 Design and simulation of off-grid and grid-tied PV power system using appropriate simulation tools like PVsyst and System Advisor Model (SAM model) 2.8 IS code of practice for design and installation (IET code of Practice for grid connected PV systems) Unit III: Solar Thermal Energy system applications
3.1 Introduction of solar thermal energy
3.2 Energy balance and Heat transfer calculations 3.3 Heat capacity effect 3.4 Efficiency equation, individual heat losses by optical loss, thermal conduction, convection, and radiation 3.5 solar collector types, working principles and construction 3.5.1 Flat plate collectors (glazed and unglazed) 3.5.2 Evacuated tube collectors 3.5.3 Concentrated collectors 3.6 Collector tests: efficiency, incidence angle modifier, and time constant 3.7 Solar water heating 3.7.1 integrated collector storage system, 3.7.2 separate collector and storage system (passive/natural and active/ pumped type) 3.7.3 performance analysis of solar water heaters 3.7.4 mathematical model of natural and forced circulation type 3.8 Hot water demand and sizing of load and hot tank, useful heat gain, thermal stratification, system losses and efficiency 3.9 Design and simulation of solar thermal energy conversion system
Unit IV: Introduction to other solar energy applications
4.1 Solar pump systems 4.2 Solar cookers & Types 4.3 Solar drying of agriculture products 4.4 Passive solar heating and cooling 4.5 Solar heating of buildings: active systems 4.6 Solar green houses 4.7 Solar thermal energy storage (ground source heat pump)