Unit I
Introduction: Various non-conventional energy resources- Introduction, availability, classification, relative merits and demerits. Solar Cells: Theory of solar cells. Solar cell materials, solar cell array, solar cell power plant, limitations.
Unit II
Solar Thermal Energy: Solar radiation, flat plate collectors and their materials, applications and performance, focussing of collectors and their materials, applications and performance; solar thermal power plants, thermal energy storage for solar heating and cooling, limitations.
Unit III
Geothermal Energy: Resources of geothermal energy, thermodynamics of geo- thermal energy conversion-electrical conversion, non-electrical conversion, environmental considerations. Magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD): Principle of working of MHD Power plant, performance and limitations. Cells: Principle of working of various types of fuel cells and their working, performance and limitations.
Unit IV
Thermo-electrical and thermionic Conversions: Principle of working, performance and limitations. Wind Energy: Wind power and its sources, site selection, criterion, momentum theory, classification of rotors, concentrations and augments, wind characteristics. Performance and limitations of energy conversion systems.
Unit V
Bio-mass: Availability of bio-mass and its conversion theory. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): Availability, theory and working principle, performance and limitations. Wave and Tidal Wave: Principle of working, performance and limitations. Waste Recycling Plants.