Aims
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
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To understand concepts about the production of electric power through different technologies
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To become familiar with economical, ecological, political and management aspects of power generation
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To appreciate environmental impact of power generation
Subject Specific Intellectual
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:
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To make a comprehensive comparison of possible solutions of power generation in particular circumstances
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To predict efficiencies of gas turbine and steam plants
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To suggest optimal emission control measures for gas turbine and coal-fired plants
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To design cost-effective solutions based on combine heat and power (CHP) technology
Introduction to electricity generation, some environmental and political considerations
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Short history of power generation industry
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Politics of electricity
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Size of the industry
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Overview of energy generation technologies
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Environmental effects of power generation
Thermodynamics for power plant cycle analysis
- Review of thermodynamics basic concepts
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Work and heat, internal energy and enthalpy, specific heats
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Review of first and second law of thermodynamics, control mass and control volume
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Thermodynamic availability analysis
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Simple compressible substances and heating process of water at constant pressure
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Ideal gas, mixture of ideal gases, real gases and incompressible liquids
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2T Heat engine and Carnot cycle
Coal fired power plants
Gas turbines and combined cycle power plants
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Gas turbine power plant - Brayton cycle - energy analysis, irreversibilities, efficiency analysis and improvements (intercooling, reheat and regeneration)
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Gas turbine technology
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Advanced gas turbine technology
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Combine cycle power plants
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Gas-vapour power cycle - energy analysis
- Environmental impact of gas turbines power generation
- Cost of gas-fired electricity generation
Combine heat and power
Nuclear power plants
Renewable Energy Generation
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Hydropower plants
- Wind Power
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Solar Energy
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Solar energy conversion: photosythesis, thermal electrical conversion, photochemical conversion, photoelectrical conversion
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Concentrating solar power
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Photovoltaics
- Environmental considerations
- Cost of solar energy
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Biomass
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Biomass sources
- Conversion processes (thermal, chemical, biochemical)
- Environmental impact
- Cost of biomass
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Geothermal
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Tidal power
Assessment methods
Depending on the cohort, coaches are needed to take students to Marchwood and to bring them back. The maximum group size for the tour is 22-24 students.
| Method | Hours | Percentage contribution |
|---|
| Business plan for energy generation | - | 30% |
| Steam plant analysis | - | 20% |
| Exam | 2 hours | 50% |
Referral Method: By examination, with the original coursework mark being carried forward