Introduction to the course, Global and Indian energy resources. Energy demand and supply components, layout and working principles of steam, hydro, nuclear, gas turbine and diesel power plants.
Solar Energy- passive and active solar thermal energy, solar collectors, solar thermal electric systems, solar photovoltaic systems, economics of solar power Wind Energy-Principle of wind energy conversion system, wind turbines, aerodynamics of wind turbines, wind power economics, Introduction to solar-wind hybrid energy
Biomass Energy – Biomass as a fuel, thermo-chemical, bio-chemical and agro-chemical conversion of biomass- pyrolysis, gasification, combustion and fermentation, trans-esterification, economics of biomass power generation, future prospects
Other Renewable Energy sources – Brief account of Geothermal, Tidal, Wave, and MHD power generation. Fuel cells – general description, types, applications. Hydrogen energy conversion systems, hybrid systems- Economics and technical feasibility
Environmental impact of energy conversion – ozone layer depletion, global warming, greenhouse effect, loss of biodiversity, eutrophication, acid rain, air and water pollution, land degradation, thermal pollution, Sustainable energy, promising technologies, development pathways.
