Applied / industry
Renewable Energy
5 self-contained study topics — notes, diagrams, formulas, and worked examples for exams and GATE.
Topics
- Solar Thermal and PVSolar PV output is P = η_module·G·A (G = irradiance, A = area); solar thermal collectors capture heat with efficiency depending on losses. PV converts light directly to electricity, thermal converts it to heat, per renewable-energy texts.
- Wind Energy ConversionWind power in the airstream is P = ½ρAV³, but a turbine extracts at most the Betz limit of 59.3 %; actual power P = ½ρAV³·C_p. Output scales with the cube of wind speed, per renewable-energy texts.
- Biomass Energy SystemsBiomass stores solar energy chemically; its usable energy depends on calorific value (HHV/LHV), with moisture reducing LHV. Combustion, gasification, and biogas (anaerobic digestion) are the conversion routes, per renewable-energy texts.
- Small Hydro SystemsSmall-hydro power is P = ρgQH·η, set by net head H and flow Q. Run-of-river schemes need little storage; turbine type is chosen by head and flow, per renewable-energy texts (Modi & Seth for hydraulics).
- Energy Storage BasicsEnergy storage buffers supply and demand; battery energy E = V·Q·η (Q in Ah). Pumped hydro, batteries, flywheels, and thermal storage differ in capacity, response, and efficiency, per renewable-energy texts.