66099 - Biomass and Renewable Energy Systems

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is expected to have an up-to-date, consistent view on the main renewables and to know the peculiarities, limitations, potential and applicability of each of the main renewable sources. In addition, the student is expected to acquire an appropriate level of knowledge of the layout and of the main machinery employed in renewable energy plants, and on the chemo-physical working principles of such plants. Last, the student is expected to be able to apply the acquired knowledge in the context of farms and of biomass supply from agricultural and forest territory.

Course contents

• Introduction to renewable energy sources: general aspects and role of the renewables
• Thermal Physics: most relevant physical quantities in the energy context; Energy Conservation Law; efficiency; degradation of energy; thermodynamic cycles: technical solutions, description of the main machinery used in energy plants, plant efficiency calculation
• Energy from biomass: general aspects, biomass features
• Laboratory characterization of biomass: determination of the calorific value and of the biochemical methane potential
• Anaerobic digestion
• Biogas plants: technical solutions and main machinery; internal combustion engines emission control; biomass pre-treatment; upgrading; techniques; analysis of existent biogas plants; digester diet formulation; preliminary design
• Other biochemical conversion processes: aerobic digestion; alcoholic fermentation; oil extraction
• Energy plants overview: thermal power generation; combined cycle plants; combined heat and power; heat exchangers; efficiency calculation
• Direct combustion of biomass: general aspects; fixed-bed boilers; fluidized-bed boilers; emissions control
  
• Other thermochemical conversion processes: gasification; carbonization; pyrolysis; co-firing; steam explosion
• Hydropower: general aspects; technical solutions; water turbines
• Solar power: general aspects; technical solutions (solar thermal power, concentrated solar power, photovoltaic)
• Wind energy: general aspects; wind turbines

Readings/Bibliography

• lecture notes
• material from the seminars
• scientific papers suggested by the teacher
• Arthur Wellinger, Jerry Murphy, David Baxter, The biogas handbook: science, production and applications. Woodhead Publishing, 2013
  
• Eklas Hossain, Slobodan Petrovic, Renewable energy crash course, Springer, 2021 (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-70049-2)

Teaching methods

During in-class lectures the topics of the course will be presented and discussed. To complement the lectures, seminars with invited experts and professionals will be held, as well as laboratory activities and technical visits to farm renewable energy plants.

 

With regards to the laboratory activities, the following protocol holds: in consideration of the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, the attendance of the activity requires the attendance and completion of Modules 1 and 2 in e-learning mode [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio] and the attendance of Module 3 of specific training on safety and health in study places. Information on dates and methods of attendance for Module 3 can be consulted in the specific section of the degree program website.

Assessment methods

Oral examination on the topics covered during the lectures, the seminars, the laboratory activities and the outdoor technical visits.

The evaluation will be proportional to the student's ability to properly and critically argue the answers to the questions asked during the examination. The grading criterion for the mark will be, as far as possible, the following:
- preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course, and ability to analyze which emerges only with the help of the teacher, expression in a overall correct language: 18-19;
- preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and ability to autonomously analyze only on purely executive issues, expression in correct language: 20-24;
- preparation on a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous critical analysis, control of specific terminology: 25-29;
- substantially comprehensive preparation on the topics faced in the course, ability to make autonomous critical analysis and linking, full control of the specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflect: 30-30L.

Teaching tools

Audiovisual aids and laboratory equipment.

Office hours

See the website of Mirko Maraldi