98776 - BIOENERGY, HYDROGEN AND HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS

Learning outcomes

The course provides the student with knowledge and understanding about: Biomass and alternative fuels for energy application: production, treatment and storage, thermochemical conversion, environmental and economic aspects; Hydrogen for energy and transport applications: characteristics, production, gas-to-power (G2P) and power-to-gas (P2G) systems, technologies for upgrading fuels (synthetic methane), fields of application, integration into the existing infrastructure; Heat recovery systems: cycles and working principle of the main heat-to-power (H2P) technologies (Organic Rankine Cycle and Stirling engine). After completion of the course the students should (i) gain general competence related to bioenergy and hydrogen-based systems and their potential in future energy supply; (ii) working with cross-cutting problems related to bioenergy and hydrogen; (iii) analysing potential and characteristics of Organic Rankine Cycle systems heat recovery from medium and low-temperature heat sources.

Course contents

Hydrogen

• Introduction to the use of hydrogen as energy vector and fuel.
• Hydrogen production: electrolysis and steam reforming.
• Reconversion of hydrogen energy into electricity: fuel cells and combustion engines.
• Blends of hydrogen and natural gas as fuel in gas turbine power cycle: overview of gas turbine working principle; blend's properties varying hydrogen fraction, technical issues.

WHR

• Heat recovery systems: overview (temperature levels, heat sources, conversion technologies).
• Organic Rankine cycle power system: architecture and working principle; thermodynamic analysis and performance.
• Overview of other techologies for the conversion of thermal energy into electricity: stirling engines, thermoelectric generators,.

Bioenergy

• Biomass energy: types of biomass, distribution, energy density of biomass and properties
• Biogas production (gassification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion)
• Biomass reconversion into electricity: direct combustion, ICE, GT

Readings/Bibliography

Macchi, E., 2017. Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Power Systems. Elsevier.

Bianchi M., Melino F., Peretto A., Sistemi energetici: complementi, Pitagora 2008 (in italian).

Teaching methods

Lectures + exercises (tutored and self-directed).

Assessment methods

Achievements will be assessed by means of an oral exam, which consists of technical conversation with the lecturer.

The exam is aimed at assessing the acquired knowledge, the ability of synthesis and application of the key course contents.

To obtain a passing grade, students are required to demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the key concepts of the subject.

Higher grades will be awarded to students who demonstrate the full knowledge of the subject, the capacity of a clear and critical presentation of the contents, appropriate use of the technical language and ability for application to sample cases.

A failing grade will be awarded if the student shows knowledge gaps in the key-concepts of the subject, inappropriate use of the technical language, and/or logic failures in the analysis of the subject.

No intermediate tests are scheduled.

Teaching tools

Course materials, tutorials, files, videos, etc. will be available on the interactive course website:
Virtuale (unibo.it) [https://virtuale.unibo.it/]

Office hours

See the website of Saverio Ottaviano