Renewable Energy Labs For An Undergraduate Energy Systems Course
- Conference
- Location
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Austin, Texas
- Publication Date
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June 14, 2009
- Start Date
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June 14, 2009
- End Date
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June 17, 2009
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Energy Conversion and Conservation
- Page Count
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23
- Page Numbers
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14.1022.1 - 14.1022.23
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--5447
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/5447
- Download Count
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3920
Paper Authors
Bret Bosma California State University, Chico
Bret Bosma is a Lecturer in Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at California State University, Chico. His research interests include power electronics and control systems with applications in renewable energy systems. He teaches courses in signals and systems, control systems, and electronics. Bosma received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Chico and his M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from California State University, Chico.
Gregory Kallio California State University, Chico
Greg Kallio has been a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at California State University, Chico since 1988. He teaches courses in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and energy systems. His current research interests include building energy simulation, renewable energy systems, and air pollution control. Kallio received his B.S. in Engineering Physics from Oregon State University, M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University, and the Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University. He has worked for General Electric Corporate R&D in Schenectady, NY and for Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories in Gloucestershire, U.K. as a visiting scientist.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Renewable Energy Labs for an Undergraduate Energy Systems Course Abstract
This paper reports the successful implementation of two renewable energy laboratory experiments in an undergraduate Energy Systems course in Mechanical Engineering. One is a tracking, photovoltaic (PV) mini-lab that is a stand-alone system mounted on a wheeled cart. The cart contains all equipment normally required for a remote residential installation, namely, a 300W PV module, batteries, inverter, and charge controller. The system is wired with proper grounding, disconnects, breakers, and GFI load receptacles. The tracking system is a “tilt and roll” type, where the seasonal “tilt” is manually adjusted and the daily “roll” is produced by a geared stepper motor controlled by closed-loop LED sensor and indexer. The cart also houses a data acquisition panel where solar irradiation, PV voltage, PV current, PV module temperature, and ambient temperature are displayed and available for computer data logging. Students log data for a one-hour static test and a one-hour tracking test, then reduce the data and compare the power output and conversion efficiency for each test.
The other experiment is a wind energy lab that evaluates the performance of an Air 403 wind turbine from Southwest Windpower, Inc. The turbine is mounted on a 20’ high mast located on the engineering building roof. The turbine has a rated output of 400W at 28 mph (12.5 m/s) and a start-up wind speed of 7 mph (2.7 m/s). The aluminum body houses an accurate heading angle sensor (in-house modification) and a generator with charge regulator that produces 12 VDC for charging batteries. A cup-type wind anemometer, wind direction vane, and a shielded thermistor are also mounted on the mast. Outputs from the DC generator and all sensors are routed to a data acquisition panel located in a laboratory classroom. The panel displays DC voltage, DC current, wind speed, and temperature with outputs for load connection and analog outputs for computer data logging of all sensor outputs. Students record data during a 2-3 day windy period and then reduce the data to yield a power curve that is compared with that of the manufacturer. Conversion efficiency and yawing error are also computed and analyzed.
Forty (40) senior Mechanical Engineering students participated in these laboratories during Fall 2008 as part of a required Energy Systems course. Their perceived learning and satisfaction was assessed through a survey instrument. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and insightful recommendations for improvement were obtained.
I. Introduction
Based on current data on global warming, as well as the current U.S. dependence on foreign oil, there is a renewed interest and urgency in utilizing alternative energy sources. Throughout campuses in the United States there has been a definite push for alternative energy research and education. In particular, undergraduate engineering and engineering technology programs are
Bosma, B., & Kallio, G. (2009, June), Renewable Energy Labs For An Undergraduate Energy Systems Course Paper presented at 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition, Austin, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--5447
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