JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD B.Tech III NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES Previous Question Paper (February/March - 2022 - R18)
Answer any five questions. All questions carry equal marks.
Main
Discuss energy requirement of rural consumers and state the possible alternative source of energy to meet the demand.
Answer
Energy consumption in rural areas is primarily driven by domestic needs, agricultural operations, and small-scale rural industries. The domestic sector accounts for the largest share, where energy is required for cooking, lighting, and space heating. Cooking remains the most energy-intensive activity, often relying on traditional biomass like firewood, crop residues, and animal dung. Agricultural energy requirements include water pumping for irrigation, milling, and post-harvest processing, while rural industries require power for small workshops, dairy processing, and cottage industries.
The current energy landscape in rural regions faces challenges such as irregular grid supply, high costs of infrastructure extension, and the environmental degradation caused by traditional biomass combustion. To bridge this gap, several alternative and renewable energy sources are highly effective:
- Biomass Energy: Utilizing biogas plants to convert animal waste and agricultural residues into clean cooking fuel and electricity through anaerobic digestion. This addresses both waste management and energy needs.
- Solar Energy: Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are ideal for decentralized lighting, mobile charging, and powering small appliances. Solar water pumps are a direct replacement for diesel-powered irrigation systems.
- Wind Energy: Small-scale wind turbines or wind-solar hybrid systems can provide reliable power in windy rural corridors, particularly for water pumping and community-level electrification.
- Micro-Hydro Power: In regions with perennial streams or irrigation canals, micro-hydro projects can provide consistent base-load power for rural clusters, offering a higher capacity factor than solar or wind.
By integrating these decentralized systems, rural consumers can achieve energy self-sufficiency, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and improve the overall quality of life through sustainable development.
Write about Extraterrestrial Radiation and Terrestrial Radiation.
Answer
Extraterrestrial Radiation is the solar radiation received at the outer edge of the Earth's atmosphere. It is essentially constant, governed by the Sun's surface temperature and distance, and is defined by the solar constant, which is approximately 1367 W/m². Because it is outside the atmosphere, it remains unaffected by atmospheric scattering, absorption, or reflection, representing the maximum possible solar energy available before interaction with Earth's gaseous envelope.
Terrestrial Radiation is the solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface after passing through the atmosphere. Unlike extraterrestrial radiation, its intensity and spectral distribution are significantly altered by atmospheric components. As solar radiation travels through the atmosphere, it undergoes attenuation due to:
- Absorption: Gases like ozone, water vapor, and carbon dioxide absorb specific wavelengths of solar energy.
- Scattering: Air molecules, dust, and aerosols scatter radiation in different directions (Rayleigh and Mie scattering).
- Reflection: Clouds and atmospheric particulates reflect a portion of the incoming radiation back into space.
What are the types of solar radiation measuring Instruments?
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Enumerate the different types of concentrating type collectors.
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What are the applications of direct energy conversion systems?
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Illustrate the working of solar desalination system.
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Describe with a neat sketch working of a solar water heating system.
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What is the basic principle of ocean thermal energy conversion? What are the main types of OTEC power plants? Describe their working in brief.
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Discuss principle used in the measurement of speed of the wind.
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Tabulate the main applications of wind energy.
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Generalize the factors to be consider for the site selection to install the wind power plant. Explain the construction and working of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT).
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Discuss the following methods of biogas generation:
Gasification
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Combustion.
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