UNIT-1

Essay Questions
1 Explain in detail about the beam and Diffuse Solar radiation.
2 List the advantages and limitations of renewable energy sources.
3 Explain in detail, the solar radiation on tilted surfaces.
Explain the following terms used in Solar radiation analysis:
4
i)Hour angle ii) Solar azimuth angle iii) Declination angle
5 Explain the different angles that are used in solar radiation geometry.
6 Given in detail the comparison between conventional and renewable energy sources.
7 Discuss how the average solar radiation is estimated.
8 Explain in detail various forms of renewable energy.
What do you understand by Solar radiation data? What is the need of Solar
9
radiation data?
1 Explain in detail about the Beam radiation and diffuse radiation.
0
1 Define Solar constant. What are the reasons for variation in solar radiation reaching the earth and
1 that received outside the earth atmosphere?
Determine the average value of solar radiation on a horizontal surface for June 22, at the latitude
1
of 100 N, if constants a and b are given as equal to equal to 0.30 and 0.51 respectively, and the
2
ratio n/N=0.55.
Calculate the angle made by the beam radiation with the normal to a flat-plate
1
collector pointing due south located in New Delhi (28038’N, 77017’E) at 9:00 hour, solar time
3
on December 1. The collector is tilted at angle of 360 with horizontal.
Determine the Local Apparent Time corresponding to 1500 h (IST)
1
Mumbai (19007’, 750 51 E) on 1 July. In India, IST is based on 82.500 E. On 1
4
July, equation of time correction is equal to – 4.
1 Calculate the sunset hour angle and day length at location latitude of 350 N, on February 15.
5
Estimate the daily global radiation on a horizontal surface at Baroda (220 13’ N, 730 13’E)
1
during the month of march. If constants a and b (which depends on the location) are given as 0.28
6
and 0.48 respectively and average sunshine hours for day are 9.5.
Calculate the angle made by the beam radiation with the normal to a flat collector on Dec 1, at
1
9:00 A.M. solar time for a location at 28035’N. The collector is tilted at an angle of latitude plus
7
100, with the horizontal and is pointing due south.
1 Explain the terms extra-terrestrial radiation and terrestrial radiation w.r.t solar radiation.
8
1 Calculate the i) Zenith angle and ii) Solar azimuth angle for a place with
9 latitude 430 at 9.30 AM solar time on Feb 13.
2 Calculate the number of day light hours in Srinagar for 1 January and 1 July.
0 Take latitude of Srinagar as 34005’ N.
Two mark questions
1 Explain briefly about the conventional Energy Sources and un–conventional energy Sources.
2 Explain in brief about Local Solar time or local Apparent time.
3 Define solar constant.
4 What are the reasons for variation in solar radiation reaching the earth than
received at the outside of the atmosphere?
5 Explain what the need of alternate energy sources is?
6 Define the terms: i) Altitude angle ii)Incident angle
7 Distinguish between the term irradiance and irradiation.
 8 Distinguish between Conventional resources and Non-conventional sources
9 List the different forms of Renewable Energy sources.
10 List the various applications of PV system?
Unit-2
Essay Questions
1 Enumerate and explain the different types of Concentrating type Collectors.
Explain a non–convective Solar pond for Solar energy collection and storage with a
2
neat sketch.
Data for a flat plate collector used for heating are given below
factor specification
location and latitude Coimbatore 110 00`N
day and time march 22,14.30 to15.30(IST)
average intensity of solar radiation 560 W/m2
collector tilt 260
number of glass cover 2
3
heat removal factor for collector 0.82
transmittance of glass 0.88
Absorptance of the plat 0.93
UL for collector 7.95 W/m20C
collector fluid temperature 75 0C
ambient temperature 25 0C
Calculate: (i) solar attitude angle (ii) incident angle (iii) collector efficiency
What is the principle collection of solar energy used in a non-convective solar pond? Describe a
4
non-convective solar pond for solar energy collection and storage.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of concentrating collectors over flatplate
5
collectors? Explain.
6 What is the main application of a solar pond? Describe briefly.
7 Explain the different methods of Sun Tracking.
8 What is the main application of a solar pond? Describe briefly.
With the help of a neat sketch explain about Solar heating system using water heating Solar
9
collectors.
1 Explain in detail about the Flat plate Collectors and give its advantages and Disadvantages.
0
1 Compare between the concentrating collector over Flat collector.
1
1 Explain the significance of following factors in Flat Plate collectors:
2 i)Fin efficacy factor ii)Collector heat removal factor.
1 Explain the different factors that affect the performance of a Flat plate collector.
3
1 Draw the schematic diagram for Solar pond based electric plant along with its working
4
1 Explain the working of Solar Water heater with component based diagram
5
1 A cylindrical parabolic concentrator is 9 m long and 2 m wide. The diameter of
6 absorber tube is 10 cm. Find the concentration ratio.
1 Explain the working of a Solar furnace with the help of a neat sketch
7
Two mark questions
1 Explain in brief about thermal energy storage system.
 2 What do you mean by a passive Solar space heating system?
3 Explain the principle of conversion of solar energy into heat.
4 Why orientation is needed in concentrating type collectors?
5 Write short notes on solar heater.
6 What is the principle collection of solar energy used in a non-convective solar pond?
7 Explain the working of a solar thermal pump
8 Enumerate the different types of Concentrating Solar collectors
9 What are Solar thermal Energy applications?
10 What do you understand by Solar thermal Energy?
Unit-3
Essay Questions
What are the different materials used for fabrication of Solar cells and give their
1
significance and relative advantages.
Explain the effect of following parameters on the short circuit current, open circuit
2
voltage and power generated by PV Cell: i)Radiation intensity, ii)Temperature.
3 Explain the performance characteristics of a Solar Cell.
A Solar cell has an output capability of 0.5 A at 0.44 V. A series/Parallel solar
array has been designed of such cells with 100 parallel strings and each string
4
has 300 cells in series. Calculate: i) Voltage capability; ii) Current capability
and, iii) Power output capability of array.
5 Draw and explain an equivalent circuit of a practical solar PV cell.
6 Explain the different conditions on which the PV system performance depends?
Draw and explain the P-V and I-V characteristics of the PV System for different Input quantities
7
of irradiance and temperature.
8 Explain the term fill factor and its importance as a performance parameter for a solar cell.
9 List and explain the different losses that lead to the less efficiency of a Solar cell.
1 Explain how Hill climbing technique of maximum Power Point technique is used in PV system.
0
1 Derive an expression for efficiency and power produce by PV cell. Explain the
1 various factors that affect the performance of cell.
1 Explain the effect of radiation intensity and temperature on the short circuit current, open circuit
2 voltage and power generated by PV cell.
1 Explain the various factors contributing to losses in Solar cell. How is the efficiency reduced due
3 to these factors.
1 Explain the current – voltage characteristics of a Solar cell and define Fill factor and give its
4 significance.
1 Explain the significance of Perturb and Observe MPPT method and how it can realized
5
1 Explain with a neat algorithm of Hill climbing MPPT Technique and give its merits.
6
1 Explain the PV system configuration and signify the importance of the converter circuit and
7 MPPT block in it.
1 Explain the significance of Maximum Power Point Tracking and explain any one technique in
8 detail
Two mark questions
1 What is doping? Describe the intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductor used for making the PV Cell.
2 List the various materials used in making a Solar Cell.
3 What is the importance of the term fill factor as a performance parameter for a solar cell?
4 Define photo voltaic effect.
5 Explain the effect of shunt resistance in equivalent circuit of a PV cell.
6 Distinguish between a Solar cell, Module, Panel and Array.
7 What do you understand by Valence band, Conduction band and Forbidden
band w.r.t. a semiconductor
8 Draw and explain briefly about equivalent circuit of a Solar cell.
9 What is the depletion layer in p – n junction
10 Distinguish between a Solar cell, Module, Panel and Array

Unit-4
Essay Questions
1 Explain the power extracted (momentum theory) by the wind turbine.
Wind at 1 standard atmospheric pressure and 15 0C temperature has a velocity
of 10 m/s. The turbine has diameter of 120 m and its operating speed in 40 rpm
at maximum efficiency. Calculate:
2 i) The total power density in the wind stream.
ii) The maximum obtainable power density assuming, efficiency=40%.
iii) The total power produced (in kW) and
iv) The torque and axial thrust.
What are the most favourable sites for installing of wind turbines? Explain the
3
major applications of wind power.
4 Explain the operation of horizontal axis wind mills.
5 List the factors responsible for distribution of wind energy on the surface of the Earth.
6 What are advantages of vertical axis machines over horizontal type? Explain
7 Using Betz model of a wing turbine, derive the expression for power extracted from wind.
8 With usual notations, derive an expression for maximum power output of wind turbine.
9 Discuss the aerodynamic considerations in Windmill design.
1 What is the implication of cell mismatch in a solar module
0
A wind turbine with 12 m diameter span has cut in speed of 6 m/s, at which it develops 3.5 KW.
1
Find the i) Efficiency of turbine, ii)Axial Force, iii)Find the effect of wind velocity if it is 20 m/s,
1
on wind turbine power and axial force. Assume Density of air as 1.25 Kg/m3.
1 Discuss the step-by-step procedure to execute P & O algorithm for tracking the maximum power
2 from the sun.
1 List the main considerations for selecting a site for wind generator.
3
1 Derive an expression for the total power of a wind stream taking in to all
4 considerations m/sec, air density as.
1 Explain Betz model of expanding air stream tube to determine extraction of wind energy by
5 windmill.
1 Find the tip – speed ratio if a 6 m diameter rotor has rotation of 20 rpm and the
6 wind speed is 4 m/s. What is the implication of tip speed ratio?
1 Explain the variation of output of a wind turbine with tip speed ratio of the rotor.
7
1 Discuss the aerodynamic considerations in wind mill design in detail
8
1 Explain the working of Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) with main components
9
2 Find the maximum power output of a turbine if wind speed is 10 m/sec, air
0 density as 1.4 Kg/m3 and rotor diameter as 64 m
Two mark questions
1 Distinguish between Local winds and Global winds.
2 A wind turbine has a rated power of 100 kW and rated speed of 12 m/s. Estimate its power
output in a wind speed of 18 m/s.
3 A wind turbine has a rated power of 100 kW and rated speed of 12 m/s. Estimate its power
output in a wind speed of 9 m/s.
4 Define the tip speed ratio of wind turbines. Why it is important?
5 Name the device used to measure the Wind Speeds and on what effect will it work?
6 Explain the variation of Wind speed with consideration of height from the ground
7 List the factors responsible for distribution of wind energy on the surface of the earth?
8 What are the relative features of drag and lift type machines in Windmills
9 How can windmills be classified
10 Define the power coefficient of a wind turbine .What usually is the maximum
value of this parameter

Unit-5
Essay Questions
1 Explain how Electric power is generated from Hydro Resource?
Explain the following terms:
2
i)Tidal movement ii) tidal current iii)Spring tide and iv)Neap tide.
3 Explain about Micro hydro Power plant with a neat layout.
4 Explain the operation of horizontal axis wind mills.
5 Derive the expressions for P.E and K.E of the wave energy.
Explain with sketches the various methods of tidal power generation. What are
6
the limitations of each method?
7 List the advantages and disadvantages of Tidal energy.
8 With usual notations, derive an expression for maximum power output of wind turbine.
The observed difference between the high and low water ride is 8.5 m, for a proposed tidal site.
The basin area is about 0.5 sq. km which can generate power for 3 hrs in each cycle. The average
9 available head is assumed to be 8 m, and the overall efficiency of generation to be 70%.
Calculate the power in h.p. at any instant and the yearly power output. Average specific weight of
sea water is assumed to be 1025 kg/m3.
1 Write short notes on small head hydro power development.
0
1 Explain the basic components of Tidal Power Plants and give their significance.
1
1 Explain the basic components of Small hydroelectric scheme with a layout arrangement.
2
1 List the advantages and limitations of Tidal power generation.
3
1 Explain the different types of turbines that are used in Small scale hydroelectric
4 power generation.
1 What are the advantages and limitations of small scale hydroelectric power generation?
5
1 List the advantages and limitations of Small scale Hydroelectric Units
6
1 Derive an expression for Power generated by a Tidal System
7
1 Explain how the electric power is generated from hydro Power with necessary equations
8
1 What are the site requirements to construct a Tidal Power Plant
9
A tidal power plant of the simple single basin type has a basin area of 30x106
2 m2. The tide has a range of 12m. The turbine, however, stops operating when
0 the head on it falls below 3m. Calculate the energy generated in 1 filling (or
emptying) process in kWh if the turbine generator efficiency is 0.73
Two mark questions
1 Distinguish between large, small and Micro hydro systems.
2 Distinguish between tidal, Ocean thermal and Wave Energy.
3 Briefly explain cavitation that may occur in a reaction turbine.
4 Explain the difference in method of operation between an impulse turbine and
reaction turbine.
5 Explain the difference between spring and neap tides.
6 Give the classification of small hydro Power stations
7 Explain the basic principle of Tidal Power.
8 List the difficulties in tidal power developments
9 List the advantages of Small hydro power
10 Sea waves are irregular in amplitude. How significant wave height is defined?

Unit-6
Essay Questions
1 Write short notes on the following: i) Pyrolysis ii) Fuel Cell.
2 What is meant by anaerobic digestion? List the factors that affect bio digestion
3 Explain the constructional details and working of KVIC digester.
4 Explain how the heat is extracted from hot dry rocks?
5 With a neat sketch, explain Janta model digestion plant.
6 Explain the main type of turbines, which may be used for Geothermal energy conversion
7 What is a fuel cell? Describe the principle of working of a fuel cell with reference to H2-O2 cell.
8 What are the advantages and disadvantages of floating drum plant? Explain.
9 Explain the working of fuel cell with a neat sketch.
1 Describe the classification of fuel cell. With a neat sketch explain the working of fuel cell
0
1 What is meant by anaerobic digestion? What are the factors that effect biodigestion?
1 Explain briefly
1 List the advantages, disadvantages and environmental impacts of Biomass.
2
1 Explain the current – voltage characteristics of Fuel Cell and give its
3 Significance.
1 Explain the principle of working of a H2 – O2 fuel cell.
4
1 Explain the process of Single stage gasifier in detail.
5
1 List the advantages, disadvantages and environmental impacts of Biomass.
6
1 What is meant by geothermal energy? Why it is called renewable energy?
7 What are the deciding factors to use in power generation
1 What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy?
8
1 Explain about dry, wet and Hot water geo thermal systems?
9
2 What is meant by geothermal energy? Why it is called renewable energy?
0 What are the deciding factors to use in power generation
2 Compare between Geothermal Power plant and Conventional thermal Power
1 plant.
Two mark questions
1 List the materials used for biogas generation.
2 Classify Geothermal Sources.
3 What benefits may occur if an anaerobic digester is installed at a cattle farm?
4 Name and quantify anaerobic digestion temperature ranges
5 Write short notes on applications of fuel cells.
6 Explain the process of Photosynthesis.
7 What are the various losses occurring in the fuel cell?
8 List the various Biomass Resources
9 Explain the various characteristics of Fuel cell
10 Explain the process of Photosynthesis.