MEB4513 RENEWABLE ENERGY I

JAN 2023
ASSIGNMENT 1

Name : Chan Khai Xian

Student ID : 18001998
Department : Mechanical Engineering
Lecturer : Dr. Taib Iskandar B Mohamad
1. Discuss the sources and magnitude of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel power generation
around the world.

According to [1], the source and magnitude of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel and industry in
each country around the world could be observed (Figure 1 and Figure 2). In 2021, China had
contributed the most CO2 emission globally, with a magnitude of 11.47 billion tonnes. This is
followed by United States which accounted for 5.01 billion tonnes and then India with 2.71
billion tonnes. It could be seen that the sources of CO2 emission from fossil fuel power
generation mostly were from developed countries instead of developing countries. As a
highlight, Malaysia had contributed 256.05 million tonnes of emission to the world in 2021.

Figure 1: Annual CO2 emissions, 2021. Retrieved from [1].

Figure 2: Annual CO2 emissions by world region. Retrieved from [1].

2. Explain the effects of greenhouse gases towards global warming. What is the increase of
global temperature as a result of greenhouse gases in the last two decades (1800-1899 & 1900-
1999).

Based on [4], the major long-lived greenhouse gases include Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane
(CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O) and Fluorinated Gas (eg. chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs). According
to [2], greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that absorbed 90% of the reflected sunlight heat
(invisible infrared light) from earth surface, and redirect the heat back toward the earth which
lead to further warming. In other words, greenhouse gases allow the sun’s light shine onto
Earth’s surface, but they trap the heat that reflects back up into the atmosphere, which is similar
to the insulating glass walls of a greenhouse, hence the name [3].

For most of the past 800,000 years—much longer than human civilization has existed—
the concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere was between about 200 and 280 parts
per million [2]. The greenhouse effect was actually important to keep Earth climate
comfortable. Without it, surface temperatures would be cooler by about 33 degrees Celsius (60
degrees Fahrenheit), and many life forms would freeze. However, in the past century, the
human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation had led to the catastrophic
increase of that concentration to more than 400 parts per million [2]. Consequently, this
abnormally higher concentrations of greenhouse gases (especially CO2) cause the global
temperature to rise due to the extra heat trapped.

Based on the data presented in [5], surface temperature of Earth in 2022 was 1.55 °F
(0.86 °Celsius) warmer than the 20th-century average of 57.0 °F (13.9 °C) and 1.90 ˚F (1.06
˚C) warmer than the pre-industrial period (1880-1900). According to [6], the combined land
and ocean temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.14 ˚F (0.08 °C) per decade since
1880; however, the average rate of increase since 1981 has been more than twice as fast: 0.32 °F
(0.18 °C) per decade.

Figure 3: Yearly Global Land and Ocean Average Temperature from 1880-2022. Retrieved from [6].
3. A double tracking solar water heating system is to be designed and install in the UK.
Determine the optimal solar thermal collector tilt angle in London on the 1st January of 2023.

According to [7], solar panels show best performance when they face directly into the sun,
more precisely: when the panel is perpendicular to the incoming sunlight rays. However, this
task has considerable difficulty since the sun moves across the sky throughout the day. It also
changes angle in the sky as the seasons change.

There are two angles needed to determine the optimal performance of solar collector,
which are the solar azimuth angle as well as tilt angle. Firstly, the optimal solar azimuth angle
for solar panels should face toward the equator. That is, face the panels south if the location is
in Northern Hemisphere whereas face the panels north if the location is in Southern
Hemisphere. Since London is in the Northern Hemisphere, with a latitude of 51.5072° N, the
solar panels should be faced toward true south. To determine the true south direction at
London, the difference between magnetic south (south on compass) and true south, i.e.
Magnetic declination is determined to be +0.65° using online calculation from [8]. Since
London is in the Northern Hemisphere, the positive Magnetic Declination indicates that the
true south can be found by first locating the magnetic south, then rotates the collector 0.65° to
the east.

According to [7], for the optimal tilt angle of solar collector, it should be set to be
equal to the latitude. Since the latitude of London is 51.5072° N, thus the optimal tilt angle of
the solar collector can be set as 51°. Another method to determine this optimal tile angle is by
using the equation from [9], the optimal tilt angle of London that located in the Northern
Hemisphere can be computed using the formula below:

𝑂𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 (𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑝𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒)

= 1.3793 + 𝜙[1.2011 + 𝜙(−0.014404 + 𝜙0.000080509)]
= 1.3793 + 51.5072[1.2011 + 51.5072(−0.014404 + 51.5072 ∗ 0.000080509)]
= 𝟑𝟔. 𝟎𝟑𝟐𝟑°

Where 𝜙 = 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒

In addition, according to [10], on 1st January 2023, the season experienced in London was
Winter. Thus To lean toward more production in the winter, the solar collectors should be tilted
at latitude plus 10-15°, which gives range of angle 61-66° or 46.03-51.03°.
4. A solar water heating system using 2 units of 1-m x 2-m flat plate collector operates between
10 am and 4 pm. During this time, the average solar irradiation in 400 kWh/m2, and the
increase of water temperature in a 100-liter tank was recorded to be 30 °C. Determine the
efficiency of this system.

Given:

Parameters Value
Number of flat plate collector, N 2
Area of plate, Ac 1 m x 2 m = 2 m2
Time of operation, t 16:00 – 10:00 = 6 hour
Average Solar Irradiation, Is 400 kWh/m2
Volume of water, V 100 L
Increase in Water Temperature, ΔT 30 °C
Density of water, ρ 997 kg/m3
Specific heat capacity of water, Cp 4.182 kJ/kg°C

The efficiency of the system is given by equation:

𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑚̇𝐶𝑝 Δ𝑇

𝜂𝑖 = =
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑆𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑁𝐴𝑐 𝐺𝑡

Assume that the average solar irradiance, Gt is obtained by finding the rate of average rolar
𝑘𝑊ℎ
𝐼𝑠 400
𝑚2
Irradiation, being received from sun. Thus, 𝑮𝒕 = = = 𝟔𝟔. 𝟔𝟕𝒌𝑾/𝒎𝟐 .
𝑡 6ℎ

Meanwhile, the mass flow rate, 𝑚̇ could be found by using following equation:

𝑘𝑔 0.001𝑚3
𝜌𝑉 (997 3 ) (100𝐿 ∗ )
𝑚 1𝐿
𝑚̇ = = = 0.004616𝑘𝑔/𝑠
𝑡 3600𝑠
6ℎ ∗
1ℎ

Hence, the efficiency of the system which consists of 2 units of flat plate collector is given by

𝑘𝑔
𝑚̇𝐶𝑝 Δ𝑇 (0.004616 𝑠 )(4.182𝑘J/kg°C)(30°C) 0.5791𝑘𝑊
𝜂𝑖 = = = = 0.217%
𝑁𝐴𝑐 𝐺𝑡 2(2𝑚2 )(66.67𝑘𝑊/𝑚2 ) 266.68𝑘𝑊
References

[1] H. Ritchie, M. Roser, and P. Rosado, “CO2 emissions,” Our World in Data, 11-May-
2020. [Online]. Available: https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions. [Accessed: 10-
Feb-2023].

[2] M. Denchak, “Greenhouse effect 101,” NRDC, 27-Apr-2022. [Online]. Available:

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/greenhouse-effect-101. [Accessed: 10-Feb-2023].

[3] H. Costa, E. Sprout, S. Teng, M. McDaniel, and J. Hunt, “Greenhouse effect,” National
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[4] “Climate Change Indicators: Greenhouse Gases,” EPA, 01-Aug-2022. [Online].

Available: https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/greenhouse-gases. [Accessed: 10-
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[5] R. Lindsey and L. U. A. N. N. DAHLMAN, “Climate change: Global temperature,”

NOAA Climate.gov, 18-Jan-2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.climate.gov/news-
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2023].

[6] NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly Global Climate Report
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https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/202113.
[Accessed: 10-Feb-2023].

[7] “Tilt & Azimuth Angle: Finding the optimal angle to mount your solar panels,” Unbound
Solar, 22-Jan-2020. [Online]. Available: https://unboundsolar.com/blog/solar-panel-
azimuth-angle. [Accessed: 10-Feb-2023].

[8] “Magnetic declination in London, Great Britain (UK),” What is the Magnetic Declination
at your location? [Online]. Available: https://www.magnetic-
declination.com/Great%20Britain%20(UK)/London/905053.html#:~:text=Answer%3A
%20%2B0.65%C2%B0%20(1%C2%B039'). [Accessed: 10-Feb-2023].

[9] A. Beale, “Solar panel tilt angle calculator,” Footprint Hero, 26-Jan-2023. [Online].
Available: https://footprinthero.com/solar-panel-tilt-angle-calculator. [Accessed: 10-
Feb-2023].

[10] “Weather & seasons,” London Perfect. [Online]. Available:

https://www.londonperfect.com/plan-your-trip/practical-information/weather-
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