Assignment 1 Unit MEC5886

Date: 27th September 2017

Time: Due date for Assignment 1 is Week 11 (Tuesday, 10th October 2017 until
6:00 pm)

Total marks 50

Note:
Write answers in detail wherever applicable.
Please submit the assignment via moodle online in MS word file or pdf (pdf is
preferred).
Attach assignment cover sheet
Please write your name, student i.d. and unit code on the assignment answer sheet.
You may use lecture slides, textbook, or other reliable sources that you wish, but be
sure to cite any sources you use. State all assumptions made.

Question 1. Solar Energy: Using the PVWatts online software, estimate the incident
solar radiation and AC energy output for a 6 kW solar PV panel in Phoenix, Arizona,
during the month of October. Note that the 6 kW electric rating is for the DC output.
Assume a DC-to-AC derate factor of 0.77 and an array tilt of 20. What will be the tilt
angle that can achieve the maximum annual energy output for this location?
(10 marks)
Hint: You have to run the PVWatts software online using this site
http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/index.php

Question 2. Solar energy: Suing the NRELs System Advisory Software (SAM),
estimate the levelized cost of electric power for the system specified in the above
Question 1. Assume that the, Cost of module is $ 2.00/W. The real discount rate is 6.00
%, the inflation rate is 2.00 %, and the lifespan of the system is 30 years. (10 marks)

Hint: You have to download the SMA software using this site
https://sam.nrel.gov/download and you can find description of software on
https://sam.nrel.gov/. The software is free of charge.

Question 3. Wind energy: Explain in detail the wind turbine performance using a plot
of power versus wind speed. Also provide the equation for power coefficient and
discuss its significance. (5 marks)

Question 4. Ocean energy: Explain in detail the tidal power and how it can be
calculated? (5 marks)

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Question 5. Hydropower: How is the power, head and flow rate of the hydroelectric
power plant related to each other and explain its significance. (5 marks)

Question 6. Hydropower: Do some research on the Malaysian hydropower dams and

based on the output power and dam height calculate the volumetric flow rate of water
needed to produce the required power for at least 5 dams in Malaysia. Provide the
names and location of the dams. (5 marks)

Question 7. Geothermal: Explain dry steam geothermal power plant with suitable
diagram. Also provide the environmental implications of geothermal power plants.
(10 marks)

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