ME514 ADVANCED SOLAR ENERGY UTILIZATION

Course Code:5690514
METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week):3 (3.00 - 0.00)
ECTS Credit:8.0
Department:Mechanical Engineering
Language of Instruction:English
Level of Study:Graduate
Course Coordinator:Prof.Dr. DEREK KEITH BAKER
Offered Semester:Fall and Spring Semesters.

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, successful students will have the ability to develop, apply and interpret the results from the following general models:

  • Maximum (extraterrestrial) solar resources;
  • Actual (terrestrial) solar resources;
  • Energetic performance of parabolic trough collectors;
  • Energetic performance of Solar Thermal Electric Power Plants.

More generally, the successful student will be able to

  • Program these models using a language such as MatLab;
  • Use the programed models to run simulation and parametric studies;
  • Communicate their work through written reports and oral presentations.

Course Content

Advanced topics including passive, active and hybrid heating techniques. Thermal storage and solar ponds. Equipment in solar systems. Solar distillation and evaporation. Solar cooling and refrigeration. Solar pumping and irrigation. High temperature applications. Photovoltaics. Utilizations of other renewable energy resources; biomass, wind energy, etc.


Course Learning Outcomes

Successful students will have demonstrated the ability to 

1. Develop, apply and interpret the results from the following general models through projects:

  • Maximum (extraterrestrial) solar resources;
  • Actual (terrestrial) solar resources;
  • Energetic performance of parabolic trough collectors;
  • Energetic performance of Solar Thermal Electric Power Plants.

2. Work through open-ended projects that include 

  • Programing models using a language such as MatLab;
  • Using the programed models to run simulation and parametric studies; 
  • Communicating their work through written reports and oral presentations.