Mathematics of Renewable Energy (ECM3904)
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Module status - Active
Module description status - Inactive
Credits - 15
College code - EMP
Academic year - 2013/4
Duration (weeks) - term 1
11
Duration (weeks) - term 2
0
Duration (weeks) - term 3
0
Number students taking module (anticipated)
20
Module description
You will explore the mathematics of renewable energy by considering case studies focused on: wind energy, solar energy, wave/tidal energy, and/or geothermal energy. Furthermore, you will investigate technical problems, e.g. Smart Grid and the connectivity of energy generation technologies to the National Grid, will be investigated. The module will also cover socio-political questions, e.g. social acceptance of renewable energy technologies and opinions of carbon control technologies.
Renewable energy sources, such as the sun, water in rivers and oceans and wind, are sustainable and forever lasting. However, they are not as reliable as the conventional sources for energy (fossil fuels, uranium, etc.). On this module you will study the mathematical models for core renewable technologies: how is energy harvested (electro-mechanical modelling), how can mathematics help to make particular technologies better (optimisation and control of energy extraction) and how to deal with uncertainties in renewable sources, e.g. how can mathematics help to predict wind and waves to have a more reliable energy extraction and how is electricity generated from renewable sources fed in to the National Grid (Smart Grid solutions)?
Renewable technologies are currently still very expensive (solar panels, geothermal plants, wave energy converters, etc.) and not fully socially accepted (wind turbines, solar arrays, etc.). You will study renewable energy issues that affect the society and policies.
Prerequisite module: ECM1903, ECM1904, ECM2902 or equivalent
Module aims
The aim of this module is to help you to understand different renewable energy sources and the technologies used to generate electricity. You will draw on different mathematical and statistical skills to help you understand each technology. Furthermore, the module aims to communicate socio-political issues with renewable energy.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. demonstrate the ability to constitute dynamical models based on electro-mechanical models for renewable energy generation technologies;
- 2. learn to make use of mathematical/statistical tools to analyse renewable sources for energy generation;
- 3. show knowledge of social issues and policies on renewable energy and clean technologies.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 4. develop systems of differential equations to model electro-mechanical systems;
- 5. understand basics in control and optimisation theory;
- 6. perform numerical computation to illustrate mathematical models for renewable energy generation technologies.
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 7. reason using abstract ideas, formulate and solve problems and communicate reasoning and solutions effectively in writing and oral presentation;
- 8. work in groups to solve in-depth problems effectively; and learn to analyse/assess other solutions for problems;
- 9. use learning resources appropriately;
- 10. display self management and time management skills.
Syllabus plan
- renewable energy issues: carbon control; social issues; policies in the UK and EU;
- water (wave/tidal/ hydroelectric power): basic physical (electro-mechanical) modelling of technologies: e.g. point absorber wave buoys, tidal stream turbines, pumped-storage hydroelectricity); dynamical systems; control and optimisation strategies;
- wind: statistics of wind conditions in the UK and theoretical potential for wind energy technologies; influence of climate change/extreme weather; policies (EU, national, regional, local), social acceptance;
- smart grid: mathematical modelling of electrical grids - graphs and networks; synchronisation (e.g. frequency and/or phase) of electricity from renewable sources.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | 101 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 33 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 5 | Problem class |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 11 | Tutorials |
| Guided independent study | 101 | Lecture and assessment preparation, wider reading |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 exercise sheets | 5 x 2 hours | 1-10 | Presentation of prepared scripts in class. Annotated scripts with oral feedback from tutor. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 80 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework sheet 1 exam-style questions | 5 | 2 hour | 1, 2, 4-10 | Annotated scripts with feedback from tutor |
| Coursework sheet 2 exam-style questions | 5 | 2 hour | 1, 2, 4-10 | Annotated scripts with feedback from tutor |
| Coursework sheet 3 exam-style questions | 5 | 2 hour | 1, 2, 4-10 | Annotated scripts with feedback from tutor |
| Reflective report | 5 | 2 hour | 3 | Oral discussion with tutor |
| Written exam - closed book | 80 | 2 hour | 1-5, 7-10 | Annotated scripts |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| All above | Written exam (100%) | All | August Ref/Def period |
Re-assessment notes
If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.
If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Module pre-requisites
ECM1903,ECM1904,ECM2902 or equivilent
NQF level (module)
6
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
25/5/12
Last revision date
9/1/13
Key words search
Wind, wave and tidal energy; solar energy; smart grid; energy policy; resource assessment.