Materials for Energy Applications
Module Notes
- Academic Fellow
Module Details
The basic types of renewable energy sources and the main technologies for their utilization
The fundamental properties and production methods for materials used in energy applications
The main types of composite and nanocomposite materials used in energy saving applications and their main methods of production and mechanical properties
The main photovoltaic technologies, the fundamental principles of solar modules operation and the design of photovoltaics plants
The basic optical and thermal properties of materials used in passive and active thermal solar systems
The main types of wind generators, the materials used for their construction and the energy production from wind plants
The fundamental principles of steam engines, the materials used as engine components and their main properties and failure mechanisms.
There are no prerequisite modules. It is however, recommended that students should have knowledge of the basic principles of Materials Science and fundamendals of systems energy balance.
A. Introduction to Renewable Energy Systems and utilization technologies. Current status in Greece, Europe and worldwide.
B. Fundamental properties of materials used in energy production. Optical, electronic, thermal properties and failure mechanisms. Basic aspects of sustainability, life cycle assessment and recycling.
C. Materials for energy saving. Composite and nanocomposite materials. Main types of composite materials. Molds and reinforced media different types. The role of interface in nanocomposite materials. Materials production and processing. Mechanical properties and failure mechanisms.
D. Materials for utilization of solar energy. Photovoltaics for electricity production. Semiconductors, Photovoltaic cells and modules. Different PV technologies. Design of PV plants and technoeconomical analysis. Passive and energetic thermal solar systems for electricity production and heating/cooling applications. Optical and thermal properties of materials,
E. Materials for utilization of wind potential. Wind power and basic wind properties. Main types of wind turbines and mechanical and aerodynamic properties of materials used as components. Design of wind plants and techno-economic analysis.
F. Steam engines for electricity production. Principles of operation, energy balance and Rankine cycle. Materials used as components of steam engines, basic properties and failure mechanisms. Application of steam engines for electricity production from fossil fuels, geothermal energy and biomass
Teaching Organization
LECTURES: 3 h/w
PROJECT / HOMEWORK: 1/semester
Total Module Workload (ECTS Standards):
1. One project per group of one or two students in a specific Renewable Energy Systems topic (50 % of final grade). The students present their project and deliver a 10 pages summary of the project.
2. Final written exams (50 % of final grade)
- Materials in Energy Conversion, Harvesting, and Storage, 1st edition, Kathy Lu, Print ISBN: 9781118889107
- Renewable energy, 3rd ed., Sοrensen, Bent, [Ηλεκτρονικό Βιβλίο] ISBN: 0126561532.
- Εναλλακτικές Μορφές Ενέργειας, 1η έκδοση, Β. Μπιτζιώνης και Δ. Μπιτζιώνης, Εκδόσεις ΤΖΙΟΛΑΣ, ISBN: 9789604183098