Question 1
a) Continuing concerns about the ‘sustainability’ of both fossiland nuclear fuel use
have been a major catalyst of renewed interest in the renewableenergy sources
in recent decades. One of the criteria of renewable energy sourceis it does
not entail significant pollutant emission or other environmentalproblems.
i) Based on this criterion and solar photovoltaic panel life cycle(from raw
material extraction, manufacturing to disposal), discuss thesustainability of
solar photovoltaic panels.
ii) On a large scale, compare the sustainability between windenergy and solar
energy (PV panels).
b) Consider a horizontal axis aero-generator that designed todevelop 100 W
(electrical power) at a wind speed of 7 m/s. NACA 4412 airfoil isused for the wind
rotor blade and the design power coefficient is close to themaximum value of
commercial small wind turbine. The combined drive train andgenerator efficiency
is 0.9. Assume the air density to be 1.224 kg/m3.
i) Suggest the number of rotor blade. Provide the reasons for theblade
number selected.
ii) Estimate the power coefficient. Calculate the wind rotorradius.
c) One of the elements considered in energy efficient buildings ishigh performing building envelope. Determine 2 parts of buildingenvelope that applicable to a single-storey house in Malaysia.
