Aims
Knowledge of the physical principles underlying primary energy resources, their availability and possibility of use. Energy transformations.
Contents
- Principles of thermodynamics.
- Technical thermodynamics.
- Definition of the energy systems and related problems.
- Dynamics of fluids for energy conversion.
- Renewable sources of energy: principles, sources and technologies
- Fossil fuels: formation, reserves, combustion elements and calorific properties
- Introduction to nuclear energy.
- Nuclear Fission.
- Nuclear fusion.
Detailed program
- Principles of thermodynamics.
- Technical thermodynamics. Thermodynamic cycles with quantitative examples.
- Definition of the energy systems and related problems. Evolution of the energy request. Sustainability of energy systems. Capacity Factor, Energy Return On Investments.
- Greenhouse effect and climate impact of energy production.
- Dynamics of fluids for energy conversion. Conservation of energy in an ideal fluid, Bernoulli equation, dynamics of a viscous fluid, lift and drag forces, circulation, flow on a wing profile, Euler equation for a turbine.
- Renewable sources of low-enthalpy thermal energy: solar thermal, geothermal, hydrothermal. Examples, potential availability, lines of technological development
- Renewable sources of energy of mechanical origin: wind, tides, sea waves. Examples and potential availability, lines of technological development.
- Hydroelectric energy. Power output from a hydroelectric basin. Impulse turbins and reaction turbines and respective operating ranges
- Biomass energy. Energy conversion processes of plant biomass. Selection of biomass coltures for energy production.
- Solar photovoltaic. Generalities on inorganic solar cells. Semiconductors. Silicon cells. Advanced technologies for efficiency optimization
- Fossil fuels: formation, reserves, combustion elements and calorific properties
- Introduction to nuclear energy. Binding energy, stability curve, radioactive decay, drop model of the nucleus, hints of the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter.
- Nuclear Fission. Chain reaction, activation energy, neutronics, reactor kinetics and moderator. Operating diagrams of thermal neutron and fast neutron reactors. Fuel cycle
- Nuclear fusion. Fusion reactions, hints of thermonuclear plasma physics, inertial confinement of plasma, plasma magnetic confinement, tokamak devices, thermonuclear reactor operation scheme
- Overview of electricity distribution networks and storage systems.