ECE 4364: Alternate Energy Systems

Course Description

Electric energy from alternative energy sources including solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal and ocean. Characteristics of direct conversion, electromechanical conversion, and storage devices used in alternative energy systems. Power system issues associated with integration of small scale energy sources into the electricity grid. Prerequisites: STAT 4714 or equivalent. (3H,3C), Spring Semesters. Topics covered are:

• Energy and the Environment
• Life-cycle Assessment
• Wind Resource
• Power from the Wind (Download Sample Course on Wind Energy)
• Wind Energy Conversion System
• Large-scale Applications
• Solar Resource
• Solar Thermal Systems
• Photovoltaic Systems
• Hydroelectric Power
• Geothermal Power
• Non-conventional Hydro Storage Systems
• Fuel Cells
• Electric Utility Integration

ECE 4364, Alternate Energy Systems, is completely web-based, and it can be taken for 3 graduate or undergraduate level credits. Anyone with a vt.edu PID can enroll themselves. Students are not required to come to campus to attend classes. For students who are in Blacksburg and in No VA area, they are asked to come to class for the mid-term and the final exams only. Students who are in other locations can submit their exams via email attachment, exams are sent to the student via email. Three lectures (containing audio and text materials) are released every week. Students can download them or play from the class web site. Users need to have media player or equivalent software available on their computers to play the audio. Students ask questions via email.

Textbook(s)

The lecture materials, text book, homework and homework solutions, sample test materials are posted on the class website, and managed through Course Info.

Instructor: Saifur Rahman
Professor
Alexandria Research Institute
206 N. Washington Street
Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
Tel : (703) 518-8080 (O)
Fax: (703) 518-8085
Email: srahman@vt.edu
Website: www.ari.vt.edu/people/rahman

Go to Course Site