MEAE-4700 Solar Devices and Renewable Energy
Spring Semesters

David N. Borton

Mail JEC 2049
e-mail: bortond@rpi.edu
home phone:  272-7863
FAX:  270-5204

Text: Goswami, Kreith & Kreider, Principles of Solar Engineering, 2nd Edition

Course Content

Study earth - sun dynamics and solar radiation including extraterrestrial and terrestrial insolation and measurement. Energy forms, values, and storage will be considered. Chapters 1 & 2 and other sources.

Study the designs, materials, types, efficiency, costs and operations of most of the following solar device systems:
 
Passive solar Chapter 7
Flat plate collectors Chapter 3
Concentrator systems Chapter 3
Heat engines  Chapter 8
Photovoltaics Chapter 9
Wind turbines Other sources
Solar powered chemistry Chapter 10
Solar ponds Chapter 8
Economics Chapter 12

Additional topics, interspersed throughout the semester, will include fossil fuels, global warming, Kyoto protocol, and ozone reduction as relates to energy policy, politics, costs, taxes and possible futures.

Class attendance is extremely important because not all material is in the book. Student participation is required, partly as individual presentations.
 
Approximate grading:  35% homework and classwork 
35% tests, quizzes, and projects
35% final exam

Hints about Borton and the course:

  1. I give hints.
  2. Units and conversions are important because energy is ubiquitous.
  3. Order of magnitude and sig. figs. give a feel for energy flows.
  4. Diagrams and coordinate systems carry information and understanding.