Solar thermal systems are capable of providing a diverse range of energy services. In this course students explore the potential for solar thermal to address imminent global energy challenges. Topics covered include low and high temperature solar thermal energy collectors, solar thermal conversion processes, thermal energy storage, systems design and control. This course is a capstone course for the Thermal systems and Energy Systems stream in the Renewable Energy major. Theoretical material is balanced with practical experience in laboratories and design case studies. Students are encouraged to apply knowledge gained in these courses to the design of solar thermal systems in a systems engineering context.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon course completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:- Understand the concepts of energy quality and energy services in a systems engineering context
- Discuss the niche/roles for solar thermal systems
- Understand the potential impact of solar thermal systems
- Understand the solar resource and be able to use this knowledge for design of solar thermal systems
- Balance theoretical and practical aspects of solar thermal design
- Analyse simple solar thermal systems through software modelling and understand the limitations of such models
- Carry out experimental investigations of solar thermal systems and understand the implications of the results
- Produce engineering reports on experimental investigations and on design studies.
Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment and Professional Competencies
Indicative Assessment
- Homework assignments (30%)
- Laboratores (20%)
- Final exam (50%)
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
- 3 lectures per week
- 2 tutorials per week starting from week 2
- 2 x 2-hour laboratories
- Approximately 6 hours of independent study is required on average per week, in addition to contact hours.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
The primary recommended textbook is:- J. Duffie, W.Beckman, Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, Third Edition, John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2006.
An alternative textbook is:
- S. Sukhatme, J Nayak, Solar Energy - Principles of Thermal Collection and Storage. Third edition. McGraw Hill Education, 2013.
Preliminary Reading
Revision notes will be posted online before the classes begin.• Solar Power Plants, Springer-Verlag, Winter, Sizmann and Vant-Hull
- Concentrating solar power technology: Principles, developments and applications, Lovegrove and Stein
- Thermal Design and Optimisation, Bejan Tsatatonis and Michael Moran
- Applied Solar Energy: An Introduction, A.B. Meinel, M.P. Menel
- Solar Energy Engineering, A.A.M. Sayeigh
- Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems, Soteris A. Kalogirou
Assumed Knowledge
Sound understanding of the principles of heat transferMajors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $3096 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $4146 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2509 | 20 Jul 2015 | 07 Aug 2015 | 31 Aug 2015 | 30 Oct 2015 | In Person | N/A |
