MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

AEN100  2009 Fall - 9999

Survey of Alternative Energy

1.         Identify Ohm’s Law and basic electrical units for resistance, current, voltage, power. (I)

2.         Apply basic scientific and engineering notation. (I)

3.         Convert common energy units. (I)

4.         Explain how photovoltaic solar system works. (II)

5.         Identify basic components of a photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant. (II)

6.         Explain how PV cell works. (II)

7.         Explain how inverter works. (II)

8.         Explain the function of transformer. (II)

9.         Assess facility energy usage for appropriate sizing of solar power. (II)

10.       Identify local power generating facilities and associated power ratings. (II)

11.       Explain how solar thermal power plant works. (III)

12.       Identify basic components of a thermal solar power plant. (III)

13.       Explain how wind energy works. (IV)

14.       Explain how geothermal energy works. (V)

15.       Explain how hydropower works. (VI)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

AEN100  2009 Fall - 9999

Survey of Alternative Energy

I.          Basic electricity

            A.        Fundamental units: current, voltage, resistance, power

            B.        Basic energy units: watt, Joule, KWh, BTU

            C.        Ohm’s Law and basic electric circuit

            D.        Scientific and engineering notation

II.        Solar Energy / Photovoltaic

            A.        Principle of operation

            B.        Plant components

                        1.         Solar Module

                        2.         Inverter

                        3.         Transformer

                        4.         Power line

            C.        Local photovoltaic power plants

III.       Solar Energy / Thermal

            A.        Principle of operation

            B.        Plant components:

                        1.         Collector Field

                        2.         Steam Generator

                        3.         Turbine Generator

            C.        Local solar thermal power plants

IV.       Wind Energy

            A.        Principle of operation

            B.        Commercial wind turbine

V.        Hydro Power

            A.        Water Cycle

            B.        Hydropower Plant: principle of operation

            C.        Regional hydropower plants

VI.       Geothermal

            A.        Principle of operation

            B.        Electricity generation

            C.        Local geothermal usage