1. Renewable Energy Electricity & Physics Basics Frank R. Leslie, B. S. E. E., M. S. Space Technology 1/24/2005, Rev. 1.0 fleslie @fit.edu; (321) 674-7377 www.fit.edu/~fleslie

2. Introduction Some students interested in renewable energy may not have had electricity and/or physics courses This course requires some knowledge of these subjects, but only the basics, which I provide here Electricity requires concepts of voltage, current, resistance, and power Physics requires concepts of force, pressure, leverage, torque, and power 050124

3. 1.1.0 Electricity: Introduction

4. 1.1.1 Electricity: Voltage 050124

5. 1.1.2 Electricity: Current 050124

6. 1.1.3 Electricity: Resistance 050124

7. 1.1.3 Electricity: Power 050124

8. 1.1.3 Electricity: Energy 050124

9. 1.1.3 Electricity: Safety With voltages exceeding some 50 volts, there is potentially a shock hazard that could lead to heart irregularities and death! With low voltages but potentially high currents, you could be burned by hot wires or arcing. This arc could cause temporary blinding. Preclude shorting of wires, especially from large battery systems. 050124

10. 1.2.0 Physics: Introduction 050124

11. 1.2.Physics: Force 050124

12. 1.2.Physics: Torsion 050124

13. 1.2.Physics: Power 050124

14. 1.2.Physics: Energy 050124

15. 1.2.Physics: Light 050124

16. 1.2.Physics: Pulleys & Gears Mechanical shafts may be coupled together by pulleys and belts or directly by gears 050124

17. 1.2.Physics: Safety Hazards of pinching or crushing from strong forces may exist! Use eye protection if flying parts might spin off breaking machinery Wear eye protection when working with batteries to avoid acid splashes Take care to keep hair and jewelry out of rotating or moving parts Plan what will happen if something explodes or shatters or otherwise goes horribly wrong! [news cliché] 050124

18. 1.3.1 Units Voltage, V in volts, for voltage drops across a load Electromotive force, E in volts, source voltage from battery, etc. Current, I in amperes or amps, flow of electrical charge Power, P in watts, ability to do work Energy, sometimes E or script E in watt-hours, work done Note: capital for direct current and lower case for alternating current Force, F in newtons or pounds force, for push or pull Torque, T in newton-meters or pound-feet, for twisting or torsion 050124

19. 1.3.2 Equations E = IR = sqrt(P/R) FIX THIS I = E/R = sqrt(PFIX THIS P = EI = E 2 /R = I 2 R Energy = Pt, where t is time F = mA 050124

20. Conclusion You have seen the basics of electricity and physics as used in renewable energy systems This information provides you with a basic understanding of how electricity and physics principles support renewable energy systems 050124

21. References: Books Brower, Michael. Cool Energy. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press, 1992. 0-262-02349-0, TJ807.9.U6B76, 333.79’4’0973. Duffie, John and William A. Beckman. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes. NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 920 pp., 1991 Gipe, Paul. Wind Energy for Home & Business. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub. Co., 1993. 0-930031-64-4, TJ820.G57, 621.4’5 Patel, Mukund R. Wind and Solar Power Systems. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1999, 351 pp. ISBN 0-8493-1605-7, TK1541.P38 1999, 621.31’2136 Sørensen, Bent. Renewable Energy, Second Edition. San Diego: Academic Press, 2000, 911 pp. ISBN 0-12-656152-4. 050124

22. References: Websites, etc. awea-windnet@yahoogroups.com. Wind Energy elist awea-wind-home@yahoogroups.com. Wind energy home powersite elist geothermal.marin.org/ on geothermal energy mailto:energyresources@egroups.com rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps/chap2/2-01m.html PNNL wind energy map of CONUS windenergyexperimenter@yahoogroups.com. Elist for wind energy experimenters www.dieoff.org. Site devoted to the decline of energy and effects upon population www.ferc.gov/ Federal Energy Regulatory Commission www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/ert/otec_hi.html#anchor349152 on OTEC systems telosnet.com/wind/20th.html www.google.com/search?q=%22renewable+energy+course%22 solstice.crest.org/ dataweb.usbr.gov/html/powerplant_selection.html 050124