1

THE EDUCATION FOR WIND ENERGY SECTOR IN TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ATHENS (TEI ATHENS) - ENERGY TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Konstantinos Gkarakis, Petros Axaopoulos and Dimitrios Zigras

Renewable Energy Sources Laboratory, Energy Technology Dept. Technological Educational Institute of Athens (TEI Athens), Greece

Ag. Spyridona 17 GR – 12210 Egaleo, Tel.: ++30 210-5385307 Fax: ++30 210-5385306 Emails: ape@teiath.gr, kgarakis@otenet.gr

Summary The scope of the present paper is to present the course structure about the education for wind energy sector, the special courses for Renewable Energy Systems, the activities of Renewable Energy Laboratory and the research programs. The Energy Technology Department of the Technological Educational Institute of Athens provides high quality education in graduate and postgraduate level as an academic entity of Technological Education in Greece. It is provided knowledge in renewable energy systems and especially in wind energy sector through the studies, research activities and the cooperation with market professionals. 1. Introduction Wind power has experienced dramatic growth over recent years with more new installations than any other electricity-generating technology, including coal, gas and nuclear in 2009. The expansion of renewable energies as a way to fight climate change, enhance Europe’s energy security [1].

Wind energy education and research are indispensable for maintaining European technology leadership, developing, optimizing technology, reducing overall costs and improving turbine performance and reliability. In this way, wind can become a competitive power source in the long term.

Last decade, a continuously increasing number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses related to energy production have been implemented in Greece. However, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering studies in Greece have only recently started being involved in renewable energy sources issues, despite the fact that graduates have been working in the corresponding fields of construction, manufacturing, engineering consulting and academia. The Energy Technology Department was the first academic Department which has a certain educational and research orientation through the offered courses to the exploitation of renewable energy sources.

The present work describes the objectives, the structure and the basic principles of the educational procedure and work in the Energy Technology Department for renewable energy sector and especially in wind energy. 2. The Energy Technology Department

The Energy Technology Department was established in 1984 following the merge of two long operating Departments of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. The Department was created to cover the needs for specialized personnel in the multidisciplinary area of Energy. Aim of the Department is to cover the science of Energy in the fields of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering with focus in the exploitation of conventional and renewable energy sources, rational use of energy, generation, transportation, distribution, conversion, storage, control and use of electrical energy, energy management, energy saving and environmental aspects of energy. Relevant knowledge of business administration and legislation are also covered [2].

The Department is divided to three Sectors, namely (a) Energy Mechanical Engineering (b) Energy Electrical Engineering and (c) Sector for Energy Sources Exploitation and Systems Management. All Personnel, Laboratories, Educational and research activities of the Department are allocated among the above mentioned sectors.

The Sector of Energy Mechanical Engineering covers the scientific fields of energy production and transportation, energy conversions and storage. As a consequence the relevant

2

courses of the Sector are: Thermodynamics, Fluid mechanics, Heat transfer, Hydrodynamic engines, Engine parts, Internal combustion engines, Thermal turbine engines, Steam boilers ad thermal installations, Heating technology, Cooling and air-conditioning, Environmental technology.

The sector of Energy Electrical Engineering covers the scientific fields of generation, transportation, distribution, conversion, storage, control and use of electrical energy. Relevant courses of the Sector are : Electro techniques, Electrical networks, Electrical machines, Measuring systems, Analogue and digital electronics, Power electronics, Electric and magnetic materials, Power stations, Transportation, Distribution and storage of electrical energy, Electrical driving systems, Control and automation of electrical systems, Electrical installations, Electrical energy systems.

The Sector for the Energy Sources Exploitation and Systems Management covers the scientific fields of the exploitation of energy sources, simulation, control, economy and management of energy systems. Relevant courses are Informatics, Mechanics, Technical Drawings (Mechanical and Electrical), Control systems, Optimization and economic analysis of energy systems, Conventional and renewable energy sources, Cogeneration systems, Energy management, Energy efficient buildings, Energy economics, Legislation-Environment [3]. 3. Graduate studies

The course structure of the Department has been recently (2009) revised. The main characteristics of the course structure are the following [4]:

- All courses fall into one of two general categories: theoretical (consisting of lectures and theoretical practice) and mixed ones (consisting of lectures, laboratory sessions and theoretical practice). - Following European Education practice, to each part of a lesson a work load (WL) is assigned. - All courses are ECTS accredited in direct analogy to WL of the course. The total ECTS for the whole course is 240, while the total WL to about 400 equivalent semester hours. The course of study is structured in the following matter. The Department has two directions: the Energy Mechanical Engineering Direction and the Energy Electrical Engineering Direction. Common subjects obligatory to all students and elective courses allocated in two modules correspond to the two Department directions. 3.1. Common Core Courses (Obligatory for all students) 3.1.1. General background courses (10 courses in total). Math I, II and III, Physics, Informatics I and II, Engineering drawing, Mechanics, Electrical Technology, Energy Sources. 3.1.2. Special Background Courses (11 courses in total). Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Hydrodynamic Machines, Heat transfer, Thermal Turbomachinery I, Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) I, Electrical Networks, Measurement Systems, Electric Machines I and II, Electric Power Generating Stations and Power Economics. 3.1.3. General discipline courses (4 courses in total). Energy storage systems, Technical Law and Environmental issues, Energy System Economic Analysis, Business Administration. 3.1.4. Specialization courses common two both directions (7 courses in total). Renewable Energy Sources I and II, Automatic Control Systems, Cogeneration Systems, Energy System Optimization, Energy Management, Energy efficient buildings. 3.2. Specialization courses organized into modules. These courses are taken only by students of the corresponding direction (8 courses in total for the student).

3

3.2.1. Energy Mechanical Engineering Module courses (8 courses in total). Heating Technology, Thermal Turbomachinery II, Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) II, Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC), Machine Elements and Transportation Systems, Calculation of Air Conditioning Installations, Environmental Technologies. 3.2.2.Energy Electrical Engineering Module courses (8 courses in total) Analogue and Digital Electronics, Power Electronics, Electrotechnical and Magnetic Materials, Electrical Energy Generation and Storage, Electrical Drives, Electric Power Transmission and Distribution I and II, Electrical Installations, Energy System Applications. In conjunction with the corresponding courses, the following laboratories are taught in our departments. - Heat (Heat Transfer Lab, Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Systems Lab, Internal Combustion Engines Lab, Steam Boilers Lab) - Fluids (Fluid Mechanics Lab, Hydrodynamic machines Lab, Thermal Turbomachinery Lab) - Electricity (Electrical Technology Lab, Electrical Networks Lab, Measurements Systems Lab) - Electric Power Systems (Electric Machines Lab, Power Electronics Lab, Electrical Drives Lab, Electrical Power Transmission & Distribution Lab, Electrical Installations Lab) - Informatics, Control and Sources (Computer Science Lab., Renewable Energy Sources Lab, Control Systems Lab. Systems Optimization Lab, Economic Analysis Lab, Engineering Drawing & CAD) [5].

Graduates will find employment opportunities with wind farm operators, turbine manufacturers, and contractors providing maintenance and turbine support. Graduates will be suited to enter the workforce locally, or to enter the global energy industry.

4. Education in wind energy sector in graduate studies

In the course structure there are special courses for Renewable Energy sources and other courses which are included subjects relevant to electrical-mechanical equipment of renewable power plants.

Especially, there are the courses of Energy Sources at 4th semester, Renewable

Energy Systems I at 5th semester and Renewable Energy Systems II at 6th semester. Also, at electric machines I & II, Automatic Control Systems, Power Electronics, Electrical Power Transmission and Distribution I & II and Energy System Optimization courses there are knowledge about the development, construction of wind energy plants. The aims of the two courses of Renewable Energy Systems, are the following:

The development of basic theoretical knowledge about wind energy. Acquisition of essential knowledge for the comprehension of the wind energy technology and for the selection, development, construction and operation & maintenance of windturbines/windfarms. Comprehension and use of computational methods for the energy optimised siting of a windfarm. Growth of energy conscience at the students.

The lessons of wind energy include theoretical and laboratorial exercises. Τhe

theoretical course concludes : Statistical processing of raw data, Long curves of wind, wind potential basics, analysis of measurements, kinetic energy of wind, windturbines aerodynamics, description of horizontal and vertical axis windturbines, advantages and disadvantages of wind energy, energy production estimation, autonomous, hybrid and interconnected plants, small windturbines, financial evaluation of projects.

The laboratorial exercises are:

4

Determination of characteristic power curve of an horizontal axis windturbine Influence of blade numbers at the electric power output. Influence of the blade angle at the electric power output. Determination of curve I-V for given speed of wind. Determination of curve I-V for given rotation speed of blades. Processing of real data from a meteorological mast.

The estimated learning results will be :

The technical and financial study of a windturbine/windfarm. Wind potential analysis and energy estimation for a wind energy plant. Energy management of installed windturbines.

5. Postgraduate studies

The Department of Energy Technology (TEI of Athens) became Heriot-Watt's University approved learning partner in order to respond to the increased demand for postgraduate studies. Heriot-Watt is one of the leading Universities in the UK and has authorized the TEI of Athens to conduct an MSc in the field of Energy that is currently undergoing an exponential growth. Master of Science in Energy in cooperation with Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Scotland.

The program has been approved by the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs (Ministerial Order: 124739Ε5/22-11-2006 ΦΕΚ 1787 β'/8-12-2006). It is a self-funded program and the awarded qualifications is recognized by the Greek responsible body (under the same terms that apply for the relevant qualification awarded by the University of Heriot-Watt).

Heriot-Watt University has ensured the quality standards of the MSc and provides the TEI of Athens with the content and the structure of the program, so that it will be equivalent to the one conducted on the grounds of the Scottish University. Furthermore, Heriot-Watt's academic policy is followed in all educational processes relevant to the program. The content of the MSc is renewed constantly, so that it matches the currents of the Energy field in Greece.

As required by Heriot-Watt University, Approved Teachers, which are also members of the academic personnel of the Athens TEI, participate in the educational process of the Postgraduate Study Program. The MSc is a one or two year/years course. It includes eight theoretical modules, as well as a dissertation module [6]. The aim of the MSc program in energy is to give you a general understanding of power plants and a deep insight and knowledge in technologies related to conventional and renewable energy which qualifies you to analyze, design, develop and operate energy systems. 5. Renewable Energy Sources Laboratory (RES Lab)

The Renewable Energy Sources Laboratory was founded and functions since September 1994. In this lab are realised the teaching and the laboratorial exercises for the course “Renewable Sources of Energy”, for the students of the Department. The education of students becomes in four mainly objects that are the solar collectors, photovoltaic, wind generators and the biomass, while is worked out thesis projects and research papers.

In the laboratory are educated annually approximately 160 students in the RES technologies. For this aim have been developed ten laboratorial exercises. Each laboratorial exercise is realized by two students that after they complete the exercise, will process the experimental measurements and the corresponding results will be recorded in a suitable leaflet that is delivered for correction.

There are three types of experimental exercises in the RES Laboratory. The traditional approach to practical sessions in real laboratories, the virtual laboratory and the remote laboratories. In the virtual lab each experiment is simulated by using software, while the remote laboratory refers to the real-time internet-based controlled experiment hardware. The results from comparative studies between remote and traditional laboratories have proved that they are comparable in effectiveness of learning outcomes [7]. As a result, the RES Laboratory of the Technological Educational Institute of Athens has developed a series of simulated experiments for educational use [8,9], and recently developed a

5

system that can perform a real-time experiment remotely via the internet in order to determine the characteristic curve of a 55 Wp photovoltaic panel. The panel along with the instrumentation and automation modules is placed on the roof of the laboratory and through a web server anyone interested can perform a live experiment (figure 7). The system developed is available through the following website: http://helioslab.teiath.gr/. The user has the sense of a direct contact with the system since they can intervene and alter the tilt of the panel and get a live visual feedback besides the remote instrumentation panel. The whole procedure takes a few seconds to complete and the characteristic curve is displayed in a chart giving the student and anyone else interested the chance to analyze the results and understand the respective theory, meanwhile the test data is stored in a file for future use. This type of remote experiment could be used for distance education, training, part-time study and help students with disabilities in participating in laboratory environment.

The subjects of thesis project are usually reported in detail experimental studies of

appliances or systems that exist in the laboratory or specialized subjects as: autonomous photovoltaic system, grid connected photovoltaic system, solar assisted heat pump, small windturbines, the 10m meteorological mast or from windfarms (under development or at operation phase). Also has been given dissertations by which have been manufactured original appliances, as: controllers, stand alone inverters and absorbent surfaces. It is worth to be mentioned that English Universities have dispatched in the RES Lab, Greek postgraduate students who study in them, for realization of their master’s dissertation.

The RES Lab has special software packages for the development of windfarms and the optimized energy production of them. Also, there is software package for the statistical analysis of measurements from meteorological masts.

The website of the RES lab is http://helios.teiath.gr

6. Research programs

A lot of research programs have been realized mainly in renewable energy sources sector in cooperation with Greek and foreign Universities. Ten projects co-financed by European Union and other sources are carried out jointly by the staff and other researchers from Universities or industry. Additionally, 50 students approximately elaborating their final projects and guided by the teaching staff are involved in a variety of applied research tasks. At this time, many of the graduates are working in top companies of renewable energy sector in Greece and abroad.

Furthermore, in the framework of TEMPUS program, the Energy Technology Department of Technological Educational Institute of Athens is the Coordinator of a project entitled "Curriculum development in Renewable Energy Technologies in Central Asia Universities" which is financed by European Commission. The objective of the project is the development of a complete Master course in Renewable Energy Technologies, in the Tajik Technical University - Tajikistan, and Innovative University of Eurasia- Kazakhstan, in collaboration with the following European Institutions: Royal Institute of Technology - Sweden and Helmut-Schmidt University of Hamburg – Germany (http://www.et.teiath.gr/creta/).

Result of the research activities is an important number of publications in scientific magazines, international and national congresses.

6

8. Photos

Photo 1 : Visit in a windfarm in South Evoia island.

Photo 2 : Windtunnel in RES Lab.

7

Photo 3 : The 10m meteorological mast. Photo 4 : Windtunnel at operation with a windturbine in laboratorial exercise.

Photo 5 : Informative material in a seminar about wind energy in RES Lab.

8

Photo 6 : Exterior view of the RES Lab with the installed equipment on the flat roof.

Photo 7: The pv panel 9. Conclusions During the previous years, a serious effort has been launched in the Energy Technology Department of TEI Athens, in order to design and organize a new frame for the education and research in Renewable Energy Technologies within the Department, in parallel to the modernization of the available laboratory equipment. Moreover the RES Lab is the part of the Department which intends to add to the quality improvement of the education being offered and to enhance significantly the employment opportunities of the graduates. In addition, it will create the specialized knowledge and experience required for the good operation of renewable energy sources plants in Greece.

9

10. References

1. A. Zervos, Christian Kjaer, Pure Power-Wind energy targets for 2020 and 2030.Foreword. EWEA report 2009; 4.

2. Department of Energy Technology TEI Athens <http://www.et.teiath.gr/english/history.html> accessed on 10 April 2010.

3. Department of Energy Technology TEI Athens <http://www.et.teiath.gr/english/structure.html> accessed on 10 April 2010.

4. Department of Energy Technology TEI Athens <http://www.et.teiath.gr/english/graduate.html> accessed on 10 April 2010.

5. Department of Energy Technology TEI Athens <http://www.et.teiath.gr/english/labs.html> accessed on 10 April 2010.

6. Department of Energy Technology TEI Athens <http://www.et.teiath.gr/english/postgraduate.html> accessed on 10 April 2010.

7. J. V. Nickerson, J. E. Corter, S. K. Esche, C. Chassapis, A model for evaluating the effectiveness of remote engineering laboratories and simulations in education, Computers and Education, 49(2007),708–725.

8. P. Axaopoulos, G. Pitsilis, P. Panagakis, Multimedia education program for an active solar hot water system, International journal of solar energy, Vol. 22(2) 2002, 83-92.

9. P. Axaopoulos, G. Pitsilis, Energy software programs for educational use, Renewable Energy, Vol. 32(2007), 1045-1058.