Solution to problem 1

a. Let us first find the available biggest wind turbine. By searching internet, it was found that
currently the biggest wind turbine under operation is Emercon E- 126 model [1]. This model has
a capacity of 7 MW and its rotor diameter is 126 m.

For calculations of total land area required we will use a 4 by 10 spacing [2], which means the
spacing between two rows is 10 times rotor diameter and the spacing between two turbines is a
row is three times the rotor diameter.

No of turbines required = 830 MW/ 7 MW ~= 120

So in a single row there will be 60 turbines.

Row spacing = 10* rotor dia = 10* 126 m ~= 1.25 km

Total space required for each row ~= 60*(4*rotor dia) = 240*126 m ~= 30.25 km

Land required = 1.25*30.25 sq km = 37.8 sq km ~= 9,500 acres

b. In this case the power output from each turbine will be = 0.6*7 MW = 4.2 MW

Hence number of turbine required will be = 830 MW/4.2 MW = 198

So in a single row there will be 99 turbines

Row spacing = 10* rotor dia = 10* 126 m ~= 1.25 km

Total space required for each row ~= 99*(4*rotor dia) = 396*126 m ~= 49.9 km

Land required = 1.25*49.9 sq km 62.375 sq km ~= 9,500 acres ~= 15,500 acres

c. From available data, it is found that the maximum efficiency of commercial solar panels is
around 15% (module: HIP- 200 BA 19/20, manufactured by Saniyo Electric) [3]. Also the
intensity of solar radiation in Orlando, FL is 0.22 kW/m2 [4].

So using this data the land area required for 830 MW of power would be
= 830 x 10^6/(0.15 x0.22 x 10^3)
~= 6250 acres
References
[1]. http://www.metaefficient.com/news/new-record-worlds-largest-wind-turbine-7-
megawatts.html
[2]. http://www.powernaturally.org/programs/wind/toolkit/13_windpowerproject.pdf
[3]. http://sroeco.com/solar/most-efficient-solar-panels
[4]. http://www.solarpanelsplus.com/solar-insolation-levels/
Solution to problem 2

coal
gas
oil
nuclear
hydro
bio
solar
wind

2006 energy consumption in United States based on different sources

coal
gas
oil
nuclear
hydro
bio
solar
wind

2030 projection of energy consumption in United States based on different sources

Reference:

http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/docs/weo2008/WEO2008.pdf
Solution to problem 3

Here we do the problem based on the data in problem 2. Hence we need to make some
assumptions, while some of the conclusions are quite obvious from problem 2. For example, as
we know the fuel coal cannot be used in any kind of reciprocating engines. Hence all the
portions of this fuel must go to the turbomachinery part, for example steam turbine where the
boiler produces superheated steam by burning coal. For oil and gas part we assume that they
are equally used both in turbomachinery and in other engines. Hence the obtained pie-charts
are presented below.

turbine
genset
photovoltaic
electromechanical

2006 energy consumption in United States based on different conversion mechanism

 turbine
genset
photovoltaic
electromechanical

2030 projection of energy consumption in US based on different conversion mechanism

Solution to problem 4

From references [1-7] the average wind speed along I-10 is taken as 10.0 mph. Given the
average wind speed and the space of the median in the high ways, a good model as found by
searching on internet is Southeast Air company’s Air X Model [8]. This model’s rotor diameter is
1.15 m. The performance curve for the model as found in [9] is shown below.

So for 10 mph average wind speed the monthly output from one turbine is nearly 20 kWh.
Hence the annual output would be around 240 kWh.

Now the total no of turbines along I-10 with a spacing of 8 rotor dia would be

= total length of I- 10/ spacing

= 3959 x 10^3/(8 x 1.15)

= 430326.087
 So the total annual output from all the turbines = 430326 x 240 kW-hr

~= 103.25 GW-hr

References

[1]. http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps.asp

[2]. http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/pdfs/wind_maps/us_windmap.pdf

[3]. http://sroeco.com/solar/most-efficient-solar-panels

[4]. http://www.solarpanelsplus.com/solar-insolation-levels/

[5]. http://www.weatherimages.org/data/imag123.html

[6]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_10

[7]. http://www.sercc.com/climateinfo/historical/avgwind.html

[8]. http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/small_wind_turbines_small_wind_generators_gallery.htm

[9]. http://www.windenergy.com/documents/spec_sheets/0083_rev_c_air-x_single.pdf
 Solution to problem 5

As stated in the solution of problem-1, from available data, it is found that the maximum
efficiency of commercial solar panels is around 15% (module: HIP- 200 BA 19/20, manufactured
by Saniyo Electric) [1]. Also the intensity of solar radiation in Orlando, FL is 0.22 kW/m2 [2].

Now,

The energy from 1 m2 area per year = ( 0.15 x 0.22 ) KW x (365 x 24) hrs

= 289 KWh

Now,

50,000 sq ft = 50,000 x (12/39.37) x (12/39.37) sq meter = 4645.171 sq m

Therefore the total energy output from an area of 5000 sq ft per year would be

= 289 x 4645.171 KW hr

= 1342454.419 KW hr

References

[1]. http://sroeco.com/solar/most-efficient-solar-panels

[2]. http://www.solarpanelsplus.com/solar-insolation-levels/
 Solution to problem 6

The curve is plotted for different values of the shape parameter while the two other parameters are
fixed.

0.07

0.06

0.05
λ(t)
0.04 beta = 0.75
beta = 1.5
0.03
beta = 2
0.02 beta = 0.5

0.01

0
0 100 200 300 400

Now, the curve is plotted for different values of the scale parameter while the two other parameters are
fixed.

0.02
0.018
0.016
0.014
λ(t) 0.012
eta = 100
0.01
eta = 90
0.008
eta = 75
0.006
0.004
0.002
0
0 100 200 300 400

t
Finally, the curve is plotted for different values of the time parameter while the two other parameters
are fixed.

0.016

0.014

0.012
λ(t)
0.01
t0 = 10
0.008
t0 = 20
0.006
t0 = 40
0.004

0.002

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
-0.002