INTRODUCTION: Limitation of conventional energy sources, need and growth of
alternative energy source, basic scheme and application of direct energy conservation.
MHD GENERATORS: Basic principles, gaseous, conduction and hall effect, generator and
motor effect, different types of MHD generator, types of MHD material, conversion
effectiveness, analysis of constant area MHD generator, practical MHD generator, application
and economic aspects.
THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS: Thermoelectric effects, Seeback effect, Peltier
effect, Thomson effect, thermoelectric converters, figures of merit, properties of
thermoelectric material, brief description of the construction of thermoelectric generators,
application and economic aspect.
PHOTO VOLTAIC EFFECT AND SOLAR ENERGY: Photovoltaic effect, different
types of photovoltaic cells, cell fabrication, characteristics of photovoltaic cells, conversion
efficiency, solar batteries, application, solar radiation analysis, solar energy in India, solar
collectors, solar furnaces and applications.
FUEL CELLS: Principle of action, Gibb's free energy, general description of fuel cells,
types, construction, operational characteristics and application.
MISCELLANEOUS SOURCES: Geothermal system, characteristic of geothermal
resources, choice of generator set, electric equipment precautions low hydro-plants,
definition of low head hydrometer, choice of site, choice of turbine wind power, history of
wind power, wind machines, theory of wind power, characteristic of suitable wind power
site, tidal energy, idea of tidal energy, tidal electric generator.