ACQUA ED ENERGIA

Knowledge and Understanding

Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired advanced knowledge of energy conversion processes associated with hydropower systems and will be able to understand the physical and engineering principles governing the energy exploitation of water resources.

In particular, students will acquire knowledge of:

• operating principles and characteristics of the main hydraulic machines;
• configuration and operation of hydroelectric plants;
• evaluation of the power and energy that can be generated from a water resource;
• main components of hydroelectric plants;
• unsteady flow phenomena in pressurized pipelines, with particular reference to water hammer and mass oscillations;
• wave generation and propagation processes;
• operating principles of the main technologies for the conversion of wave energy and other forms of marine energy.

Students will also understand the relationships between water resource availability, energy production, environmental sustainability, and integrated management of natural resources.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• analyze the operation of a hydroelectric system;
• determine the main hydraulic and energy parameters characteristic of a plant;
• evaluate the energy production of a hydroelectric plant based on the characteristics of the available resource;
• identify the most appropriate turbine type based on the available head and flow rate;
• analyze simple unsteady flow problems in pressurized pipelines;
• evaluate the main energy characteristics of wave motion;
• analyze the behavior of wave motion during its propagation toward the coast;
• compare different technologies for marine energy production based on the characteristics of the resource and environmental conditions.

Through practical exercises, students will develop the ability to apply engineering methods and models to solve problems that are not directly related to the examples discussed during the lectures.

Independent Judgment

Students will be able to critically interpret data and results relating to the availability and energy exploitation of hydroelectric resources, identifying the main technical, environmental, and energy factors that influence the choice of design solutions.

Students will also be able to compare different technological alternatives for hydroelectric and marine energy production, evaluating their advantages, limitations, and applicability.

Independent judgment will be developed through discussion of case studies and practical exercises.

Communication Skills

Students will be able to correctly use the technical and scientific terminology specific to hydraulics and marine energy and clearly describe:

• the operation of hydroelectric machines and plants;
• the main hydraulic phenomena associated with their operation;
• the processes of wave formation and propagation;
• the operating principles of marine energy production technologies.

Communication skills will be developed through discussion of practical exercises during lectures and will be assessed during the oral exam.

Learning Skills

Students will acquire the methodological tools necessary to independently explore issues related to energy production from hydro and marine resources.

They will be able to consult specialized texts, technical and scientific literature, and technical documentation relating to innovative systems and technologies, developing the ability to independently update their knowledge in a rapidly evolving technological sector.

The knowledge acquired will be usable in the design and management of materials and systems aimed at improving the quality of life, in accordance with the SDGs of the 2030 agenda:

• Goal 2 Zero hunger
• Goal 3 Good Health and well-being
• Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation
• Goal 7 Affordable and Clean energy
• Goal 8 Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production
• Goal 13 Climate action
• Goal 14 Life below water
• Goal 15 Life on land

The course includes:

• lectures, carried out in participatory mode to obtain student involvement and content maturation;
• guided exercises aimed at the numerical application of the concepts and methods of analysis and modelling most commonly used.

Students who have obtained recognition of the status of student worker, student athlete, student in difficulty and student with disabilities, pursuant to art. 30 of the University Teaching Regulations and the related regulation (D.R. n. 1598 of 2/5/2018), will be able to take exams in the extraordinary sessions reserved for students outside the course limits and will benefit from specific teaching support activities.

• Introduction
• Hydraulic reminders
• Hydraulic machines
• Types and layout of hydroelectric plants
• Hydroelectric energy production
• Elements of a hydroelectric plant
• Hydraulic issues related to hydroelectric plants: unsteady flow in pressurised pipes, water hammer, mass oscillations
  
• Energy from the sea
• The formation and propagation of waves
• Devices for extracting energy from waves
• Other devices for extracting energy from the sea

1. Mossa, M., Petrillo, A.F. (2013) Idraulica, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano
2. Magela Pereira, G. (2021). Design of Hydroelectric Power Plants – Step by Step (1st ed.).
3. E. Foti, “Note di Idraulica Marittima e Ingegneria Costiera”, DICA. 2006
4. P. Boccotti. “Idraulica marittima”. UTET, 1997.
5. S. Neill & R. Hashemi “Fundamentals of Ocean Renewable Energy”. Elsevier.
6. A. Pecher & J.P. Kofoed "Handbook of Ocean Wave Energy". Springer Open

• Types of hydraulic machines
• Types of turbines
• Schemes of hydroelectric plants
• Unsteady flow in pressurized pipelines
• Water hammer
• Mass oscillations
• Mechanics of waves
• Generation of waves
• Propagation of waves (shoaling, refraction, diffraction, reflection)
• Devices for extracting wave energy
• Other devices for extracting energy from the sea