AIRE 160 CIC Approval: 12/11/2008 BOT APPROVAL: 01/22/2009 STATE APPROVAL: EFFECTIVE TERM: SECTION I SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT CITY COLLEGE ASSOCIATE DEGREE COURSE OUTLINE SUBJECT AREA AND COURSE NUMBER: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environmental Control Technology 160 COURSE TITLE: Solar Energy Utilization Theory Units: 3 Grade Only CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course studies solar-thermal and photovoltaic (PV) systems, siting considerations, types of collectors and systems, operating efficiencies, building codes and solar rights. Topics include: passive and active solar thermal systems; residential and commercial systems for water heating, space heating, space cooling, process heating, swimming pool heating, and hybrid systems. Study of photovoltaic technologies includes the solar cell, independent and grid-connected systems and electric bill reduction strategies. This course is intended for students pursuing certificates or an associate degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Environmental Control Technology. REQUISITES: Advisory: Corequisite: AIRE 161 AIRE 100 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent AIRE 124 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent FIELD TRIP REQUIREMENTS: May be required TRANSFER APPLICABILITY: Associate Degree Credit & transfer to CSU and/or private colleges and universities TOTAL LECTURE HOURS: 48-54 TOTAL LAB HOURS: STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to: 1. Determine the optimal solar collector location and orientation for a particular site. 2. Calculate the solar collector array area necessary for a solar domestic water heating, space heating or swimming pool heating system. 3. Create a plumbing diagram for an open-loop or closed-loop solar domestic water heating system. 4. Calculate the correct pump and pipe sizing for a given solar space heating system. 5. Develop a wiring diagram for a grid-connected photovoltaic system. 6. Calculate the average daily electrical power capacity of an independent photovoltaic system with battery storage. 7. Develop a residential power and electric bill reduction strategy using a photovoltaic solar system, Status: Active page 1 of 5 Date Printed: 07/22/2010
and determine its average monthly savings. 8. For a given enterprise, develop a power and electric bill reduction strategy using a photovoltaic solar system, air conditioning thermal energy storage, and chiller load shifting. Determine its average monthly savings. SECTION II 1. COURSE OUTLINE AND SCOPE: A. Outline Of Topics: The following topics are included in the framework of the course but are not intended as limits on content. The order of presentation and relative emphasis will vary with each instructor. I. Solar Energy Fundamentals A. The Solar Constant B. Surface insolation C. Solar utilization D. Solar collectors 1. Flat plate collectors 2. Unglazed collectors 3. Boxed and glazed collectors 4. Parabolic reflector collectors 5. Evacuated tube collectors 6. Photovoltaic 7. Collector mounting E. Rooftop systems F. Ground-racked systems G. Solar energy system siting 1. Solar path 2. Collector azimuth 3. Collector tilt 4. Shading H. Weather patterns I. Building code requirements J. Tax Incentive and rebate requirements 1. Solar thermal systems a. Collector certification b. System certification 2. Photovoltaic systems 3. Commercial systems K. Solar Rights II. Solar Thermal Systems A. Solar swimming pool heating B. Domestic water heating systems C. Daily solar cycle D. Thermal storage systems E. Climate Zones F. Passive solar systems 1. Integrated collector/storage systems (ICS) 2. Thermosyphon systems G. Active/pumped solar systems 1. Open-loop/direct systems 2. Efficiency H. Freeze protection I. Closed-loop/indirect systems 1. Drain-back systems 2. Immersed tube-in-tank heat exchangers 3. External heat-exchange systems a. External heat exchangers i. Plate-type heat exchangers Status: Active page 2 of 5 Date Printed: 07/22/2010
i. Plate-type heat exchangers ii. Tube-in-tube heat exchangers iii. Tube and shell heat exchangers iv. Single-wall or double-wall b. Other closed-loop components i. Ethylene or propylene glycol ii. expansion tanks 4. Pumps and controllers a. Alternating current (AC) pumps with controllers b. Direct current (DC) pumps and photovoltaic panel 5. Piping configurations and pump sizing 6. Single-tank vs. Two-tank systems J. Space heating systems 1. Passive solar architecture 2. Building design and orientation 3. Overhangs and shading 4. Thermal mass 5. Active solar space heating systems a. Baseboard radiant/convected heating b. Radiant slab hydronic heating systems c. Forced convection hydronic heating K. Solar cooling systems 1. Absorption cooling systems a. Aqua-ammonia absorption b. Lithium-bromide absorption 2. Adsorption cooling systems L. Solar process heating 1. High temperature concentrator collectors 2. Mechanical energy output 3. Steam turbines 4. Stirling engine 5. Electrical generation M. Photovoltaic Solar systems 1. The solar cell a. Monocrystalline solar cells b. Polycrystalline solar cells c. Thin film solar cells 2. Solar modules a. Series/parallel connections b. Bypass diodes 3. Photovoltaic array wiring 4. Inverters 5. Grid-connected photovoltaic systems a. Switchgear b. Power purchase agreements c. Time-of-use metering d. Electric bill reduction strategies e. Load shifting 6. Independent photovoltaic systems a. Battery storage b. Charge controllers c. Hydronic head storage d. Chemical storage 7. Hybrid grid-connected/storage photovoltaic systems N. Practical application strategies for residential and enterprise photovoltaic systems 1. Photovoltaic application strategies for residences 2. Photovoltaic application strategies for commercial enterprises O. Integrated photovoltaic and conventional systems 1. Chilled water air conditioning systems a. Chilled water storage Status: Active page 3 of 5 Date Printed: 07/22/2010
B. C. D. E. 2. 3. b. Ice storage Load shifting Power and electric bill reduction strategies Appropriate Outside Assignments: Outside assignments may include, but are not limited to, the following: I. Internet research. II. Interviews of solar system owners. Reading Assignments: Reading assignments are required and may include but, are not limited to, the following: I. Course textbooks II. Solar industry publications III. Solar catalogs and specification sheets IV. Internet sites, such as: www.seia.org; www.solar-rating.org; www.calseia.org Appropriate Assignments that Demonstrate Critical Thinking: Critical thinking assignments are required and may include, but are not limited to, the following: I. Survey a site and design a solar energy system. II. Calculate pump and pipe sizing for a given solar water heating system. III. Develop a wiring diagram for a photovoltaic system. Writing Assignments: Writing assignments are required and may include, but are not limited to, the following: I. Written quizzes and examinations II. Write a report on an assigned solar energy topic. 2. METHODS OF EVALUATION: A student's grade will be based on multiple measures of performance unless the course requires no grade. Multiple measures may include, but are not limited to, the following: I. Quizzes and examinations II. Graded in-class writing assignments III. Graded oral reports IV. Graded Internet research assignments 3. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: Methods of instruction may include, but are not limited to, the following: * Lecture * Computer Assisted Instruction * Lecture Discussion * Collaborative Learning 4. REQUIRED TEXTS AND SUPPLIES: Textbooks may include, but are not limited to: TEXTBOOKS: 1. German Solar Energy Society. Planning and Installing Photovoltaic Systems: A Guide for Installers, Architects and Engineers, 2005 ed. Earthscan, 2005, ISBN: 9781844071319 2. Tom Lane. Solar Hot Water Systems, Lessons Learned 1977 to Today, B&W or Color ed. Energy Status: Active page 4 of 5 Date Printed: 07/22/2010
Conservation Services of North Florida, Inc., 2004, ISBN: 00000000000 MANUALS: PERIODICALS: SOFTWARE: SUPPLIES: 1. Scientific calculator 2. Compass ORIGINATOR: Thomas Davies CO-CONTRIBUTOR(S) DATE: 05/29/2008 Status: Active page 5 of 5 Date Printed: 07/22/2010