Renewable Energy Technologies & Applications Flashcards
7 cards from real REP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Renewable Energy Technologies & Applications flashcards as text
What is the primary function of a Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) in a PV system?
Answer: Adjust the operating voltage to maximize power output
An MPPT continuously adjusts the electrical operating point of PV modules to extract the maximum available power under varying conditions.
In a concentrating solar power (CSP) trough system, which fluid is most commonly used as the heat transfer medium?
Answer: Synthetic oil (therminol)
Parabolic trough CSP plants most commonly use synthetic oil (such as Therminol VP-1) as the heat transfer fluid between the collectors and the steam generator.
Which wind turbine configuration is most commonly deployed in utility-scale onshore wind farms today?
Answer: Horizontal-axis, upwind, three-blade turbine
The horizontal-axis upwind three-blade design dominates utility-scale installations due to its high efficiency, structural simplicity, and well-established supply chain.
What does the 'capacity factor' of a renewable energy plant represent?
Answer: Actual energy produced divided by maximum possible energy over a period
Capacity factor is actual energy generated divided by the energy that would be produced if the plant ran at full nameplate capacity for the entire period.
Which geothermal resource type requires no water injection and uses naturally occurring steam directly to drive turbines?
Answer: Dry steam reservoir
Dry steam resources, such as The Geysers in California, produce superheated steam directly from the reservoir that can be piped straight to steam turbines.
In a run-of-river hydropower plant, what distinguishes it from a conventional reservoir-based plant?
Answer: It relies on natural river flow with minimal water storage
Run-of-river plants divert a portion of river flow through turbines with little or no upstream storage, making output dependent on natural flow variability.
What is the primary advantage of a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) in wind turbines compared to a fixed-speed induction generator?
Answer: Variable-speed operation with partial-scale power converter
DFIGs allow variable-speed operation by controlling rotor currents through a partial-scale converter (typically ~30% of rated power), reducing converter costs while improving energy capture.