Discussing methods for maximizing available energy, Energy Conversion surveys the latest advances in energy conversion from a wide variety of currently available energy sources. The book describes energy sources such as fossil fuels, biomass including refuse-derived biomass fuels, nuclear, solar radiation, wind, geothermal, and ocean, then provides the terminology and units used for each energy resource and their equivalence. It includes an overview of the steam power cycle, gas turbines, internal combustion engines, hydraulic turbines, Stirling engines, advanced fossil fuel power systems, and combined-cycle power plants. It outlines the development, current use, and future of nuclear fission. The book also gives a comprehensive description of the direct energy conversion methods, including, Photovoltaics, Fuel Cells, Thermoelectric conversion, Thermionics and MHD It briefly reviews the physics of PV electrical generation, discusses the PV system design process, presents several PV system examples, summarizes the latest developments in crystalline silicon PV, and explores some of the present challenges facing the large scale deployment of PV energy sources.
The book discusses five energy storage categories: electrical, electromechanical, mechanical, direct thermal, and thermochemical and the storage media that can store and deliver energy. With contributions from researchers at the top of their fields and on the cutting edge of technologies, the book provides comprehensive coverage of end use efficiency of green technology. It includes in-depth discussions not only of better efficient energy management in buildings and industry, but also of how to plan and design for efficient use and management from the ground up.