Sustainable Energy Systems and Applications

Abstract

We have been in a fossil fuel era and ended up with such a desperate picture! The key question here is: how to cure this problem? The common consensus to tackle this problem is that we need sustainable energy solutions which cover the following six key pillars, namely, (1) better efficiency, (2) better cost-effectiveness, (3) better resources use, (4) better design and analysis, (5) better energy security, and (6) better environment. These are essentially the main pillars and what makes this book really unique as "sustainable energy systems and applications."This book is research oriented, and therefore includes extensive practical features not found in solely academic textbooks. This book is essentially intended for use by senior undergraduate and graduate students in various disciplines ranging from mechanical to chemical engineering, and as a basic sustainable energy source on, even a handbook, for practicing energy engineers. Analyses of sustainable energy systems and their applications are undertaken throughout this comprehensive book, providing new understandings, methodologies, models, and applications, along with several illustrative examples and case studies. The coverage is extensive, and the amount of information and data presented is quite sufficient for several energyrelated courses, if studied in detail. We strongly believe that this book will be of great interest to researchers, scientists, students, engineers, and energy experts, and that it provides a valuable and readable reference text for those who wish to learn more about sustainable energy systems and applications.Chapter 1 addresses general aspects of thermodynamics to furnish the readers with background information on thermodynamic aspects, covering essentially two main laws (first and second law of thermodynamics) through energy and exergy analyses and efficiency assessment, along with some examples related to the analyses of sustainable energy systems and their applications. Chapter 2 discusses energy and environmental issues and energy sources and options and their impact of environment. Chapter 3 is a continuation of Chapter 2 by focusing primarily on global warming and climate change issues and their consequences. Chapter 4 focuses on energy conservation with some specifics on issues, measures, policies, strategies, and their assessments, and offers some illustrative examples. Chapter 5 vii viii Preface

An exergoeconomic-based parametric study to examine the effects of active and passive energy retrofit strategies for buildings

“…Nevertheless, recent research has been improving these typical methods to achieve less uncertain results [17,18]. As many researchers suggest [19][20][21], exergy represents the real value of an energy source, thus it should be the only rational basis for economic evaluation. Müller et.al [22] suggest that prices are a reflection of the exergy content of the specific energy carrier and the share of technology investment increases when low exergy sources are required.…”

Design, Simulation and Manufacturing of an Integrated Composite Material Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

“…These carbon rich fuels release CO2 to the environment which has a negative effect on the atmosphere. It alters the radiation-balance of the earth and promotes global warming [1]. This has forced the consumers to think of alternate sources which would be cheap at least in the long run.…”

Sustainable hydrogen production options and the role of IAHE

“…Alstrum-Acevedo et al [29] discuss chemical approaches to artificial photosynthesis to split the water molecule and generate hydrogen. In Dincer and Zamfirescu [30] there are several identified routes to generate hydrogen from renewable energy. Basically there are five kinds of energies which can be used to extract hydrogen out of hydrogen containing substances, namely electric energy, thermal energy, photonic energy, energy of nuclear radiation or nuclear particles and biochemical energy.…”