The use of energy is being shaped by environmental issues including the fear of global warming. This has resulted in the development of renewable energy sources and more efficient building technology. Examining trends in energy efficiency, this book explores energy technologies and fuels, their prospects in a world with greenhouse gas restrictions. It looks at the technical and economic tradeoffs of traditional renewables such as wind and solar, as well as large scale PV and concentrated thermal power. It also considers biomass technologies. For each of these technologies, it discusses planning, siting, installation, operation and maintenance, health and safety, power conditioning, and efficiency innovations.

Edited by a leading expert and with contributions from pioneers, the three-volume Handbook of Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings is a resource as dynamic and flexible as the field itself. The first two volumes cover the latest research and application of the mechanical and functional properties of thin films and coatings, while the third volume explores the cutting-edge organic nanostructured devices used to produce clean energy.

The first volume, Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings: Mechanical Properties, covers the mechanical properties (i.e., hardness, toughness, and adhesion), including processing, properties, and performance. It also offers a detailed analysis of theories and size effect, in addition to other key topics. Volume Two, Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings: Functional Properties, focuses on functional properties (i.e., optical, electronic, and electrical) and related devices and applications. The third volume, Organic Nanostructured Thin Film Devices and Coatings for Clean Energy, addresses various aspects of the processing and properties of organic thin films, devices, and coatings for clean energy applications.

A complete resource, this handbook provides detailed explanations for newcomers and the latest research and data for experts. Covering a wide range of mechanical and functional technologies, including those used in clean energy, these books feature figures, tables, and images that aid researchers and help professionals acquire and maintain a solid grasp of this burgeoning field.

Details fundamental principles driving energy consumption in an industrial set-up backed with illustrative examples Explains various alternative methods for discovery of energy efficiency and conservation projects Focusses on metal producing and processing facilities with a focus on environmental quality Supports maximum digitization of the energy audit assessment and report preparation processes Includes global case studies and tutorials at the end of the corresponding chapters

This book provides an insightful assessment of today's ESCO (energy services) industry around the world. Analyzing current trends, the volume discusses opportunities and problems of the ESCO industry in each country. It includes significant contributions by Pierre Langlois and Paolo Bertoldi. The author and contributors have reached into the far corners of the world to get trusted colleagues to tell the story of the energy services industry's development in their respective countries, and in their own words. Chapters cover selected countries from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North America, South America, New Zealand and Australia, as well as the overall global picture.

The book presents a broad-scope analysis of piezoelectric electromechanical transducers and the related aspects of practical transducer design for underwater applications. It uses an energy method for analyzing transducer problems that provides the physical insight important for the understanding of electromechanical devices. Application of the method is first illustrated with transducer examples that can be modeled as systems with a single degree of freedom, (such as spheres, short cylinders, bars and flexural disks and plates made of piezoelectric ceramics). Thereupon, transducers are modeled as devices with multiple degrees of freedom. In all these cases, results of modeling are presented in the form of equivalent electromechanical circuits convenient for the calculation of the transducers' operational characteristics. Special focus is made on the effects of coupled vibrations in mechanical systems on transducer performance. The book also provides extensive coverage of acoustic radiation including acoustic interaction between the transducers. The book is inherently multidisciplinary. It provides essential background regarding the vibration of elastic passive and piezoelectric bodies, piezoelectricity, acoustic radiation, and transducer characterization. Scientists and engineers working in the field of electroacoustics and those involved in education in the field will find this material useful not only for underwater acoustics, but also for electromechanics, energy conversion and medical ultrasonics.

The hydrogen car has been proposed as the solution to our oil problems, but how would it work, and what potential problems associated with it? This book addresses these questions and provides specifics about current developments toward a hydrogen-based energy infrastructure. It offers the reader an informed look at the current state of fuel cell power and transportation technology, and where it's headed.

This book features a comprehensive review of experimental gravitation. It is a textbook based on the graduate courses on "Experimental Gravitation" given by the authors at their respective universities in Rome: Sapienza and Tor Vergata. A number of different research topics in the field are covered: from the torsion pendulum (still today the tool of choice for measuring small forces or torques) to the large interferometers developed to observe gravitational waves. Techniques that are still under development are also discussed, like the pulsar timing array and space-based detectors of the future. This book is written by experimentalists for experimentalists. While the background physics is summarized for less experienced readers, the emphasis is certainly on experimental verifications: the strategy, the apparatuses, the data analysis and the results of many cornerstone experiments are analyzed and discussed in depth. This textbook serves as a useful resource for both graduate students and professionals working in the increasingly vibrant field of experimental gravity.

This new edition describes pressure and temperature sensitive paints (PSP and TSP) in global surface pressure and temperature measurements in aerodynamics and fluid mechanics. The book includes the latest progress in paint formulations, instrumentation, and steady and unsteady aerodynamic measurements in various facilities including low-speed, transonic, supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnels. The updated technical aspects of PSP and TSP in the book will be useful for students and researchers in experimental aerodynamics and fluid mechanics.

This book covers different topics of nonlinear mechanics in complex structures, such as the appearance of new nonlinear phenomena and the behavior of finite-dimensional and distributed nonlinear systems, including numerous systems directly connected with important technological problems.

This book offers a fresh perspective on some of the central experimental and theoretical works that laid the foundations for today's quantum mechanics: It traces the theoretical and mathematical development of the hypotheses that put forward to explain puzzling experimental results; it also examines their interconnections and how they together evolved into modern quantum theory. Particular attention is paid to J.J. Thomson's atomic modeling and experiments at the Cavendish Laboratory, Max Planck's struggle to explain the experimental results of Heinrich Rubens and Ferdinand Kurlbaum, as well as the path leading from Louis de Broglie's ideas to the wave theory of Erwin Schroedinger. Combining his experience in teaching quantum mechanics with his interest in the historical roots of the subject, the author has created a valuable resource for understanding quantum physics through its history, and a book that is appreciated both by working physicists and historians.

Discusses IoT-based clean energy to automate the management of wind and solar farms. Provides solutions to diverse problems of smart grids such as load frequency and automatic generation control. Examines the challenges and techniques in improving grid security using sensor-based IoT systems. Defines smart electrical grid in managing power fluctuations with the quicker restoration of electricity. Introduces smart meters to record data on a real-time basis.

There are so many different energy a oefixesa available today, that many energy users are hesitant to do anything because of the apparent complexity of these a oefixesa . Large energy users have completely lost sight of the fact that they may not need time-consuming, large investment strategies. Strange as this may sound, many users today have little or no practical knowledge about their energy purchases. This book covers the basics of rates, components of energy purchases, and the methods and techniques required for maximizing energy savings and minimizing costs. For new energy manager or seasoned energy professionals, this book provides the foundation upon which any successful, long-term energy strategy should be based.

This book begins with an introductory chapter summarizing the history of fluid mechanics. It then moves on to the essential mathematics and physics needed to understand and work in fluid mechanics. Analytical treatments are based on the Navier-Stokes equations.

This book offers timely insights into research on numerical and experimental fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, mainly for (but not limited to) aerospace applications. It reports on findings by members of the STAB (German Aerospace Aerodynamics Association) and DGLR (German Society for Aeronautics and Astronautics) and covers both nationally and EC-funded projects. Continuing on the tradition of the previous volumes, the book highlights innovative solutions, promoting translation from fundamental research to industrial applications. It addresses academics and professionals in the field of aeronautics, astronautics, ground transportation, and energy alike.

The First Book Centered on Materials Issues of SOFCs

Although the high operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) creates opportunities for using a variety of fuels, including low-grade hydrogen and those derived from biomass, it also produces difficulties in materials performance and often leads to materials degradation during operation. These obstacles have proven to be challenges in the path to greater commercialization. Focusing on materials-related issues, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Materials Properties and Performance provides state-of-the-art information for the selection and development of materials for improved SOFC performance.

The Materials behind the Development of SOFCs

Summarizing progress in the field thus far, the book describes current materials, future advances in materials, and significant technical problems that remain unresolved. The first three chapters explore materials for the electrochemical cell: electrolytes, anodes, and cathodes. The next two chapters discuss interconnects and sealants, which are two supporting components of the fuel cell stack. The final chapter addresses the various issues involved in materials processing for SOFC applications, such as the microstructure of the component layers and the processing methods used to fabricate the microstructure.

An Important Enabling Technology for Future Sustainable Energy Systems

This volume shows how the performance of SOFCs can be improved through novel materials and methods, thereby, bringing them closer to commercialization.

Unifying the most important methodology in this field, Multi-Resolution Methods for Modeling and Control of Dynamical Systems explores existing approximation methods as well as develops new ones for the approximate solution of large-scale dynamical system problems. It brings together a wide set of material from classical orthogonal function approximation, neural network input-output approximation, finite element methods for distributed parameter systems, and various approximation methods employed in adaptive control and learning theory.

With sufficient rigor and generality, the book promotes a qualitative understanding of the development of key ideas. It facilitates a deep appreciation of the important nuances and restrictions implicit in the algorithms that affect the validity of the results produced. The text features benchmark problems throughout to offer insights and illustrate some of the computational implications. The authors provide a framework for understanding the advantages, drawbacks, and application areas of existing and new algorithms for input-output approximation. They also present novel adaptive learning algorithms that can be adjusted in real time to the various parameters of unknown mathematical models.

This book offers detailed insights into new methods for high-fidelity CFD, and their industrially relevant applications in aeronautics. It reports on the H2020 TILDA project, funded by the European Union in 2015-2018. The respective chapters demonstrate the potential of high-order methods for enabling more accurate predictions of non-linear, unsteady flows, ensuring enhanced reliability in CFD predictions. The book highlights industrially relevant findings and representative test cases on the development of high-order methods for unsteady turbulence simulations on unstructured grids; on the development of the LES/DNS methodology by means of multilevel, adaptive, fractal and similar approaches for applications on unstructured grids; and on leveraging existent large-scale HPC networks to facilitate the industrial applications of LES/DNS in daily practice. Furthermore, the book discusses multidisciplinary applications of high-order methods in the area of aero-acoustics. All in all, it offers timely insights into the application and performance of high-order methods for CFD, and an extensive reference guide for researchers, graduate students, and industrial engineers whose work involves CFD and turbulence modeling.

The book explores the two opposite natural trends of composite systems: (i) order and structure emerging from heterogeneity and randomness, and (ii) instability and chaos arising from simple nonlinear rules. Providing insights into the rapidly growing field of complexity sciences, the book focuses on the role of complexity in fracture mechanics. It firstly discusses the occurrence of self-similarity and fractal patterns in deformation, damage, fracture, and fragmentation of heterogeneous materials and the apparent scaling of the nominal mechanical properties of disordered materials, as well as of the time-to-failure after fatigue and creep loading. Then the book addresses criticality in the acoustic emissions from damaged structures and tectonic faults. Further, it examines the snap-back instability in the structural behavior of relatively large composite structures in the framework of catastrophe theory, and lastly describes the transition toward chaos in the dynamics of cracked elements.

This book introduces readers to the shell structure, operating principle, manufacturing process, and control theory for cylindrical vibratory gyroscopes. The cylindrical vibratory gyroscope is an important type of Coriolis vibratory gyroscope that holds considerable potential for development and application. The main aspects addressed include: operating principle and structure, theoretical analysis and modeling, dynamic analysis and modeling, manufacturing process, parameter testing methods, closed-loop control, and the error compensation mechanism in cylindrical vibratory gyroscopes.

Mechanical Engineering Design, Third Edition, SI Version strikes a balance between theory and application, and prepares students for more advanced study or professional practice. Updated throughout, it outlines basic concepts and provides the necessary theory to gain insight into mechanics with numerical methods in design. Divided into three sections, the text presents background topics, addresses failure prevention across a variety of machine elements, and covers the design of machine components as well as entire machines. Optional sections treating special and advanced topics are also included. Features: Places a strong emphasis on the fundamentals of mechanics of materials as they relate to the study of mechanical design Furnishes material selection charts and tables as an aid for specific utilizations Includes numerous practical case studies of various components and machines Covers applied finite element analysis in design, offering this useful tool for computer-oriented examples Addresses the ABET design criteria in a systematic manner Presents independent chapters that can be studied in any order Mechanical Engineering Design, Third Edition, SI Version allows students to gain a grasp of the fundamentals of machine design and the ability to apply these fundamentals to various new engineering problems.

Completely non-technical in its approach and focusing exclusively on managing the human element of energy consumption, this book demonstrates how to apply proven management techniques to significantly reduce these unnecessary energy expenses within an organization. It includes a broad array of examples of companies that have pioneered these efforts, actual savings, step-by-step methods, and typical energy-wasting pitfalls to avoid. The author communicates in an easy-to-understand and cohesive manner how to break the cycle of energy waste, making employees cooperative in saving energy and accountable for the energy they use.

The capability and use of IT and web based energy information and control systems has expanded from single facilities to multiple facilities and organizations with buildings located throughout the world. This book answers the question of how to take the mass of available data and extract from it simple and useful information which can determine what actions to take to improve efficiency and productivity of commercial, institutional and industrial facilities. The book also provides insight into the areas of advanced applications for web based EIS and ECS systems, and the integration of IT/web based information and control systems with existing BAS systems.

This book presents state-of-the-art solution methods and applications of stochastic optimal control. It is a collection of extended papers discussed at the traditional Liverpool workshop on controlled stochastic processes with participants from both the east and the west. New problems are formulated, and progresses of ongoing research are reported. Topics covered in this book include theoretical results and numerical methods for Markov and semi-Markov decision processes, optimal stopping of Markov processes, stochastic games, problems with partial information, optimal filtering, robust control, Q-learning, and self-organizing algorithms. Real-life case studies and applications, e.g., queueing systems, forest management, control of water resources, marketing science, and healthcare, are presented. Scientific researchers and postgraduate students interested in stochastic optimal control,- as well as practitioners will find this book appealing and a valuable reference.

Concern for the environment and for the impacts of environmental pollution has brought about the need to shift from the reliance on hydrocarbons to energy sources that are nearly pollution neutral and renewable. The Science of Wind Power is designed to provide a fundamental understanding for wind technicians and students alike, essentially examining how to harness the wind to produce energy for transmission and use, while keeping environmental impacts in mind. Wind power is one of the fastest-growing energy sources, as it offers many advantages such as being sustainable and a renewable energy source that has a much smaller impact on the global environment compared to fossil fuels. It is important to point out, however, that like wind itself, wind power has a good and bad side, advantages, and disadvantages (challenges), and these different aspects are discussed in detail herein. Features: Examines the mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and electronic aspects of wind turbines Provides the fundamentals of wind turbine aerodynamics, modeling, and testing Includes design standards for wind turbines and electrical distribution systems Delineates the differences between offshore and land-based wind power Discusses special-purpose applications, such as energy distribution and storage A must-have volume that includes the latest data, diagrams, and useful illustrations, The Science of Wind Energy offers a complete examination of one of the most promising sources of renewable energy and serves as a great introduction to the cross-disciplinary field for students and practicing engineers. The concepts and guidelines presented will equip readers with the scientific rationale required to make decisions that could directly affect the environment around them.

Newly revised and edited, this comprehensive volume provides up-to-date information on the latest developments which impact planning and design of electrical distribution systems. Addressing topics such as mechanical designs, materials improvements, total quality control, computer, and electronic circuitry, this book answers questions on everything from the basics of electrical and mechanical design to the selection of optimum materials and equipment. Beginning with initial planning consideration, this book gives a step-by-step guide through each stage of mechanical design of the principal facilities, including substation installation. Also included is data-backed assessment of the latest advance in materials, conductors, insulators, transformers, regulators, capacitators, switches, and substation equipment. Also covered is key non-technical and operation considerations such as safety, quality of service, load shedding, brownouts, demand controls and more. New material in the third edition includes data on polymer insulators, expansion of coverage of cogeneration, distributed generation and underground systems.