In solar cell production, metallization is the manufacturing of metal contacts at the surfaces of solar cells in order to collect the photo-generated current for use. Being one of the most expensive steps in solar cell fabrication, it plays both an electrical and an optical role, because the contacts contribute to shading, and to the series resistance of solar cells. In addition, metal contacts may reduce the solar cells voltage due to charge carrier recombination at the metal / silicon interface. Addressing these challenges could increase solar cell conversion efficiency while cutting their production costs. This work presents state of the art methods for the metallization of crystalline Si solar cells for industrial production as well as for research and development. Different metallization technologies are compared, and ongoing R&D activities for the most relevant silicon solar cell metallization technologies are described in detail. Chapters cover fundamentals of metallization and metallization approaches, evaporated, plated and screen-printed contacts, alternative printing technologies, metallization of specific solar cell types, module interconnection technologies, and also address module technology. Written by a selection of world-renowned experts, the book provides researchers in academia and industry, solar cell manufacturing experts and advanced students with a thorough and systematic guide to advanced metallization of solar cells.

Deploying lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries depends on cost-effective electrode materials with high energy and power density to facilitate lower weight and volume. Si-based anode materials theoretically offer superior lithium storage capacity. Replacing a graphite anode with high-capacity materials such as silicon will further improve the energy density. Durable, low-cost, and high-energy-density materials are vital to developing plug-in electric vehicles as affordable and convenient as gasoline-powered ones, while reducing carbon emissions. This reference presents the knowledge gained over recent decades in the materials science and chemistry of silicon and its derivates as anode materials for Li-ion batteries, and provides insights into developing Si-based anode materials for next-generation batteries. Coverage includes the structure and chemistry of silicon, electrolytes and chemistry of Si anodes, nanostructure and binder additives for Si anodes, surface modification and mechanical properties. Researchers in academia and industry will find this detailed reference a highly useful resource.

Lightning is important for all scientists and engineers involved with electric installations. It is gaining further relevance since climate warming is causing an increase in lightning strikes, and since the rising numbers of renewable power generators, the electricity grid, and charging infrastructure are susceptible to lightning damage. This is the second edition to this comprehensive work. Both volumes have been thoroughly revised and updated for this second edition. Volume 1 treats lightning return stroke modelling and lightning electromagnetic radiation, and Volume 2 addresses electrical processes and effects. Chapter coverage includes various models and simulations of lightning strokes, measurements of lightning-generated EM fields, HF, VHF and microwave radiation, and lightning location systems; atmospheric discharge processes, lightning strikes to grounded structures and towers, EM field propagation, interaction with cables, effects on power transmission and distribution systems, effects in the ionosphere, mesosphere and magnetosphere, as well as NOx generation and climate effects. The volumes provide the rules and procedures to combine the readers' understanding with a model of every lightning-related electromagnetic process, and their effects and interactions. Readers obtain first-hand experience through simulations of the EM field of thunderclouds and lightning flashes and their effects. These volumes are a valuable resource for researchers and engineers in the areas of electrical engineering and physics involved in the fields of electromagnetic compatibility, lightning protection, renewable energy systems, smart grids, and lightning physics, as well as for professionals from telecommunication companies and manufacturers of power equipment, and advanced students.

As environmental issues remain at the forefront of energy research, renewable energy is now an all-important field of study. And as smart technology continues to grow and be refined, its applications broaden and increase in their potential to revolutionize sustainability studies. This potential can only be fully realized with a thorough understanding of the most recent breakthroughs in the field. Research Advancements in Smart Technology, Optimization, and Renewable Energy is a collection of innovative research that explores the recent steps forward for smart applications in sustainability. Featuring coverage on a wide range of topics including energy assessment, neural fuzzy control, and biogeography, this book is ideally designed for advocates, policymakers, engineers, software developers, academicians, researchers, and students.

Power systems are becoming increasingly complex, handling rising shares of distributed intermittent renewable generation, EV charging stations, and storage. To ensure power availability and quality, the grid needs to be monitored as a whole, by wide area monitoring (WAM), not just in small sections separately. Parameter oscillations need to be detected and acted upon. This requires sensors, data assimilation and visualization, comparison with models, modelling, and system architectures for different grid types. This hands-on reference for researchers in power systems, professionals at grid operators and grid equipment manufacturers, as well as for advanced students, offers a comprehensive treatment of advanced data-driven signal processing techniques for the analysis and characterization of system data and transient oscillations in power grids. Algorithms and examples help readers understand the material. Challenges involved in realistic monitoring, visualization, and analysis of actual disturbance events are emphasized. Chapters in this second edition cover WAM and analysis systems, WAM system architectures, modelling of power system dynamic processes, data processing and feature extraction, multi-sensor multitemporal data fusion, WAM of power systems with high penetration of distributed generation, distributed wide-area oscillation monitoring, near real-time analysis and monitoring, and interpretation and visualization of wide-area PMU measurements.

An increasing interest in renewable energy resources and the search for maintainable energy policies have inspired the research contributions included in this book. Energy production and distribution need to respond to the modern world's dependence on conventional fuels. To achieve this, collaborative research is required between multiple disciplines, including materials, energy networks, new energy resources, storage solutions, waste to energy systems, smart grids and many other related subjects. Energy policies and management are of primary importance for sustainability and need to be consistent with recent advances in energy production and distribution. Challenges lie as much in the conversion from renewable energies such as wind and solar to useful forms like electricity, heat and fuel at an acceptable cost (including environmental damage) as in the integration of these resources into existing infrastructure.

How to design a solar power plant, from start to finish In Step-by-Step Design of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Power Plants, a team of distinguished engineers delivers a comprehensive reference on PV power plants--and their design--for specialists, experts, and academics. Written in three parts, the book covers the detailed theoretical knowledge required to properly design a PV power plant. It goes on to explore the step-by-step requirements for creating a real-world PV power plant, including parts and components design, mathematical formulations and calculations, analyses, evaluations, and planning. The book concludes with a discussion of a sample solar plant design, as well as tips on how to avoid common design mistakes, and how to handle the operation and maintenance of PV power plants. Step-by-Step Design of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Power Plants also includes: Thorough introductions to the basic requirements of design, economic analyses, and investment revenue Comprehensive explorations of the requirements for feasibility study and grid connection study Introducing solar resource, and determining optimum tilt angle and module inter-row spacing Presenting methodology for design of large-scale PV plant, requirements of engineering document, and optimal design algorithm In-depth examinations for selecting PV module, inverter, string, and DC side equipment Practical discussions of system losses, as well as estimation of yearly electrical energy production, capacity factor, and performance ratio of large-scale PV plant Perfect for professionals in the solar power industry, Step-by-Step Design of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Power Plants will also earn a place in the libraries of equipment manufacturers and university professors seeking a one-stop resource for the design of PV power plants.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (CCS) is the one advanced technology that conventional power generation cannot do without. CCS technology reduces the carbon footprint of power plants by capturing and storing the CO2 emissions from burning fossil-fuels and biomass. This volume provides a comprehensive reference on the state of the art research, development and demonstration of carbon capture technology in the power sector and in industry. It critically reviews the range of post- and pre-combustion capture and combustion-based capture processes and technology applicable to fossil-fuel power plants, as well as applications of CCS in other high carbon footprint industries.

This book, the first in the Woodhead Publishing Reviews: Mechanical Engineering Series, is a collection of high quality articles (full research articles, review articles and cases studies) with a special emphasis on research and development in mechatronics and manufacturing engineering. Mechatronics is the blending of mechanical, electronic, and computer engineering into an integrated design. Today, mechatronics has a significant and increasing impact on engineering with emphasis on the design, development and operation of manufacturing engineering systems. The main objective of this interdisciplinary engineering field is the study of automata from an engineering perspective, thinking on the design of products and manufacturing processes and systems. Mechatronics and manufacturing systems are well established and executed within a great number of industries including aircraft, automotive and aerospace industries; machine tools, moulds and dies product manufacturing, computers, electronics, semiconductor and communications, and biomedical.

Electrical motor products reviews the energy efficiency management laws for electrical motor products in United States, European Union (EU) and China. The energy efficiency certification requirements for the electrical motor products vary from country to country and are summarised here. International standards, testing methods and certification requirements for specific electrical motor products are discussed, including electric motors, pumps and fans. Finally, methods for improving energy efficiency are examined.

Oxy-fuel combustion is currently considered to be one of the major technologies for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture in power plants. The advantages of using oxygen (O2) instead of air for combustion include a CO2-enriched flue gas that is ready for sequestration following purification and low NOx emissions. This simple and elegant technology has attracted considerable attention since the late 1990s, rapidly developing from pilot-scale testing to industrial demonstration. Challenges remain, as O2 supply and CO2 capture create significant energy penalties that must be reduced through overall system optimisation and the development of new processes. Oxy-fuel combustion for power generation and carbon dioxide (CO2) capture comprehensively reviews the fundamental principles and development of oxy-fuel combustion in fossil-fuel fired utility boilers. Following a foreword by Professor Janos M. Beer, the book opens with an overview of oxy-fuel combustion technology and its role in a carbon-constrained environment. Part one introduces oxy-fuel combustion further, with a chapter comparing the economics of oxy-fuel vs. post-/pre-combustion CO2 capture, followed by chapters on plant operation, industrial scale demonstrations, and circulating fluidized bed combustion. Part two critically reviews oxy-fuel combustion fundamentals, such as ignition and flame stability, burner design, emissions and heat transfer characteristics, concluding with chapters on O2 production and CO2 compression and purification technologies. Finally, part three explores advanced concepts and developments, such as near-zero flue gas recycle and high-pressure systems, as well as chemical looping combustion and utilisation of gaseous fuel. With its distinguished editor and internationally renowned contributors, Oxy-fuel combustion for power generation and carbon dioxide (CO2) capture provides a rich resource for power plant designers, operators, and engineers, as well as academics and researchers in the field.

Smart Energy Grid Engineering provides in-depth detail on the various important engineering challenges of smart energy grid design and operation by focusing on advanced methods and practices for designing different components and their integration within the grid. Governments around the world are investing heavily in smart energy grids to ensure optimum energy use and supply, enable better planning for outage responses and recovery, and facilitate the integration of heterogeneous technologies such as renewable energy systems, electrical vehicle networks, and smart homes around the grid. By looking at case studies and best practices that illustrate how to implement smart energy grid infrastructures and analyze the technical details involved in tackling emerging challenges, this valuable reference considers the important engineering aspects of design and implementation, energy generation, utilization and energy conservation, intelligent control and monitoring data analysis security, and asset integrity.

Materials for Ultra-Supercritical and Advanced Ultra-Supercritical Power Plants provides researchers in academia and industry with an essential overview of the stronger high-temperature materials required for key process components, such as membrane wall tubes, high-pressure steam piping and headers, superheater tubes, forged rotors, cast components, and bolting and blading for steam turbines in USC power plants. Advanced materials for future advanced ultra-supercritical power plants, such as superalloys, new martensitic and austenitic steels, are also addressed. Chapters on international research directions complete the volume. The transition from conventional subcritical to supercritical thermal power plants greatly increased power generation efficiency. Now the introductions of the ultra-supercritical (USC) and, in the near future, advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) designs are further efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption in power plants and the associated carbon dioxide emissions. The higher operating temperatures and pressures found in these new plant types, however, necessitate the use of advanced materials.

Condition monitoring of engineering plants has increased in importance as engineering processes have become increasingly automated. However, electrical machinery usually receives attention only at infrequent intervals when the plant or the electricity generator is shut down. The economics of industry have been changing, placing ever more emphasis on the importance of reliable operation of the plants. Electronics and software in instrumentation, computers, and digital signal processors have improved our ability to analyse machinery online. Condition monitoring is now being applied to a range of systems from fault-tolerant drives of a few hundred watts to machinery of a few hundred MW in major plants. This book covers a large range of machines and their condition monitoring. This 3rd edition builds on the 2nd edition through a major revision, update of chapters and a comprehensive list of references & standards. Permanent magnet, switched reluctance and other types of machines are now covered, as well as variable speed drive machines and off-line techniques. Contents cover an introduction to condition monitoring; rotating electrical machines; electrical machine construction, operation and failure modes; reliability of machines and typical failure rates; signal processing and instrumentation requirements; on-line temperature monitoring; on-line chemical monitoring; on-line vibration monitoring; on-line current, flux and power monitoring; on-line partial discharge (PD) electrical monitoring; on-line variable speed drive machine monitoring; off-line monitoring; condition-based maintenance and asset management; application of artificial intelligence techniques to CM; and safety, training and qualification.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (CCS) is the one advanced technology that conventional power generation cannot do without. CCS technology reduces the carbon footprint of power plants by capturing, and storing the CO2 emissions from burning fossil-fuels and biomass. This volume provides a comprehensive reference on the state of the art research, development and demonstration of carbon storage and utilisation, covering all the storage options and their environmental impacts. It critically reviews geological, terrestrial and ocean sequestration, including enhanced oil and gas recovery, as well as other advanced concepts such as industrial utilisation, mineral carbonation, biofixation and photocatalytic reduction.

Plant life management (PLiM) is a methodology focussed on the safety-first management of nuclear power plants over their entire lifetime. It incorporates and builds upon the usual periodic safety reviews and licence renewals as part of an overall framework designed to assist plant operators and regulators in assessing the operating conditions of a nuclear power plant, and establishing the technical and economic requirements for safe, long-term operation. Understanding and mitigating ageing in nuclear power plants critically reviews the fundamental ageing-degradation mechanisms of materials used in nuclear power plant structures, systems and components (SSC), along with their relevant analysis and mitigation paths, as well as reactor-type specific PLiM practices. Obsolescence and other less obvious ageing-related aspects in nuclear power plant operation are also examined in depth. Part one introduces the reader to the role of nuclear power in the global energy mix, and the importance and relevance of plant life management for the safety regulation and economics of nuclear power plants. Key ageing degradation mechanisms and their effects in nuclear power plant systems, structures and components are reviewed in part two, along with routes taken to characterise and analyse the ageing of materials and to mitigate or eliminate ageing degradation effects. Part three reviews analysis, monitoring and modelling techniques applicable to the study of nuclear power plant materials, as well as the application of advanced systems, structures and components in nuclear power plants. Finally, Part IV reviews the particular ageing degradation issues, plant designs, and application of plant life management (PLiM) practices in a range of commercial nuclear reactor types. With its distinguished international team of contributors, Understanding and mitigating ageing in nuclear power plants is a standard reference for all nuclear plant designers, operators, and nuclear safety and materials professionals and researchers.

Reactor Process Design in Sustainable Energy Technology compiles and explains current developments in reactor and process design in sustainable energy technologies, including optimization and scale-up methodologies and numerical methods. Sustainable energy technologies that require more efficient means of converting and utilizing energy can help provide for burgeoning global energy demand while reducing anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions associated with energy production. The book, contributed by an international team of academic and industry experts in the field, brings numerous reactor design cases to readers based on their valuable experience from lab R&D scale to industry levels. It is the first to emphasize reactor engineering in sustainable energy technology discussing design. It provides comprehensive tools and information to help engineers and energy professionals learn, design, and specify chemical reactors and processes confidently.

Electric power systems have become much more complex in the past years, due to the integration of distributed generation including renewable energy sources and the challenges caused by intermittency of renewables. This complexity makes power systems potentially more vulnerable. However, use of computer-based protection methods (i.e., digital protection relays) supported by communication technology have helped in protecting electrical networks from faults to which they are subjected to. This second edition of the book covers a comprehensive introduction to the protection of electrical power systems using digital protective relays. The new edition offers a thorough revision and update, and comprehensive additional material. Chapters treat the mathematical background of protection algorithms including, sinusoidal-wave-based algorithms, Walsh function and S-Transform-based techniques, least squares and differential equation-based techniques, travelling wave-based protection, protection of transformers, digital line differential protection, a comparison between digital protection algorithms, and importantly, protection of networks with distributed generation including renewable energy resources. The book is written for researchers in electrical engineering and power engineering, in industry, utilities and universities, and for advanced students. The treatment is logically structured, covering mathematics and principles for the development and implementation of the major algorithms underlying different protection techniques. These techniques can be applied to protection of generator transformers, lines, switchgear and cable circuits: the main components of transmission and distribution systems with and without integrated distributed energy sources including renewables.