The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.

Energy Modeling and Computations in the Building Envelope instills a deeper understanding of the energy interactions between buildings and the environment, based on the analysis of transfer processes operating in the building envelope components at the microscopic level. The author: Proposes a generalized physics model that describes these interactions at the microscopic level via the macroscopic characteristics of the building envelope Presents mathematical models that utilize classical analytical tools and can be used to perform quantitative predictions of the consequences of the energy interactions Reveals easy-to-apply engineering methods concerning the design and inspection of the building envelope, taking into account the effects of energy on the envelope Energy Modeling and Computations in the Building Envelope provides comprehensive coverage of this environmentally and economically important topic, from the physics of energy transfer to its numerical estimation. The book is especially useful to those looking to increase building energy efficiency, decrease the consumption of primary energy carriers, and raise the ecological sustainability of construction products.

This book presents mainly studies on the calculation methods of thermal radiative properties of uniaxial anisotropic materials, unidirectional transmission, ultrabroadband perfect absorption, and near-field radiative heat transfer with uniaxial anisotropic materials. The results obtained in this book can not only deepen our understanding of the thermal radiative properties of anisotropic materials, but also have important theoretical guiding significance in energy conversion, energy-saving technology, and design of novel devices.

This highly informative and carefully presented book offers a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of thermal engineering. The book focuses both on the fundamentals and more complex topics such as the basics of thermodynamics, Zeroth Law of thermodynamics, first law of thermodynamics, application of first law of thermodynamics, second law of thermodynamics, entropy, availability and irreversibility, properties of pure substance, vapor power cycles, introduction to working of IC engines, air-standard cycles, gas turbines and jet propulsion, thermodynamic property relations and combustion. The author has included end-of-chapter problems and worked examples to augment learning and self-testing. This book is a useful reference to undergraduate students in the area of mechanical engineering.

This second edition of the highly successful dictionary offers more than 300 new or revised terms. A distinguished panel of electrochemists provides up-to-date, broad and authoritative coverage of 3000 terms most used in electrochemistry and energy research as well as related fields, including relevant areas of physics and engineering. Each entry supplies a clear and precise explanation of the term and provides references to the most useful reviews, books and original papers to enable readers to pursue a deeper understanding if so desired. Almost 600 figures and illustrations elaborate the textual definitions. The "Electrochemical Dictionary" also contains biographical entries of people who have substantially contributed to electrochemistry. From reviews of the first edition: 'the creators of the Electrochemical Dictionary have done a laudable job to ensure that each definition included here has been defined in precise terms in a clear and readily accessible style' (The Electric Review) 'It is a must for any scientific library, and a personal purchase can be strongly suggested to anybody interested in electrochemistry' (Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry) 'The text is readable, intelligible and very well written' (Reference Reviews)

The concept to utilize an ion-conducting polymer membrane as a solid po- mer electrolyte offers several advantages regarding the design and operation of an electrochemical cell, as outlined in Volume 215, Chapter 1 (L. Gubler, G.G. Scherer). Essentially, the solvent and/or transport medium, e.g., H O, 2 + for the mobile ionic species, e.g., H for a cation exchange membrane, is taken up by and con?ned into the nano-dimensional morphology of the i- containingdomainsofthepolymer.Asaconsequence, aphaseseparationinto a hydrophilic ion-containing solvent phase and a hydrophobic polymer ba- bone phase establishes. Because of the narrow solid electrolyte gap in these cells, low ohmic losses reducing the overall cell voltage can be achieved, even at highcurrent densities. This concept was applied to fuel cell technology at a very early stage; h- ever, performance and reliability of the cells were low due to the dissatisfying membrane properties at that time. The development of per?uoro sulfonate and carboxylate-type membranes, in particular for the chlor-alkali process, directly fostered the further development of proton-conducting membranes and, as a consequence, also the progress in this type of fuel cell technology (polymer electrolyte fuel cell, PEFC)

This book presents selected papers from the 11th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (ISHVAC 2019), with a focus on HVAC techniques for improving indoor environment quality and the energy efficiency of heating and cooling systems. Presenting inspiration for implementing more efficient and safer HVAC systems, the book is a valuable resource for academic researchers, engineers in industry, and government regulators.

This thesis describes in-depth theoretical efforts to understand the reaction mechanism of graphite and lithium metal as anodes for next-generation rechargeable batteries. The first part deals with Na intercalation chemistry in graphite, whose understanding is crucial for utilizing graphite as an anode for Na-ion batteries. The author demonstrates that Na ion intercalation in graphite is thermodynamically unstable because of the unfavorable Na-graphene interaction. To address this issue, the inclusion of screening moieties, such as solvents, is suggested and proven to enable reversible Na-solvent cointercalation in graphite. Furthermore, the author provides the correlation between the intercalation behavior and the properties of solvents, suggesting a general strategy to tailor the electrochemical intercalation chemistry. The second part addresses the Li dendrite growth issue, which is preventing practical application of Li metal anodes. A continuum mechanics study considering various experimental conditions reveals the origins of irregular growth of Li metal. The findings provide crucial clues for developing effective counter strategies to control the Li metal growth, which will advance the application of high-energy-density Li metal anodes.

As carbons are widely used in energy storage and conversion systems, there is a rapidly growing need for an updated book that describes their physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties. Edited by those responsible for initiating the most progressive conference on Carbon for Energy Storage and Environment Protection (CESEP), this book undoubtedly fills this need. Written in collaboration with prominent scientists in carbon science and its energy-related applications, Carbons for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Systems provides the most complete and up-to-date coverage available on carbon materials for application in electrochemical energy storage and conversion. The text studies different carbon materials and their detailed physicochemical properties and provides an in-depth review of their wide-ranging applications-including lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and primary cells. Recognizing that most scientists involved with these applications are materials scientists rather than electrochemists, the text begins with a review of electrochemical principles and methods. It then covers the different forms of traditional sp2 carbons, introduces novel techniques for preparing advanced carbons, and describes the main physicochemical properties which control the electrochemical behavior of carbons. The second half of the book focuses on research and provides a wealth of original information on industrial applications. Complete with an abundance of figures, tables, equations, and case studies, this book is the ideal one-stop reference for researchers, engineers, and students working on developing the carbon-based energy storage and conversion systems of tomorrow.

A realization of recent clean energy initiatives, fluidized bed combustion (FBC) has quickly won industry preference due to its ability to burn materials as diverse as low-grade coals, biomass, and industrial and municipal waste. Fluidized Bed Combustion catalogs the fundamental physical and chemical processes required of bubbling fluidized beds before launching into application-centered coverage of hot-gas generator, incinerator, and boiler concepts and design, calculations for regime parameters and dimensions, and all aspects of FBC operation. It enumerates the environmental consequences of fluidized bed processes and proposes measures to reduce the formation of harmful emissions.

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.

In wafer-based and thin-film photovoltaic (PV) devices, the management of light is a crucial aspect of optimization since trapping sunlight in active parts of PV devices is essential for efficient energy conversions. Optical modeling and simulation enable efficient analysis and optimization of the optical situation in optoelectronic and PV devices. Optical Modeling and Simulation of Thin-Film Photovoltaic Devices provides readers with a thorough guide to performing optical modeling and simulations of thin-film solar cells and PV modules. It offers insight on examples of existing optical models, demonstrates the applicability of optical modeling, and presents concrete directions and solutions for improving the devices. Along with giving practical hints, the book highlights significant research, development, and production in the field. It covers numerous approaches of one-, two-, and three-dimensional optical modeling, including one-dimensional semi-coherent modeling and two-dimensional modeling based on the finite element method (FEM). Many practical examples illustrate the use of simulations with the developed models, helping readers better understand and develop their own models as well as appreciate innovative concepts in light management in thin-film PV devices.

'This is a book primarily for engineers and materials scientists either researching or developing Li-ion energy storage batteries who want to understand some of the critical aspects of Li-ion battery technology and gain knowledge about the latest engineering designs and latest materials being used in Li-ion batteries. Good technical depth, many tables of data, and many illustrations combined with references at the end of each chapter for further in-depth study make this book worth reading to gain a quick understanding of the current state-of-the art in Li-ion battery technology and the fundamental issues and challenges facing Li-ion battery designers.'IEEE Electrical Insulation MagazineThis richly illustrated book written by Professor Kai Peter Birke and several co-authors addresses both scientific and engineering aspects of modern batteries in a unique way. Emphasizing the engineering part of batteries, the book acts as a compass towards next generation batteries for automotive and stationary applications. The book provides distinguished answers to still open questions on how future batteries look like.Modern Battery Engineering explains why and how batteries have to be designed for successful commercialization in e-mobility and stationary applications. The book will help readers understand the principle issues of battery designs, paving the way for engineers to avoid wrong paths and settle on appropriate cell technologies for next generation batteries. This book is ideal for training courses for readers interested in the field of modern batteries.

Drawing on the experience of some of the foremost experts in the field, this easy-to-use and affordable pocket reference includes a wealth of information relating to solar energy and solar energy technologies. Topics covered range from solar angles, sun path diagrams, solar radiation and radiative properties of materials through to thermal collectors, thermal energy storage, photovoltaics and daylighting. The book also includes conversion factors and constants and is peppered throughout with helpful illustrations, equations and explanations. Anyone with an interest in solar energy, including professional architects and engineers, home builders, academic researchers, students and energy consultants will find a host of answers in this book - a practical assimilation of data, fundamentals and guidelines for application.

The current volume provides examples of how environmental hazards such as landslides, earthquakes, mountain processes, cold climate processes and tidal flows and currents can affect the energy supply infrastructure. In times of uncertainty, the security of the European cross-border energy supply infrastructure, such as pipelines, has great importance. Whilst the potential effects of political disagreement, economic inequalities and social differences are relatively well understood, the impact of environmental change is often poorly appreciated by decision-makers. New approaches have been examined for monitoring of hazardous landslide processes, including early warning systems, and near-real-time 3D data processing and visualization. The scientific problems of environmental systems design have been discussed and approaches for their implementation have been suggested. New integrated remote sensing techniques consisting mainly of hyperspectral and radar imagery are presented together with the processing of monitoring data using GIS techniques and, in particular, dynamic visualization. Attention is also given to conceptual issues of environmental and energy security and the role of education, to help resolve environmental problems through cooperation in the development of the European energy supply infrastructure.

This text deals with the advantages of rare earth activated phosphors for the development of solid state lighting technology and in enhancing the light conversion efficiency of Si solar cells. The book initiates with a short overview of the atomic and semiconductor theory followed by introduction to phosphor, its working mechanism, role of rare earth ions in the lighting and PV devices and host materials being used. Further, it introduces the applications of inorganic phosphor for the development of green energy and technology including advantages of UP/DC conversion phosphor layers in the enhancing the cell response of PV devices. Key Features: Focuses on discussion of phosphors for both solid state lighting and photovoltaics applications Provides introduction for practical applications including synthesis and characterization of phosphor materials Includes broad, in-depth introduction of semiconductors and related theory Enhances the basic understanding of optical properties for rare earth phosphors Covers up-conversion and down-conversion phosphor for energy harvesting applications

Electro-mobility is considered as a key technology to achieve green mobility and fulfil tomorrow's emission standards, however, challenges still need to be faced to achieve comparable performances to conventional vehicles and finally obtain market acceptance. Two of these challenges are vehicle range and production costs. The aim of the INCOBAT project (Oct. 2013 - Dec. 2016) was to provide innovative and cost efficient battery management systems for next generation HV-batteries. INCOBAT presents a platform concept that achieves cost reduction, reduced complexity, increased reliability and flexibility while at the same time reaching higher energy efficiency. Advantages of this approach include: - Tight control of the cell function leading to a significant increase of the driving range of the FEV; - Radical cost reduction of the battery management system with respect to current solutions; - Development of modular concepts for system architecture and partitioning, safety, security, reliability as well as verification and validation, thus enabling efficient integration into different vehicle platforms. The INCOBAT project focused on the following twelve technical innovations grouped into four innovation groups, which are summarized in this book: - Customer needs and integration aspects - Transversal innovation - Technology innovation - Transversal innovation Topics covered include: Electric Vehicles, High Voltage Battery, Battery Management System, Multi-core Computing Platform, Functional Safety, Systems Engineering, Reliability, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Thermomechanical Robustness Analysis.

"Written by some of the world's foremost experts, the articles in this book show how plasma science can be applied to environmental problems, including atmospheric sensing and modification, energy conservation, reduction of air pollution, and processing of ordinary and radioactive wastes. Atmospheric CFC's might be zapped with big lasers. Urban air pollution could be removed by large convection towers built in or near cities. And weapons-grade plutonium can be destroyed with specially designed particle accelerators. Some of the technologies described here are in use already, while others are in the prototype stage, or are speculative approaches deserving of further study." "Contents" Written by some of the world's foremost experts, the articles in this book show how plasma science can be applied to environmental problems, including atmospheric sensing and modification, energy conservation, reduction of air pollution, and processing of ordinary and radioactive wastes. Atmospheric CFC's might be zapped with big lasers. Urban air pollution could be removed by large convection towers built in or near cities. And weapons-grade plutonium can be destroyed with specially designed particle accelerators. Some of the technologies described here are in use already, while others are in the prototype stage, or are speculative approaches deserving of further study.

As environmental concerns escalate, solar power is increasingly seen as an attractive alternative energy source. Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells addresses the practical and theoretical issues fundamental to the viable conversion of sunlight into electricity. Written by three internationally renowned experts, this valuable reference profits from results and experience gained from research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. Features include:&UL; &LI; Introduction to the principles of photovoltaics, providing a grounding in semiconductor physics for the novice reader&LI; Special emphasis on the methods of attaining high efficiency and thereby cost-effective solar power&LI; Examination of the physics, design and technology of crystalline silicon solar cells, in particular thin film cells&LI; Survey of a selection of alternative cell types equipping the reader with a complete overview&LI; Detailed description of measuring and analysis techniques to facilitate determining physical semiconductor and solar cell parameters&/UL; Accessible to those with a basic knowledge of physics and mathematics, this is an excellent introductory book for students studying solid state and semiconductor physics. All those working in photovoltaic development and production will find Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells an indispensable resource.

This open access book presents papers displayed in the 2nd International Conference on Energy and Sustainable Futures (ICESF 2020), co-organised by the University of Hertfordshire and the University Alliance DTA in Energy. The research included in this book covers a wide range of topics in the areas of energy and sustainability including: * ICT and control of energy;* conventional energy sources;* energy governance;* materials in energy research;* renewable energy; and* energy storage. The book offers a holistic view of topics related to energy and sustainability, making it of interest to experts in the field, from industry and academia.

Essentials of Radiation Heat Transfer focuses only on the essential topics required to gain an understanding of radiation heat transfer to enable the reader to master more challenging problems. The strength of the book lies in its elaborate presentation of the powerful radiosity-irradiation method and shows how this technique can be used to solve a variety of problems of radiation in enclosures made of one to any number of surfaces in both transparent and participating media. The book also introduces atmospheric radiation in which engineers can contribute to the technology of remote sensing and atmospheric sciences in general, by a better understanding of radiation. The author has included pedagogical features such as end-of-chapter exercises and worked examples with varying degrees of difficulty to augment learning and self-testing. The book has been written in an easy- to- follow conversational style to enhance reader engagement and learning outcomes. This book will be a useful guide for upper undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, atmospheric sciences, and energy sciences.

Thermal Energy Storage Analyses and Designs considers the significance of thermal energy storage systems over other systems designed to handle large quantities of energy, comparing storage technologies and emphasizing the importance, advantages, practicalities, and operation of thermal energy storage for large quantities of energy production. Including chapters on thermal storage system configuration, operation, and delivery processes, in particular the flow distribution, flow arrangement, and control for the thermal charge and discharge processes for single or multiple thermal storage containers, the book is a useful reference for engineers who design, install, or maintain storage systems.

'This book provides an excellent review and analysis of the latest information on rechargeable Li-S battery research. With a clear and concise writing style and in-depth technical material , this book will appeal to undergraduates and graduates, researchers, chemists, material scientists, and physicists working in the field of energy storage, especially those with an interest in Li-S battery technology.'IEEE Electrical Insulation MagazineLithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries give us an alternative to the more prevalent lithium-ion (Li-ion) versions, and are known for their observed high energy densities. Systems using Li-S batteries are in early stages of development and commercialization however could potentially provide higher, safer levels of energy at significantly lower cost.In this book the history, scientific background, challenges and future perspectives of the lithium-sulfur system are presented by experts in the field. Focus is on past and recent advances of each cell compartment responsible for the performance of the Li-S battery, and includes analysis of characterization tools, new designs and computational modeling. As a comprehensive review of current state-of-play, it is ideal for undergraduates, graduate students, researchers, physicists, chemists and materials scientists interested in energy storage, material science and electrochemistry.

This book is about mechanical design engineering, in particular design for mechanical system durability and performance density. It addresses diversified mechanical design issues that relate to several application areas, and provides potential solutions. Design for Durability and Performance Density includes four real-world case studies which help to identify the root cause of problems and failure cases encountered in industry and in the oil field. It suggests remedies for the ones that could be solved, and includes sample calculations and worked examples to quantify the extent of problems where necessary. This book will be of use to senior-level mechanical engineering students, design and application engineers as well as consulting engineering firms. It could help them to learn how things could be designed the wrong way, and how old experience could prevent novice mistakes, to avoid being tempted into any of the various subtle design pitfalls and confronting their consequences.

Series-Parallel Converter-Based Microgrids: System-Level Control and Stability is the first book to provide a comprehensive and in-depth introduction to the rapid development of series-parallel converter applications in the microgrid system. It provides an advanced and in-depth introduction into all major system modeling, coordinated control, and stability analysis issues, and provides useful methodologies and philosophies for developing new topologies and controls for self-organized decentralized operation of microgrid systems. For each topic, a theoretical introduction and overview are backed by very concrete programming examples that enable the reader to not only understand the topic but to develop microgrid simulation models.