Tactile Sensing, Skill Learning and Robotic Dexterous Manipulation focuses on cross-disciplinary lines of research and groundbreaking research ideas in three research lines: tactile sensing, skill learning and dexterous control. The book introduces recent work about human dexterous skill representation and learning, along with discussions of tactile sensing and its applications on unknown objects' property recognition and reconstruction. Sections also introduce the adaptive control schema and its learning by imitation and exploration. Other chapters describe the fundamental part of relevant research, paying attention to the connection among different fields and showing the state-of-the-art in related branches. The book summarizes the different approaches and discusses the pros and cons of each. Chapters not only describe the research but also include basic knowledge that can help readers understand the proposed work, making it an excellent resource for researchers and professionals who work in the robotics industry, haptics and in machine learning.

Understand microgrids and networked microgrid systems Microgrids are interconnected groups of energy sources that operate together, capable of connecting with a larger grid or operating independently as needed and network conditions require. They can be valuable sources of energy for geographically circumscribed areas with highly targeted energy needs, and for remote or rural areas where continuous connection with a larger grid is difficult. Microgrids' controllability makes them especially effective at incorporating renewable energy sources. Microgrids: Theory and Practice introduces readers to the analysis, design, and operation of microgrids and larger networked systems that integrate them. It brings to bear both cutting-edge research into microgrid technology and years of industry experience in designing and operating microgrids. Its discussions of core subjects such as microgrid modeling, control, and optimization make it an essential short treatment, valuable for both academic and industrial study. Readers will acquire the skills needed to address existing problems and meet new ones as this crucial area of power engineering develops. Microgrids: Theory and Practice also features: Incorporation of new cyber-physical system technologies for enabling microgrids as resiliency resources Theoretical treatment of a wide range of subjects including smart programmable microgrids, distributed and asynchronous optimization for microgrid dispatch, and AI-assisted microgrid protection Practical discussion of real-time microgrids simulations, hybrid microgrid design, transition to renewable microgrid networks, and more Microgrids: Theory and Practice is ideal as a textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in power engineering programs, and a valuable reference for power industry professionals looking to address the challenges posed by microgrids in their work.

Sustainable Biodiesel: Real World Designs, Economics and Applications offers a unique, integrated approach that combines cutting-edge research results and the day-to-day aspects of biodiesel production at the industrial level. The book brings together experienced academics and recognized industry experts to explore the most practical elements of research and discuss limitations and future needs in the industry. Sections discuss biodiesel-based biorefineries, feedstock supply chains, reactor technologies and processes for biodiesel production. In addition, the authors examine biodiesel plants from the point-of-view of design, operation, quality control, lifecycle costing (LCC), life cycle assessment, and environmental and exergetic sustainability, and more. This book provides both researchers and practitioners in the field of biomass and biofuels with a well-rounded understanding of how the technologies developed in the lab can be deployed in the industry at commercial scale in a sustainable and cost-efficient way.

Public Responses to Fossil Fuel Export provides wide-ranging theoretical and methodological international contributions on the human dimensions of fossil fuel export, with a distinctive focus on exporting countries, some of which are new entrants into the marketplace. What do members of the public think about exporting fossil fuels in places where it is happening? What do they see as its main risks and benefits? What connections are being made to climate change and the impending energy transition? How have affected communities responded to proposals related to fossil fuel export, broadly defined to include transport by rail, pipeline, and ship? Contributions to the work are presented in three parts. The first part synopsizes the background of the project, outlines major social science theories and relevant previous research, and identifies global trends in energy production. Regional and national case studies related to public opinion on fossil fuel export are included in part two of the manuscript. Part three highlights community-based case studies. Implications for research and practice feature in the concluding chapter.

Molten Salt Reactors and Thorium Energy, Second Edition is a fully updated comprehensive reference on the latest advances in MSR research and technology. Building on the successful first edition, Tom Dolan and the team of experts have fully updated the content to reflect the impressive advances from the last 5 years, ensuring this book continues to be the go-to reference on the topic. This new edition covers progress made in MSR design, details innovative experiments, and includes molten salt data, corrosion studies and deployment plans. The successful case studies section of the first edition have been removed, expanded, and fully updated, and are now published in a companion title called Global Case Studies on Molten Salt Reactors. Readers will gain a deep understanding of the advantages and challenges of MSR development and thorium fuel use, as well as step-by-step guidance on the latest in MSR reactor design. Each chapter provides a clear introduction, covers technical issues and includes examples and conclusions, while promoting the sustainability benefits throughout.

Electricity Decentralization in the European Union: Towards Zero Carbon and Energy Transition, Second Edition examines progress in decentralization across the European Union, with each chapter focusing on developments and innovations in a specific country. Sections provide an overview of the current role and state of smart grids, the conceptualization of energy transition, and specific cases across all EU states. Across the chapters, regulatory frameworks are assessed to identify to what extent it is conducive to decentralization, with specific outcomes of decentralization covered in detail, including deployment of smart grids and meters, demand response, electric vehicles, and storage. The book highlights how specific EU member states are progressing towards deployment of these tools and technologies, along with the specific needs and regulatory barriers in each and recommendations for how regulation can be more encouraging. In addition, electricity interconnections in the EU are considered as a vital step towards decentralization in order to boost energy security and energy efficiency. Finally, the book includes a detailed examination of data protection concerns that arise from the advent of new technologies that collect personal information, such as smart grids, assessing current regulation on data protection and identifying areas for improvement, as well as innovative finance options for sustainable energy.

Microbial Fermentation of Biowastes summarizes new advances in the development of various strategies for enhanced microbial fermentation for organic waste conversion to bioenergy/biochemicals, and for biodegradation of plastic waste. Sections cover principles of additive strategies, multi-stage bioreactors, microbial bioaugmentation strategies, genetically engineered microorganisms, co-digestion strategies, feedstock pre-treatment strategies, enzyme technologies, and hybrid technologies methods. In addition, the book reviews progress in the conversion of common wastes to bioenergy and biochemicals via enhanced anaerobic digestion, also summarizing the significant progress achieved on enhancing anaerobic digestion via additive strategy, multi-stage bioreactor strategy, microbial bioaugmentation strategy, genetic engineering approach, and much more.

Source-Grid Interaction of Wind Power Integration Systems systematically describes the problems of source-grid interactions of wind power grid-connected system, introducing related research methods and proposing a series of novel control methods for damping oscillations. The book presents problems to be solved, thus enabling easy understanding and perception, from detailed analysis of the problems, to mathematical derivations and simulation verification.

Databook of Surface Modification Additives, Second Edition contains data on ten groups of additives, including anti-scratch and mar-preventing additives, additives for surface tension reduction and wetting, hydrophobization additives, gloss enhancement and surface matting additives, additives for the formation of tack-free surface and tackifiers, and stain inhibiting additives. The information on each is divided into five sections, including General Information, Physical-Chemical Properties, Health and Safety, Ecological Properties, and Use and Performance. This data is provided for approximately 360 of the most important surface modification additives produced and used today. This databook will be an extremely useful resource for engineers, researchers and technicians interested in using additives to modify and improve the surface properties of materials.

Advances in Bioenergy, Volume Eight highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of topics, including Chemical synthesis of platform chemical from lignocellulosic biomass for fuels and polymers application, Current technologies and applications of CO2 utilization into bio-products, Synthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from renewable resources, Biocomposite, Production and application of biochar, Conversion of biomass to functional materials, MSW characterization and preprocessing for biofuels and bioproducts, and Thermal chemical conversion of municipal solid waste to fuels and chemicals.

Crises in Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Industries: Disasters and Environmental Challenges provides an overview of both natural and manmade disasters occurring in oil, gas and petrochemical industries while also covering special solutions based on their types. This volume includes the effects of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and hurricanes as well as manmade incidents including fire events, explosions and the release of dust and toxic substances on various related units and plants. In addition, the long-term side effects on both humans and the environment resulted from these industries are presented. Problems such as releasing wastes and venting gases into the environment and challenges from overusing the natural resources and producing noise pollutants are also discussed in detail.

To optimise the efficiency of electric drives it is necessary to consider the components; the power electronic converter, the electric machine and the gearbox, together. Integrated systems can be smaller and have better flexibility and thermal management. Integrated motor drives (IMDs) specifically offer advantages including lower cost of installation and higher power density. This integration concept has been adopted in various electrical machine drive systems as well as electric vehicles. Integrated Motor Drives presents the state of research and future trends in integrated electrical motor drive technology and helps readers fill gaps in their knowledge. Chapters cover electrical machines, power converters and control techniques, adoption of wide bandgap semiconductor switching devices, thermal management, passive devices, gearboxes, research prototypes and commercial products, as well as emerging technologies and needs. This book for electrical motor drive engineers and researchers in academia and industry, as well as advanced students and experts, is systematically written by members from leading working groups. Close collaboration between chapter authors improves cohesion and usability for advanced students.

Thermal Methods, Volume Two, the latest release in the Enhanced Oil Recovery series, helps engineers focus on the latest developments in this fast-growing area. In the book, different techniques are described in addition to the latest technologies in data mining and hybrid processes. Supported field case studies are included to illustrate a bridge between research and practical applications, making it useful for both academics and practicing engineers. Structured to start with thermal concepts and steam flooding, the book's editors then advance to more complex content, guiding engineers into areas such as hybrid thermal methods and edgier technologies that bridge solar and nuclear energy. Supported by a full spectrum of contributors, this book gives petroleum engineers and researchers the latest research developments and field applications to drive innovation for the future of energy.

Advances in Heat Transfer, Volume 53 in this long-running serial, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors.

Challenges and Recent Advances in Sustainable Oil and Gas Recovery and Transportation delivers a critical tool for today’s petroleum and reservoir engineers to learn the latest research in EOR and solutions toward more SDG-supported practices. Packed with methods and case studies, the reference starts with the latest advances such as EOR with polymers and EOR with CCS. Advances in shale recovery and methane production are also covered before layering on sustainability methods on critical topics such as oilfield produced water. Supported by a diverse group of contributors, this book gives engineers a go-to source for the future of oil and gas. The oil and gas industry are utilizing enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods frequently, but the industry is also tasked with making more sustainable decisions in their future operations.

Reservoir Formation Damage: Fundamentals, Modeling, Assessment, and Mitigation, Fourth Edition gives engineers a structured layout to predict and improve productivity, providing strategies, recent developments and methods for more successful operations. Updated with many new chapters, including completion damage effects for fractured wells, flow assurance, and fluid damage effects, the book will help engineers better tackle today's assets. Additional new chapters include bacterial induced formation damage, new aspects of chemically induced formation damage, and new field application designs and cost assessments for measures and strategies. Additional procedures for unconventional reservoirs get the engineer up to date. Structured to progress through your career, Reservoir Formation Damage, Fourth Edition continues to deliver a trusted source for both petroleum and reservoir engineers.

Sustainable In-Situ Heavy Oil and Bitumen Recovery: Techniques, Case Studies, and Environmental Considerations delivers a critical reference for today's energy engineers who want to gain an accurate understanding of anticipated GHG emissions in heavy oil recovery. Structured to break down every method with introductions, case studies, technical limitations and summaries, this reference gives engineers a look at the latest hybrid approaches needed to tackle heavy oil recoveries while calculating carbon footprints. Starting from basic definitions and rounding out with future challenges, this book will help energy engineers collectively evolve heavy oil recovery with sustainability applications in mind.

Fluid Chemistry, Drilling and Completion, the latest release in the Oil and Gas Chemistry Management series that covers all sectors of oil and gas chemicals (from drilling to production, processing, storage and transportation), delivers critical chemical oilfield basics while also covering the latest research developments and practical solutions. Organized by type of chemical, the book allows engineers to fully understand how to effectively control chemistry issues, make sound decisions, and mitigate challenges. Sections cover downhole sampling, crude oil characterization, such as fingerprinting properties, data interpretation, chemicals specific to fluid loss control, and matrix stimulation chemicals. Supported by a list of contributing experts from both academia and industry, the book provides a necessary reference that bridges petroleum chemistry operations from theory, to safer, cost-effective applications.

In an uncertain and complex environment, to ensure secure and stable operations of large-scale power systems is one of the biggest challenges that power engineers have to address today. Traditionally, power system operations and decision-making in controls are based on power system computations of physical models describing the behavior of power systems. Largely, physical models are constructed according to some assumptions and simplifications, and such is the case with power system models. However, the complexity of power system stability problems, along with the system's inherent uncertainties and nonlinearities, can result in models that are impractical or inaccurate. This calls for adaptive or deep-learning algorithms to significantly improve current control schemes that solve decision and control problems. Cyberphysical Infrastructures in Power Systems: Architectures and Vulnerabilities provides an extensive overview of CPS concepts and infrastructures in power systems with a focus on the current state-of-the-art research in this field. Detailed classifications are pursued highlighting existing solutions, problems, and developments in this area.

Renewable Energy Production and Distribution: Solutions and Opportunities, Volume Four, the latest release in the Advances in Renewable Energy Technologies series, looks at the production performance of renewable energy sources and emerging production processes. Containing all major renewable energy technologies in individual chapters, this reference includes some of the most dynamic developments, good practices and future concepts in solar energy systems, energy storage, geothermal energy, bioenergy and hydrogen production. By reviewing these advances, considering them in real world applications and analyzing key challenges, this book provides readers with an up-to-date resource on renewable energy grid integration and its importance. This newest volume will be of interest to sustainability, energy and engineering graduates, researchers, professors as well as industry professionals involved in the renewable energy sector.

Biological Fuel Cells: Fundamental to Applications offers a comprehensive update on the latest microbial fuel cells technologies and their systems development and implementation. Taking a practical approach to MFCs, the book provides guidance on analytical methods and tools, economic and performance analyses of various technologies and systems, and engineering aspects. Established and newly developed technologies are presented alongside their applications within the context of cost, practicality and future technologies, which are discussed within the context of other renewable energy systems. This book is a comprehensive reference for users working in the field of fuel cells, microbial fuel cells and bioenergy.

Instrumentation and Control Systems for Nuclear Power Plants provides the latest innovative research on the design of effective modern I&C systems for both existing and newly commissioned plants, along with information on system implementation. Editor Mauro Cappelli and his team of expert contributors cover fundamentals, explore the most advanced research in control systems technology, and tackle topics such as human-machine interface, control room redesign, human factors issues, and control modeling. The inclusion of codes and standards, inspection procedures and regulatory issues ensure that the reader can confidently design their own I&C systems and integrate them into existing nuclear sites and projects.

The support for polygeneration lies in the possibility of integrating different technologies into a single energy system, to maximize the utilization of both fossil and renewable fuels. A system that delivers multiple forms of energy to users, maximizing the overall efficiency makes polygeneration an emerging and viable option for energy consuming industries. Polygeneration Systems: Design, Processes and Technologies provides simple and advanced calculation techniques to evaluate energy, environmental and economic performance of polygeneration systems under analysis. With specific design guidelines for each type of polygeneration system and experimental performance data, referred both to single components and overall systems, this title covers all aspects of polygeneration from design to operation, optimization and practical implementation. Giving different aspects of both fossil and non-fossil fuel based polygeneration and the wider area of polygeneration processes, this book helps readers learn general principles to specific system design and development through analysis of case studies, examples, simulation characteristics and thermodynamic and economic data.

Renewable Energy Systems: Modelling, Optimization and Control aims to cross-pollinate recent advances in the study of renewable energy control systems by bringing together diverse scientific breakthroughs on the modeling, control and optimization of renewable energy systems by leading researchers. The book brings together the most comprehensive collection of modeling, control theorems and optimization techniques to help solve many scientific issues for researchers in renewable energy and control engineering. Many multidisciplinary applications are discussed, including new fundamentals, modeling, analysis, design, realization and experimental results. The book also covers new circuits and systems to help researchers solve many nonlinear problems. This book fills the gaps between different interdisciplinary applications, ranging from mathematical concepts, modeling, and analysis, up to the realization and experimental work.