Theoretical and Applied Aspects of Biomass Torrefaction: For Biofuels and Value-Added Products presents a firm foundation of torrefaction technologies and their economic and sustainability aspects. It offers a theoretical background in the underlying principles of torrefaction reactions, including thermodynamics, chemical reactions, process modeling, end-products, and value-added products such as biochar and torr-gas. It also provides an overview of best practices in torrefaction systems, reactor design and scale-up, and compares torrefaction with other thermochemical processing technologies. The authors discuss feedstock availability for a variety of biomass types, such as agricultural residues, woody residues, energy crops and municipal solid waste. They also examine logistics and markets for torrefied products, which includes their use in co-firing and combined heat and power generation, as well as emissions and other environmental aspects. This balanced and thorough approach to the subject matter makes this an excellent resource for engineers, researchers, and graduate students in the field of biomass conversion, especially with background in energy engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, biological engineering, and agriculture.

Separations Technology: The Key to Radioactive Waste Minimization (J.T. Bell, L.H. Bell). Chemical Pretreatment of Savannah River Site Nuclear Waste for Disposal (D.T. Hobbs, D.D. Walker). Disposal of Hanford Site Tank Waste (M.J. Kupfer). Process Chemistry for the Pretreatment of Hanford Tank Wastes (G.J. Lumetta et al.). Removal of Actinides from Hanford Site Wastes Using an Extraction Chromatographic Resin (G.S. Barney, R.G. Cowan). Chemical Mechanisms for Gas Generation in Tank 241SY101 (D.M. Strachan et al.). Combined TRUEXSREX Extraction/Recovery Process (E.P. Horwitz et al.). Noble Metal Fission Products as Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution from Formic Acid Used in Nuclear Waste Treatment (R.B. King et al.). Microbiological Treatment of Radioactive Wastes (A.J. Francis). Treatment of Highlevel Wastes from the IFR Fuel Cycle (T.R. Johnson et al). Soil*EXSM-An Innovative Process for Treatment of Hazardous and Radioactive Mixed Waste (G.C. Gilles et al.). Clean Option: An Alternative Strategy for Hanford Tank Waste Remediation; Detailed Description of First Example Flowsheet (J.L. Swanson). Index.

This book conveys the theoretical and experimental basics of a well-founded measurement technique in the areas of high DC, AC and surge voltages as well as the corresponding high currents. Additional chapters explain the acquisition of partial discharges and the electrical measured variables. Equipment exposed to very high voltages and currents is used for the transmission and distribution of electrical energy. They are therefore tested for reliability before commissioning using standardized and future test and measurement procedures. Therefore, the book also covers procedures for calibrating measurement systems and determining measurement uncertainties, and the current state of measurement technology with electro-optical and magneto-optical sensors is discussed.

Supercritical fluids have been utilized for numerous scientific advancements and industrial innovations. As the concern for environmental sustainability grows, these fluids have been increasingly used for energy efficiency purposes. Advanced Applications of Supercritical Fluids in Energy Systems is a pivotal reference source for the latest academic material on the integration of supercritical fluids into contemporary energy-related applications. Highlighting innovative discussions on topics such as renewable energy, fluid dynamics, and heat and mass transfer, this book is ideally designed for researchers, academics, professionals, graduate students, and practitioners interested in the latest trends in energy conversion.

This important book lays bare the dangers of global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions stemming from fossil fuel use, and proposes pathways toward mitigation. A discussion of the current main uses of fossil fuels acts as a basis for presenting viable, economically sound alternatives. The author outlines a clear, practical strategy for establishing a carbon-free future by deploying proven policy structures and technologies that are already commercially available.

This volume is a comprehensive guide to the use of geographic information systems (GIS) for the spatial analysis of supply and demand for energy in the global and local scale. It gathers the latest research and techniques in GIS for spatial and temporal analysis of energy systems, mapping of energy from fossil fuels, optimization of renewable energy sources, optimized deployment of existing power sources, and assessment of environmental impact of all of the above. Author Lubos Matejicek covers GIS for assessment a wide variety of energy sources, including fossil fuels, hydropower, wind power, solar energy, biomass energy, and nuclear power as well as the use of batteries and accumulators. The author also utilizes case studies to illustrate advanced techniques such as multicriteria analysis, environmental modeling for prediction of energy consumption, and the use of mobile computing and multimedia tools.

Energy from Waste is a concise, up-to-date and accessible guide on how to create power from both urban and industrial waste. The book explores the types of waste that, instead of going to landfill, can be converted to energy, also discussing the most up-to-date technologies for doing so. The book contains a strong emphasis on the related environmental impacts and economic factors involved in the various methods of generating electricity, making this a valuable and insightful read for those involved in the management and conversion of waste, including energy engineers, managers and technicians.

This book provides a concise introduction to China's electricity sector, suitable for university students and business analysts. It is business focused, combining an introduction from an established regional electricity consultancy with five academic chapters covering governance, market stakeholders and reform, wind and solar power, environmental regulation, and developments in financing. It is written in an accessible but rigorous style for people with limited knowledge of the topic, with minimal jargon but full referencing throughout the academic chapters. Each academic chapter starts with a summary and three key points to guide the reader's understanding.

Coal Combustion Products (CCPs): Their Nature, Utilization and Beneficiation is a valuable resource for engineers and scientists from the coal, cement, concrete, and construction industries seeking an in-depth guide to the characteristics, utilization, beneficiation, and environmental impacts of coal combustion by-products. Researchers in universities working in this area will also find much to expand their knowledge. The book provides a detailed overview of the different waste materials produced during power generation from coal, exploring their nature, beneficiation techniques, applications, and environmental impacts. Strong focus is placed on coal fly ash, bottom ash, and flue gas desulfurization materials, and their employment in cement, concrete, gypsum products, aggregates, road construction, geotechnics, and agriculture, among other products and industries. Part 1 focuses on the nature of coal ashes, with chapters on their origin, generation, and storage, both in ponds and landfill. The coal combustion by-products produced as a result of clean coal technologies are the focus of the final chapter in the section. The next group of chapters in Part 2 considers the utilization of different waste materials, including the key products coal fly ash, bottom ash, and flue gas desulfurization materials. This is followed by a contribution reviewing the latest research into innovative and advanced uses for coal ash. After an introduction to ash quality problems and quality monitoring, Part 3 concentrates on the essential area of by-product beneficiation techniques, in other words how to maximize the quality of materials for the end user. Topics covered include separation methods, thermal processing, and chemical passivation. The final section of the book addresses environmental issues, including the use of coal combustion by-products in green construction materials and the essential health and safety considerations associated with their use.

This book presents a new approach to building renovation, combining aspects of various professional disciplines, integrating green building design, structural stability, and energy efficiency. It draws attention to several often-overlooked qualities of buildings that should be comprehensively integrated into the context of building renovation. The book presents an overview of the most important renovation approaches according to their scope, intensity, and priorities. Combining basic theoretical knowledge and the authors' scientific research it emphasizes the importance of simultaneous consideration of energy efficiency and structural stability in building renovation processes. It simultaneously analyses the effects of various renovation steps related to the required level of energy efficiency, while it also proposes the options of building extension with timber-glass upgrade modules as the solution to a shortage of usable floor areas occurring in large cities. This book offers building designers and decision makers a tool for predicting energy savings in building renovation processes and provides useful guidelines for architects, city developers and students studying architecture and civil engineering. Additionally, it demonstrates how specific innovations, e.g., building extensions with timber-glass modules, can assist building industry companies in the planning and development of their future production. The main aim of the current book is to expose various approaches to the renovation of existing buildings and to combine practical experience with existing research, in order to disseminate knowledge and raise awareness on the importance of integrative and interdisciplinary solutions.

Research on deformable and wearable electronics has promoted an increasing demand for next-generation power sources with high energy/power density that are low cost, lightweight, thin and flexible. One key challenge in flexible electrochemical energy storage devices is the development of reliable electrodes using open-framework materials with robust structures and high performance. Based on an exploration of 3D porous graphene as a flexible substrate, this book constructs free-standing, binder-free, 3D array electrodes for use in batteries, and demonstrates the reasons for the research transformation from Li to Na batteries. It incorporates the first principles of computational investigation and in situ XRD, Raman observations to systematically reveal the working mechanism of the electrodes and structure evolution during ion insertion/extraction. These encouraging results and proposed mechanisms may accelerate further development of high rate batteries using smart nanoengineering of the electrode materials, which make "Na ion battery could be better than Li ion battery" possible.

This thesis focuses on the design and synthesis of novel one-dimensional colloidal chalcogenide hetero-nanostructures for enhancing solar energy conversion applications. Semiconducting nanomaterials are particular attractive for energy conversion due to the quantum confinement effects dictating their unique optical and electronic properties. Steering the photo-induced charge-flow based on unique bandgap alignment in semiconductor heterojunctions is critical for photo-electric/chemical conversion. The author presents the controllable preparation strategies to synthesize 1D chalcogenide hetero-nanostructures with various fine structures, further been used as excellent template materials for preparing other novel and complex hybrid architectures through a series of chemical transformations. The heterogeneous growth mechanisms of novel hetero-nanostructures is studied for developing a facile and general method to prepare more novel heterostructures. The band gap structure simulations, detailed charge carrier behaviour and unique solar energy conversion properties of the prepared hybrid nanostructures are deeply investigated. This work would open a new door to rationally designing hybrid systems for photo-induced applications.

This book presents a comprehensive definition of smart grids and their benefits, and compares smart and traditional grids. It also introduces a design methodology for stand-alone hybrid renewable energy system with and without applying the smart grid concepts for comparison purposes. It discusses using renewable energy power plants to feed loads in remote areas as well as in central power plants connected to electric utilities. Smart grid concepts used in the design of the hybrid renewable power systems can reduce the size of components, which can be translated to a reduction in the cost of generated energy. The proposed hybrid renewable energy system includes wind, photovoltaic, battery, and diesel, and is used initially to feed certain loads, covering the load required completely. The book introduces a novel methodology taking the smart grid concept into account by dividing the loads into high and low priority parts. The high priority part should be supplied at any generated conditions. However, the low priority loads can be shifted to the time when the generated energy from renewable energy sources is greater than the high priority loads requirements. The results show that the use of this smart grid concept reduces the component size and the cost of generated energy compared to that without dividing the loads. The book also describes the use of smart optimization techniques like particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) to optimally design the hybrid renewable energy system. This book provides an excellent background to renewable energy sources, optimal sizing and locating of hybrid renewable energy sources, the best optimization methodologies for sizing and designing the components of hybrid renewable energy systems, and offers insights into using smart grid concepts in the system's design and sizing. It also helps readers understand the dispatch methodology and how to connect the system's different components, their modeling, and the cost analysis of the system.

Aims to teach the reader of the underlying principles and practical applications of digital A/V, and to show where technology is heading in the 21st century. The book shows how to screen and select A/V system components, and how to choose the best design approaches for a particular system. Broadcast and computer system-design engineers should find this a useful text for an understanding of analogue-digital conversion, video cameras, digital transmission and processing, compression, recording and storage, post-production, and more.

This book provides readers with an in-depth discussion of circuit simulation, combining basic electrical engineering circuit theory with Python programming. It fills an information gap by describing the development of Python Power Electronics, an open-source software for simulating circuits, and demonstrating its use in a sample circuit. Unlike typical books on circuit theory that describe how circuits can be solved mathematically, followed by examples of simulating circuits using specific, commercial software, this book has a different approach and focus. The author begins by describing every aspect of the open-source software, in the context of non-linear power electronic circuits, as a foundation for aspiring or practicing engineers to embark on further development of open source software for different purposes. By demonstrating explicitly the operation of the software through algorithms, this book brings together the fields of electrical engineering and software technology.

The volumes includes selected and reviewed papers from the 1st ETA Conference on Energy and Thermal Management, Air Conditioning and Waste Heat Recovery in Berlin, December 1-2, 2016. Experts from university, public authorities and industry discuss the latest technological developments and applications for energy efficiency. Main focus is on automotive industry, rail and aerospace.

This book details three main topics: the screening and characterization of hydrocarbons from air, soil and water; technologies in the biodegradation of hydrocarbons; and the bioconversion of hydrocarbons for biofuel/chemicals, as well as recent developments in the remediation of hydrocarbons and their environmental benefits. The first section focuses on screening methods, qualitative and quantitative analysis of hydrocarbons from soil, air and water environments, speciation of hydrocarbons, and natural bioremediation strategies in such environments. The second section examines technologies for removing hydrocarbon contaminants from various environments, especially advanced technologies for the removal of hydrocarbons and in-situ and ex-situ remediation strategies and problems, as well as concrete case studies. The last section, covering the bioconversion of hydrocarbons for biofuel/chemicals, highlights the biochemicals and bioproducts developed from hydrocarbons, with a particular focus on biochemical and chemical technologies used to produce biopolymers, biofuel precursors and commodity chemicals from hydrocarbons.

This book presents an approach to energy-efficient building design, which takes into account the most important challenges in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Southern Europe. It outlines a specific approach related to residential buildings and their intergenerational and vulnerable occupants, such as ageing population and users in fuel poverty. It also focuses on the use of passive energy measures throughout the year, and on pursuing a realistic and affordable approach to the efficient rehabilitation of resilient residential buildings. In addition, the book presents case studies that include surveys, monitoring, and simulation of residential buildings in Spain and other Southern European representative locations, in order to go further on the study of this challenging topic.

Bioenergy Systems for the Future: Prospects for Biofuels and Biohydrogen examines the current advances in biomass conversion technologies for biofuels and biohydrogen production, including their advantages and challenges for real-world application and industrial-scale implementation. In its first part, the book explores the use of lignocellulosic biomass and agricultural wastes as feedstock, also addressing biomass conversion into biofuels, such as bioethanol, biodiesel, bio-methane, and bio-gasoline. The chapters in Part II cover several different pathways for hydrogen production, from biomass, including bioethanol and bio-methane reforming and syngas conversion. They also include a comparison between the most recent conversion technologies and conventional approaches for hydrogen production. Part III presents the status of advanced bioenergy technologies, such as applications of nanotechnology and the use of bio-alcohol in low-temperature fuel cells. The role of advanced bioenergy in a future bioeconomy and the integration of these technologies into existing systems are also discussed, providing a comprehensive, application-oriented overview that is ideal for engineering professionals, researchers, and graduate students involved in bioenergy.

This book addresses the topic of fractional-order modeling of nuclear reactors. Approaching neutron transport in the reactor core as anomalous diffusion, specifically subdiffusion, it starts with the development of fractional-order neutron telegraph equations. Using a systematic approach, the book then examines the development and analysis of various fractional-order models representing nuclear reactor dynamics, ultimately leading to the fractional-order linear and nonlinear control-oriented models. The book utilizes the mathematical tool of fractional calculus, the calculus of derivatives and integrals with arbitrary non-integer orders (real or complex), which has recently been found to provide a more compact and realistic representation to the dynamics of diverse physical systems. Including extensive simulation results and discussing important issues related to the fractional-order modeling of nuclear reactors, the book offers a valuable resource for students and researchers working in the areas of fractional-order modeling and control and nuclear reactor modeling.