'A remarkably hopeful and useful book...The climate crisis leaves us no choice but to build a new world and as Sanderson makes clear, we are capable of making it a better one than the dirty and dangerous planet we've come to take for granted.' Bill McKibben, Observer book of the week We depend on a handful of metals and rare earths to power our phones and computers. Increasingly, we rely on them to power our cars and our homes. Whoever controls these finite commodities will become rich beyond imagining. Sanderson journeys to meet the characters, companies, and nations scrambling for the new resources, linking remote mines in the Congo and Chile's Atacama Desert to giant Chinese battery factories, shadowy commodity traders, secretive billionaires, a new generation of scientists attempting to solve the dilemma of a 'greener' world.

The present volume includes most of the material of the invited lectures delivered at the NATO Advanced Study Institute "Morphogenesis through the interplay of nonlinear chemical instabilities and elastic active media" held from 2th to 14th July 2007 at the Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques de Cargese (http: //www.iesc.univ-corse.fr/), in Corsica (France). This traditional place to organize Summer Schools and Workshops in a well equipped secluded location at the border of the Mediterranean sea has, over many years now, earned an increasing deserved reputation. Non-linear dynamics of non equilibrium systems has worked its way into a great number of fields and plays a key role in the understanding of se- organization and emergence phenomena in domains as diverse as chemical reactors, laser physics, fluid dynamics, electronic devices and biological morphogenesis. In the latter case, the viscoelastic properties of tissues are also known to play a key role. The control and formulation of soft responsive or "smart" materials has been a fast growing field of material science, specially in the area of po- mer networks, due to their growing applications in bio-science, chemical sensors, intelligent microfluidic devices, ... . Nature is an important p- vider of active materials whether at the level of tissues or at that of s- cellular structures. As a consequence, the fundamental understanding of the physical mechanisms at play in responsive materials also shines light in the understanding of biological artefacts."

Safety in Petroleum Industries covers pertinent safety aspects and precautions to be taken for design, operation, maintenance, inspection and project constructions for petroleum industries, with an emphasis on petroleum refineries. Relevant practical knowledge and experience contributing to safe and sustained operation of the industry has been compiled with all necessary references. Identified areas where theoretical inputs are required have also been incorporated. Learning objectives for the petroleum industries have been identified and discussed in an organized manner based on author's more than thirty-five years of experience in petroleum and chemical industries. Aimed at practicing engineers in upstream and downstream petroleum industries, this book: Covers safety tips for operation of petroleum industries Documents design codes, tools and practices including safe operating practices of different equipment and safety procedures in a single source Includes detailed safety procedures like HAZOP, Safety Audit, management safety review, and process safety management Contains dedicated chapters on Fire Fighting, and Industrial Hygiene and Ergonomics Discusses first-hand experienced examples and burning issues in the petroleum industry

One of the most challenging problems of contemporary theoretical physics is the mathematically rigorous construction of a theory which describes gravitation and the other fundamental physical interactions within a common framework. The physical ideas which grew from attempts to develop such a theory require highly advanced mathematical methods and radically new physical concepts. This book presents different approaches to a rigorous unified description of quantum fields and gravity. It contains a carefully selected cross-section of lively discussions which took place in autumn 2010 at the fifth conference "Quantum field theory and gravity - Conceptual and mathematical advances in the search for a unified framework" in Regensburg, Germany. In the tradition of the other proceedings covering this series of conferences, a special feature of this book is the exposition of a wide variety of approaches, with the intention to facilitate a comparison. The book is mainly addressed to mathematicians and physicists who are interested in fundamental questions of mathematical physics. It allows the reader to obtain a broad and up-to-date overview of a fascinating active research area.

This book aims to take the reader through all aspects of fire safety and management in residential settings, from origin and ignition, risk assessment, protection and prevention, as well as comparing effective enforcement options from across all parts of the UK. It outlines the basis of law, standards and guidance relating to fire safety and building performance, and critically evaluates the legal provisions and approaches to risk reduction with the focus on rented properties. This book: Provides wider access to fire safety knowledge previously generally used by regulators and specialists. Examines fire risk assessments in domestic premises and the competency of assessors. Explains the approaches to fire safety enforcement the impact of property licensing. Includes fire risk precautions for housing and general checklists to help landlords and tenants understand their responsibilities Explores the effect of existing legislation with references to key Property Tribunal decisions relating to fire risk management and future legal developments. This book will assist Environmental Health Officers and Environmental Health Practitioners - as well as graduating academics of the field - in their work to encourage the appropriate and effective use of legislation. Landlords, Estate managers, student accommodation managers, surveyors and tenant groups may also find this book of interest.

Engineering the physical, chemical, and energy properties of lignocellulosic biomass is important to produce high-quality consistent feedstocks with reduced variability for biofuels production. The emphasis of this book will be the beneficial impacts that mechanical, chemical, and thermal preprocessing methods can have on lignocellulosic biomass quality attributes or specifications for solid and liquid biofuels and biopower production technologies. "Preprocessing" refers to treatments that can occur at a distance from conversion and result in an intermediate with added value, with improved conversion performance and efficiency. This book explores the effects of mechanical, chemical, and thermal preprocessing methods on lignocellulosic biomass physical properties and chemical composition and their suitability for biofuels production. For example, biomass mechanical preprocessing methods like size reduction (which impacts the particle size and distribution) and densification (density and size and shape) are important for feedstocks to meet the quality requirements for both biochemical and thermochemical conversion methods like enzymatic conversion, gasification, and pyrolysis process. Thermal preprocessing methods like drying, deep drying, torrefaction, steam explosion, hydrothermal carbonization, and hydrothermal liquefaction effect feedstock's proximate, ultimate and energy property, making biomass suitable for both solid and liquid fuel production. Chemical preprocessing which includes washing, leaching, acid, alkali, and ammonia fiber explosion that can enable biochemical composition, such as modification of lignin and hemicellulose, and impacts the enzymatic conversion application for liquid fuels production. This book also explores the integration of these preprocessing technologies to achieve desired lignocellulosic biomass quality attributes for biofuels production.

Faced with the climate change phenomena, humanity has had to now contend with numerous changes, including our attitude environment protection, and also with depletion of classical energy resources. These have had consequences in the power production sector, which was already struggling with negative public opinion on nuclear energy, but a favorable perception of renewable energy resources. The objective of this edited volume is to review all these changes and to present solutions for future power generation.

Innovation through specific and rational design and functionalization has led to the development of a wide range of mesoporous materials with varying morphologies (hexagonal, cubic, rod-like), structures (silicates, carbons, metal oxides), and unique functionalities (doping, acid functionalization) that currently makes this field one of the most exciting in materials science and energy applications. This book focuses primarily on the rapid progress in their application in energy conversion and storage technologies, including supercapacitor, Li-ion battery, fuel cells, solar cells, and photocatalysis (water splitting) and will serve as a valuable reference for researchers in the field

The 2016 2nd International Conference on Energy Equipment Science and Engineering (ICEESE 2016) was held on November 12-14, 2016 in Guangzhou, China. ICEESE 2016 brought together innovative academics and industrial experts in the field of energy equipment science and engineering to a common forum. The primary goal of the conference is to promote research and developmental activities in energy equipment science and engineering and another goal is to promote scientific information interchange between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working all around the world. The conference will be held every year to make it an ideal platform for people to share views and experiences in energy equipment science and engineering and related areas.

"Al Gini's latest book surveys the landscape of ethical speed bumps and crash sites with his customary charm, verve and insight. Why It's Hard To Be Good is a creative expose of the many reasons smart people do bad things." Steve Priest, Founder, Ethical Leadership Group "Don't just read this book. Use it. Use it to challenge yourself and others with honesty, compassion, and humor, just as Gini does." John W. Dienhart, The Frank Shrontz Chair for Professional Ethics, Seattle University and author of Business, Institutions, and Ethics "Why It's Hard To Be Good sets a new standard for clear and funny thinking. A master writer and astute observer of human behavior and culture, Gini has written yet another terrific and enriching book. You won't be able to put it down." John Eckberg, author of The Success Effect and business/workplace reporter for The Cincinnati Enquirer It isn't easy to be good. Al Gini - at home both in philosophy and the corporate boardroom - speaks here in an engagingly direct voice about why we have so much trouble doing the right thing in life - at home, with family or strangers, and at work. Businesses struggle with ethical issues every day, and so do ordinary people. But a multinational corporation and a single thinking human being are bound together by the same dilemma: how to choose the right thing to do and then do it? Al Gini lays out ideas for 'stepping out of the shadow of the self' - an argument for stopping thinking of yourself as the center of the universe. It's hard to be good, he explains, until we realize that being good only has meaning in relation to other people. Ideas of justice, fairness, and ethical behavior are just abstract ideas until they are put into action with regard to people outside ourselves. This warm and generous book is for anyone who wants to know how to use ethical thinking as way to live, work, and be with others.

An impending energy crisis is looming globally, which has led to the use of effluents from paper mills for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), CO2 flooding and wastewater treatment by biosurfactants, and the current market demand for cost-competitive and environment-friendly alternatives to synthetic chemicals. This up-to-date book on petroleum technology provides a comprehensive review of the background and recent advances in the field of petroleum technology and highlights various facets of the fascinating world of upstream, midstream and downstream petroleum technologies. It comprises 25 chapters, each representing the progress, prospects and challenges in petroleum research, and focuses on the tremendous progress made by the scientific community in this research field. The book covers in detail EOR processes, reservoir engineering, production operation and optimisation, pipeline transportation and storage, CO2 capture and sequestration, wastewater management and innovative treatment, refining technologies, environmental chemistry, and biochemistry and biotechnology for the petroleum industry.

Numerical simulation models are used in all engineering disciplines for modeling physical phenomena to learn how the phenomena work, and to identify problems and optimize behavior. Smart Proxy Models provide an opportunity to replicate numerical simulations with very high accuracy and can be run on a laptop within a few minutes, thereby simplifying the use of complex numerical simulations, which can otherwise take tens of hours. This book focuses on Smart Proxy Modeling and provides readers with all the essential details on how to develop Smart Proxy Models using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, as well as how it may be used in real-world cases. Covers replication of highly accurate numerical simulations using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Details application in reservoir simulation and modeling and computational fluid dynamics Includes real case studies based on commercially available simulators Smart Proxy Modeling is ideal for petroleum, chemical, environmental, and mechanical engineers, as well as statisticians and others working with applications of data-driven analytics.

The 2016 2nd International Conference on Energy Equipment Science and Engineering (ICEESE 2016) will be held on November 12-14, 2016 in Guangzhou, China. ICEESE 2016 is to bring together innovative academics and industrial experts in the field of energy equipment science and engineering to a common forum. The primary goal of the conference is to promote research and developmental activities in energy equipment science and engineering and another goal is to promote scientific information interchange between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working all around the world. The conference will be held every year to make it an ideal platform for people to share views and experiences in energy equipment science and engineering and related areas.

South Asia constitutes a key geography in the world today considering its large population and related daunting energy and environmental challenges. Many countries in the region are faced with a growing gap between energy demand and local resources, resulting in an increased dependence on imports. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the energy demand in South Asia will grow at a rate more than double that of the world average in the coming decades. This book addresses the critical subject of energy and environmental outlook for South Asia and presents the wider challenges and the responses at the national and regional level. Features: Discusses and addresses the ongoing energy and environmental challenges faced by almost a quarter of the global population Includes dedicated chapters for each country and presents analysis and recommendations by regional experts Examines how deteriorating air quality and persistent natural disasters are severe environmental challenges for the region Discusses the implications of global warming and climate change for South Asia Includes practical case studies throughout Energy and Environmental Outlook for South Asia will benefit a wide range of stakeholders from various fields including but not limited to energy, environment, economics, national security, and sustainable development. It also serves as a valuable resource for academics, researchers, analysts, policymakers, and representatives of utilities, industry, professional bodies, financial institutions, think tanks, and developmental organizations to better plan their initiatives, activities, and policies. It will help countries in the region and also those around the world by learning from shared experience, and ideally by collaborating for energy and environmental prosperity.

First published in 2002. This book examines the full scope of technologies available to address the electricity supply crisis. The author details the tools and technologies available for incorporating smaller, cleaner, more efficient energy into energy management plans. He examines the role of new technologies in reducing operating costs and developing more innovative and practical approaches to energy management. Topics include implementation of alternative energy programs, management of power quality, cost-effective power generation solutions, cost-effective energy services, information monitoring and diagnostic systems, energy storage options, integration of lighting and cooling systems, and more.

Data-driven analytics is enjoying unprecedented popularity among oil and gas professionals. Many reservoir engineering problems associated with geological storage of CO2 require the development of numerical reservoir simulation models. This book is the first to examine the contribution of artificial intelligence and machine learning in data-driven analytics of fluid flow in porous environments, including saline aquifers and depleted gas and oil reservoirs. Drawing from actual case studies, this book demonstrates how smart proxy models can be developed for complex numerical reservoir simulation models. Smart proxy incorporates pattern recognition capabilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning to build smart models that learn the intricacies of physical, mechanical and chemical interactions using precise numerical simulations. This ground breaking technology makes it possible and practical to use high fidelity, complex numerical reservoir simulation models in the design, analysis and optimization of carbon storage in geological formations projects.

The subject of vibro-acoustics is important for the design of machine elements and structures, to minimize sound generated by them. For better machine designing, it is necessary for machine designers (mechanical engineers) to have a thorough knowledge of vibro-acoustics. Furthermore, since the design cycles of machines have become shorter, designers will have to design quiet machines at the drawing-board stage rather than applying "band-aid" techniques after the machine has been built. Although there is common ground in the treatment of acoustics, the subject of vibration is not very fortunate. Those interested in low-frequency vibration are generally concerned with the modal approach of using natural frequencies and mode shapes, whereas those interested in vibro-acoustics in medium and high frequencies are generally concerned with the wave approach. Since both modal and wave approaches have their advantages, it is a good idea to study both together to get the best out of them. This is useful for a better understanding the physics of vibro-acoustics. Written for students and professionals interested in gaining knowledge, this book systematically integrates the relevant aspects of vibro-acoustics from various viewpoints.

The 2016 International Conference on Energy, Environment and Materials Science (EEMS 2016) took place on July 29-31, 2016 in Singapore. EEMS 2016 has been a meeting place for innovative academics and industrial experts in the field of energy and environment research. The primary goal of the conference is to promote research and developmental activities in energy and environment research and further to promote scientific information exchange between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working all around the world. The conference will be organized every year making it an ideal platform for people to share views and experiences in energy, environment and materials science and related areas.

The 2016 International Conference on Materials Science, Energy Technology and Environmental Engineering (MSETEE 2016) took place May 28-29, 2016 in Zhuhai City, China. MSETEE 2016 brought together academics and industrial experts in the field of materials science, energy technology and environmental engineering. The primary goal of the conference was to promote research and developmental activities in these research areas and to promote scientific information interchange between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working around the world. The conference will be held every year serving as platform for researchers to share views and experience in materials science, energy technology and environmental engineering and related areas.

The 2016 International Conference on Energy Science and Applied Technology (ESAT 2016) held on June 25-26 in Wuhan, China aimed to provide a platform for researchers, engineers, and academicians, as well as industrial professionals, to present their research results and development activities in energy science and engineering and its applied technology. The themes presented in Energy Science and Applied Technology ESAT 2016 are: Technologies in Geology, Mining, Oil and Gas; Renewable Energy, Bio-Energy and Cell Technologies; Energy Transfer and Conversion, Materials and Chemical Technologies; Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development; Electrical and Electronic Technology, Power System Engineering; Mechanical, Manufacturing, Process Engineering; Control and Automation; Communications and Applied Information Technologies; Applied and Computational Mathematics; Methods and Algorithms Optimization; Network Technology and Application; System Test, Diagnosis, Detection and Monitoring; Recognition, Video and Image Processing.

The 2017 2nd International Conference on Electromechanical Control Technology and Transportation (ICECTT 2017) was held on January 14-15, 2017 in Zhuhai, China. ICECTT 2017 brought together academics and industrial experts in the field of electromechanical control technology and transportation to a common forum. The primary goal of the conference was to promote research and developmental activities in electromechanical control technology and transportation. Another goal was to promote exchange of scientific information between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working all around the world. The conference will be held every year thus making it an ideal platform for people to share views and experiences in electromechanical control technology and transportation and related areas.

It is estimated that a large fraction of natural gas reserves are found in locations from where transport is not economical. If these isolated natural gas reserves could be converted to synthetic fuels, they would generate around 250 billion barrels of synthetic oil-a quantity equal to one-third of the Middle East's proven oil reserves. Small-Scale Gas to Liquid Fuel Synthesis explores next-generation technologies geared toward overcoming the significant cost and technical barriers prohibiting the extensive use of conventional gas to liquid (GTL) processes for the exploitation of small and/or isolated natural gas reservoirs. The book highlights key research activities in the framework of two large European projects-Innovative Catalytic Technologies & Materials for Next Gas to Liquid Processes (NEXT-GTL) and Oxidative Coupling of Methane followed by Oligomerization to Liquids (OCMOL)-examining novel technical developments that reduce the costs associated with air fractioning and syngas production. Featuring contributions from internationally respected experts, Small-Scale Gas to Liquid Fuel Synthesis discusses innovative GTL technologies based on recent advances in catalytic membrane systems, reaction engineering, and process design. The book provides academic and industrial researchers with a concise presentation of the current state of the art of low-cost, energy-efficient GTL technologies for small-scale applications.

Durability of Industrial Composites offers numerical and quantitative solutions to long-term composite failures that are useful to practicing engineers, researchers, and students. All modes of laminate long-term failure are contemplated, with resin toughness and environmental conditions considered. The book develops a simple unified equation to compute the load-dependent durability of laminates under the simultaneous action of cyclic and static loads. The load-independent durability and residual life of equipment immersed in corrosive chemicals are also discussed. The book presents a full discussion of the elusive strain-corrosion mode of failure as well as a complete solution to the durability issue of underground sanitation pipes. The currently accepted durability parameters of HDB, Sb and Sc are discarded as incorrect and replaced with the appropriate threshold parameters. The entirely new concept of the "anomalous failure" is fully discussed and solved. The effects of overpressure and spike strains, as well as of the operating temperature and moisture, are quantitatively evaluated and illustrated in numerical examples.