First published in 1927 as the second edition of a 1925 original, this book was intended as a general introduction to the principles of thermodynamics for university students involved in the physical sciences. Birtwistle gives a brief overview of the history of science relating to heat and the conservation of energy as well as practical examples to back up salient points in his explanation of key ideas. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of science.

Energy Optimization in Process Systems and Fuel Cells, Third Edition covers the optimization and integration of energy systems, with a particular focus on fuel cell technology. With rising energy prices, imminent energy shortages, and the increasing environmental impacts of energy production, energy optimization and systems integration is critically important. The book applies thermodynamics, kinetics and economics to study the effect of equipment size, environmental parameters, and economic factors on optimal power production and heat integration. Author Stanislaw Sieniutycz, highly recognized for his expertise and teaching, shows how costs can be substantially reduced, particularly in utilities common in the chemical industry. This third edition contains substantial revisions and modifications, with new material on catalytic reactors, sorption systems, sorbent or catalyst regenerators, dryers, and more.

This book contains a modern selection of about 200 solved problems and examples arranged in a didactic way for hands-on experience with course work in a standard advanced undergraduate/first-year graduate class in thermodynamics and statistical physics. The principles of thermodynamics and equilibrium statistical physics are few and simple, but their application often proves more involved than it may seem at first sight. This book is a comprehensive complement to any textbook in the field, emphasizing the analogies between the different systems, and paves the way for an in-depth study of solid state physics, soft matter physics, and field theory.

The Future of Decentralized Electricity Distribution Networks assesses the evolution of the services delivered by the distribution network as the demands placed on it proliferates from distributed, self-generating, power storing and power sharing 'consumers' - which Sioshansi terms 'prosumagers'. The work outlines the processes by which passive and homogeneous electricity consumers become prosumers and prosumagers, the nature of their service needs and dependence on the services delivered by the distribution network diverges. Contributors assess how consumers are discovering and exercising options to migrate away from total reliance on upstream generators to produce electricity and on the delivery network for its transmission. As they do so, the "utilities" - be they distributors or retailers - must rethink the traditional utility business model. How will they find sufficient revenues to cover their fixed and variable costs as volumetric consumption declines when some consumers become prosumers - or go a step further and become prosumagers? This work argues that new service and business models, and new methods for collecting sufficient revenues to maintain the network, are mandatory for the survival of modern utilities.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Propagation of Correlations in Constrained Systems, Cargese, Corsica, France, July 2-14, 1990"

This textbook aims to briefly outline the main directions in which the geometrization of thermodynamics has been developed in the last decades. The textbook is accessible to people trained in thermal sciences but not necessarily with solid formation in mathematics. For this, in the first chapters a summary of the main mathematical concepts is made. In some sense, this makes the textbook self-consistent. The rest of the textbook consists of a collection of results previously obtained in this young branch of thermodynamics. The manner of presentation used throughout the textbook is adapted for ease of access of readers with education in natural and technical sciences.

Rational extended thermodynamics (RET) is the theory that is applicable to nonequilibrium phenomena out of local equilibrium. It is expressed by the hyperbolic system of field equations with local constitutive equations and is strictly related to the kinetic theory with the closure method of the hierarchies of moment equations. The book intends to present, in a systematic way, new results obtained by RET of gases in both classical and relativistic cases, and it is a natural continuation of the book "Rational Extended Thermodynamics beyond the Monatomic Gas" by the same authors published in 2015. However, this book addresses much wider topics than those of the previous book. Its contents are as follows: RET of rarefied monatomic gases and of polyatomic gases; a simplified RET theory with 6 fields being valid far from equilibrium; RET where both molecular rotational and vibrational modes exist; mixture of gases with multi-temperature. The theory is applied to several typical topics (sound waves, shock waves, etc.) and is compared with experimental data. From a mathematical point of view, RET can be regarded as a theory of hyperbolic symmetric systems, of which it is possible to conduct a qualitative analysis. The book represents a valuable resource for applied mathematicians, physicists, and engineers, offering powerful models for many potential applications such as reentering satellites into the atmosphere, semiconductors, and nanoscale phenomena.

This book highlights a comprehensive and detailed introduction to the fundamental principles related to nuclear engineering. As one of the most popular choices of future energy, nuclear energy is of increasing demand globally. Due to the complexity of nuclear engineering, its research and development as well as safe operation of its facility requires a wide scope of knowledge, ranging from basic disciplines such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and thermodynamics to applied subjects such as reactor theory and radiation protection. The book covers all necessary knowledge in an illustrative and readable style, with a sufficient amount of examples and exercises. It is an easy-to-read textbook for graduate students in nuclear engineering and a valuable handbook for nuclear facility operators, maintenance personnel and technical staff.

Capitalism is under attack. Defenders say that capitalism has raised billions of people from poverty. But a central activity of capitalism today, Wall Street style, is speculation (gambling), using other people's money, and privatizing the profits while socializing the debts. Skeptics argue that capitalism has redistributed the wealth of the planet in favor of a very few, meanwhile leaving the planet in bad shape and leaving billions of people out in the cold. Wealth is now extremely mal-distributed, opportunity is far from equal, and upward social mobility has declined significantly in recent decades. This book reviews the evidence and arguments pro and con in considerable detail. The evidence is mixed. The main virtue of capitalism is its emphasis on competition as a driver of innovation and, thus, of economic growth. It is true that economic growth has accelerated in recent centuries, and it is true that billions of people have been lifted from poverty. But it is not necessarily true that intense "winner take all" competition in the marketplace is the explanation for growth. Neoclassical economic theory posits that self-interest is the primary motive for all economic decisions, leaving little room for cooperation and even less for altruism. The theory applies to an unrealistic "model" of human behavior, known as Homo economicus or "economic man", whose characteristic activity is buying or selling. The reason for using the adjective word "social" - as in socialism" or "social service" or "social democracy" -- is, essentially, to deny those postulates of standard economic theory. Real humans are not rational utility maximizers (whatever that is) and very often do things that are not in their own personal best interests. This can happen because other interests, such as family loyalty, professional, religious, or patriotic duty, may take precedence. Real people rarely behave like Homo economicus, who has rivals but no friends. He (or she) does not trust anyone, hence cannot cooperate with others, and can never create, or live in, a viable social system (or marriage). Yet social systems, ranging from families and tribes to firms, cities, and nations do (and must) exist or civilization cannot exist. A viable social system must not allow "winner takes all". It must reallocate some of the societal wealth being created by competitive activities to support the young, the old and the weak, because all of those people have equal rights, if not the same luck or the same skills. Both competition and cooperation have important roles to play. A hybrid capitalism involving both is the only viable solution. The book ends with a specific suggestion, namely Universal Basic Income, or UBI.

This book presents the derivation of the fluctuation theorems with divergent entropy production and their application to fundamental problems in statistical physics. It explores the two basic aspects of the fluctuation theorems: i) Applicability in extreme situations with divergent entropy production, concluding that the fluctuation theorems remain valid under the notion of absolute irreversibility, and ii) utility in the investigation of classical enigmas in the framework of statistical physics, i.e., Gibbs and Loschmidt paradoxes. The book offers readers an overview of the research in fundamental statistical physics. Firstly it briefly but skillfully reviews the modern development of fluctuation theorems to found the key theme of the book. Secondly it concisely discusses historical issues of statistical physics in chronological order, along with the key literature in the field. They help readers easily follow the key developments in the fundamental research of statistical physics.

This book is intended to serve as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate students as well as professionals engaged in application of thermo-fluid science to the study of combustion. The relevant thermo-chemistry and thermo-physical data required for this study are provided in the 6 appendices along with appropriate curve-fit coefficients. To facilitate gradual learning, two chapters are devoted to thermodynamics of pure and gaseous mixture substances, followed by one chapter each on chemical equilibrium and chemical kinetics. This material when coupled with a dedicated chapter on understanding of equations governing transport of momentum, heat and mass in the presence of chemical reactions provides adequate grounding to undertake analysis of practical combustion equipment, of premixed and diffusion flames as well as of solid particle and liquid droplet combustion. The learnings from the aforementioned chapters are taken to a uniquely strong chapter on application case studies, some of which have special relevance for developing countries.

This book provides a general formalism for the calculation of the spectral correlation function for the fluctuating electromagnetic field. The procedure is applied to the radiative heat transfer and the van der Waals friction using both the semi-classical theory of the fluctuating electromagnetic field and quantum field theory. Applications of the radiative heat transfer and non-contact friction to scanning probe spectroscopy are presented. The theory gives a tentative explanation for the experimental non-contact friction data. The book explains that radiative heat transfer and the van der Waals friction are largely enhanced at short separations between the bodies due to the evanescent electromagnetic waves. Particular strong enhancement occurs if the surfaces of the bodies can support localized surface modes like surface plasmons, surface polaritons or adsorbate vibrational modes. An electromagnetic field outside a moving body can also be created by static charges which are always present on the surface of the body due to inhomogeneities, or due to a bias voltage. This electromagnetic field produces electrostatic friction which can be significantly enhanced if on the surface of the body there is a 2D electron or hole system or an incommensurate adsorbed layer of ions exhibiting acoustic vibrations.

Key features Major concepts in thermal physics are introduced cohesively through computational and mathematical treatments. Computational examples in Python programming language guide students on how to simulate and visualize thermodynamic principles and processes for themselves.

Describing non-equilibrium "cold" plasmas through a chemical physics approach, this book uses the state-to-state plasma kinetics, which considers each internal state as a new species with its own cross sections. Extended atomic and molecular master equations are coupled with Boltzmann and Monte Carlo methods to solve the electron energy distribution function. Selected examples in different applied fields, such as microelectronics, fusion, and aerospace, are presented and discussed including the self-consistent kinetics in RF parallel plate reactors, the optimization of negative ion sources and the expansion of high enthalpy flows through nozzles of different geometries.

The book will cover the main aspects of the state-to-state kinetic approach for the description of nonequilibrium cold plasmas, illustrating the more recent achievements in the development of kinetic models including the self-consistent coupling of master equations and Boltzmann equation for electron dynamics. To give a complete portrayal, the book will assess fundamental concepts and theoretical formulations, based on a unified methodological approach, and explore the insight in related scientific problems still opened for the research community.

This textbook offers an advanced undergraduate or initial graduate level introduction to topics such as kinetic theory, equilibrium statistical mechanics and the theory of fluctuations from a modern perspective. The aim is to provide the reader with the necessary tools of probability theory and thermodynamics (especially the thermodynamic potentials) to enable subsequent study at advanced graduate level. At the same time, the book offers a bird's eye view on arguments that are often disregarded in the main curriculum courses. Further features include a focus on the interdisciplinary nature of the subject and in-depth discussion of alternative interpretations of the concept of entropy. While some familiarity with basic concepts of thermodynamics and probability theory is assumed, this does not extend beyond what is commonly obtained in basic undergraduate curriculum courses.

The subject of compressible flow or gas dynamics deals with the thermo-fluid dynamic problems of gases and vapours, hence it is now an important part of both undergraduate and postgraduate curricula. Compressible Flow covers this subject in fourteen well organised chapters in a lucid style. A large mass of theoretical material and equations has been supported by a number of figures and graphical depictions. Moreover, the revised edition has an additional chapter on miscellaneous problems in compressible flow (gas dynamics)which has been designed to support the turorials, practice exercises and examinations. Problems have been specially chosen for students and engineers in the areas of aerospace, chemical, gas and mechanical engineering. Also the author's broad teaching experience is reflected in the clarity, and systematic and logical presentation of the book.

Thermodynamics includes thirteen independent volumes that define how to perform the selection and calculation of equipment involved in the thirteen basic operations of process engineering, offering reliable and simple methods. Throughout these concise and easy-to-use books, the author uses his vast practical experience and precise knowledge of global research to present an in-depth study of a variety of aspects within the field of chemical engineering. The main concepts of thermodynamics are presented in detail, and their importance is demonstrated through their various practical applications. In this volume, the author provides a general introduction into the study of thermodynamics. Across the five chapters, users will find different concepts involved in the study of energy, including systems, states, energy, laws, and their associated theorems. In addition, the author provides the methods needed for understanding the machinery used in applied thermodynamics to encourage students and engineers to build the programs they need themselves.

- Focuses on a very physical and specific understanding of how humans measure and interpret the measurements of the quantity of time, unlike existing books which explore qualitative, speculative theories currently entertained in physics and philosophy.

- Focuses on a very physical and specific understanding of how humans measure and interpret the measurements of the quantity of time, unlike existing books which explore qualitative, speculative theories currently entertained in physics and philosophy.

This book describes various forms of solar energy conversion techniques in a unified way. The physical framework used to describe the various conversions is endoreversible thermodynamics, a recently developed subset of irreversible thermodynamics . It thus studies situations which are not in equilibrium and in which therefore entropy is continuously created. Nevertheless the mathematics is simple, because the authors consider only stationary situations. Most undergraduate textbooks on thermodynamics emphasize equilibrium thermodynamics and reversible processes. No entropy is created and conversion efficiencies are maximal, equal to the Carnot efficiency. For irreversible conversion processes, the reader learns only that entropy production is positive and that conversion efficiency is lower than the Carnot efficiency. But how great the entropy creation is, and how low the efficiency, is usually not expressed. Endoreversible thermodynamics gives the opportunity to calculate explicit values for a broad class of these processes, including solar energy conversion, which is particularly suited to being described in this way. The book is intended for physicists and engineers interested in renewable energy and irreversible thermodynamics.

This book presents the state of the art on thermophysical and thermochemical properties, fabrication methodologies, irradiation behaviours, fuel reprocessing procedures, and aspects of waste management for oxide fuels in general and for thoria-based fuels in particular.The book covers all the essential features involved in the development of and working with nuclear technology. With the help of key databases, many of which were created by the authors, information is presented in the form of tables, figures, schematic diagrams and flow sheets, and photographs. This information will be useful for scientists and engineers working in the nuclear field, particularly for design and simulation, and for establishing the technology. One special feature is the inclusion of the latest information on thoria-based fuels, especially on the use of thorium in power generation, as it has less proliferation potential for nuclear weapons. Given its natural abundance, thorium offers a future alternative to uranium fuels in nuclear technology. In closing, the latest information on conventional uranium and plutonium fuels is also provided."

* Materials are presented to guide the reader with ease through a difficult subject by providing extra help whenever needed to overcome the more demanding technical and conceptual aspects * Active reading strategies (conceptual problems, discussion questions, worked examples with comments, end of chapter problems, further reading etc.) to stimulate engagement with the text through active, critical thought * Well-balanced textbook design (including introductions, illustrations, keywords defined, highlights, notes in margins, summary of key ideas and concepts, boxes with additional topics that complement the materials presented in the main text)

- Newly updated. Addresses environmental issues as well as applications of thermodynamics to current and alternative energy sources and applications - Answers the most commonly asked questions relating to thermodynamics, such as the difference between entropy and enthalpy and the first name of Maxwell's demon - Precedes each group of related questions with an introductory overview - Emphasizes qualitative understanding - Includes many illustrative materials throughout to reinforce key concepts - Requires no prior background in the subject