This text seeks to illuminate, mainly for the electrical power engineers of the future, the topic of large scale solar flux gathering schemes, which arguably represent the major source of renewable power available. The aim of the content is to impart, from an electromagnetic perspective, a deep and sound understanding of the topic of solar flux collection, ranging from the characteristics of light to the properties of antennas. To do this five chapters are employed to provide a thorough grounding in relevant aspects of electromagnetism and electromagnetic waves including optics, electromagnetic radiation and reception, aperture antennas and array antennas and the quantum electrodynamics aspects of optical absorption, as it relates to photovoltaic techniques. The principles developed in these chapters are then used to underpin and elucidate the main chapters on photovoltaic collectors, concentrated solar power collectors, satellite based collection systems and optical nantennas. To establish the novel and transformative renewable technologies, which civilisation will soon require, in order to achieve sustainability quickly and effectively, the availability of professional engineers and scientists with a thorough and commanding grasp of the fundamental science is an absolutely essential prerequisite. This book provides this for solar power generating systems.

This text seeks to illuminate, mainly for the electrical power engineers of the future, the topic of large scale solar flux gathering schemes, which arguably represent the major source of renewable power available. The aim of the content is to impart, from an electromagnetic perspective, a deep and sound understanding of the topic of solar flux collection, ranging from the characteristics of light to the properties of antennas. To do this five chapters are employed to provide a thorough grounding in relevant aspects of electromagnetism and electromagnetic waves including optics, electromagnetic radiation and reception, aperture antennas and array antennas and the quantum electrodynamics aspects of optical absorption, as it relates to photovoltaic techniques. The principles developed in these chapters are then used to underpin and elucidate the main chapters on photovoltaic collectors, concentrated solar power collectors, satellite based collection systems and optical nantennas. To establish the novel and transformative renewable technologies, which civilisation will soon require, in order to achieve sustainability quickly and effectively, the availability of professional engineers and scientists with a thorough and commanding grasp of the fundamental science is an absolutely essential prerequisite. This book provides this for solar power generating systems.

Despite scientific evidence that business-as-usual is unsustainable, there is a huge and widespread inertia to 'greening' the planet. Warming to Ecocide considers climate change from a thermodynamic perspective and asks whether market-driven organisations have carried us to the point of no return through the flawed economics of endless growth. Warming to Ecocide begins by exploring the thermodynamic origins of climate change. It demonstrates that equilibrium thermodynamics can provide full explanations for the basic processes of life such as photosynthesis and metabolism, and that non-equilibrium thermodynamics is close to providing an explanation for how life started. Armed with a solid appreciation of the power of thermodynamics, the second half of Warming to Ecocide discusses whether multinational corporations have convinced the public that climate change is insignificant and thereby neutered any all attempts by governments to espouse environmentally-friendly policies. It then goes on to offer strategies whereby mankind may avoid propelling the global average temperature above the pre-industrial level by more than 2 DegreesC, which scientists view as a threshold presaging catastrophic run-away processes.

Despite scientific evidence that business-as-usual is unsustainable, there is a huge and widespread inertia to 'greening' the planet. Warming to Ecocide considers climate change from a thermodynamic perspective and asks whether market-driven organisations have carried us to the point of no return through the flawed economics of endless growth. Warming to Ecocide begins by exploring the thermodynamic origins of climate change. It demonstrates that equilibrium thermodynamics can provide full explanations for the basic processes of life such as photosynthesis and metabolism, and that non-equilibrium thermodynamics is close to providing an explanation for how life started. Armed with a solid appreciation of the power of thermodynamics, the second half of Warming to Ecocide discusses whether multinational corporations have convinced the public that climate change is insignificant and thereby neutered any all attempts by governments to espouse environmentally-friendly policies. It then goes on to offer strategies whereby mankind may avoid propelling the global average temperature above the pre-industrial level by more than 2 DegreesC, which scientists view as a threshold presaging catastrophic run-away processes.

This book describes and provides design guidelines for antennas that achieve compactness by using the slot radiator as the fundamental building block within a periodic array, rather than a phased array. It provides the basic electromagnetic tools required to design and analyse these novel antennas, with sample calculations where relevant. The book presents a focused introduction and valuable insights into the relevant antenna technology, together with an overview of the main directions in the evolving technology of compact planar arrays. While the book discusses the historical evolution of compact array antennas, its main focus is on summarising the extensive body of literature on compact antennas. With regard to the now ubiquitous slot radiator, it seeks to demonstrate how, despite significant antenna size reductions that at times even seem to defy the laws of physics, desirable radiation pattern properties can be preserved. This is supported by an examination of recent advances in frequency selective surfaces and in metamaterials, which can, if handled correctly, be used to facilitate physics-defying designs. The book offers a valuable source of information for communication systems and antenna design engineers, especially thanks to its overview of trends in compact planar arrays, yet will also be of interest to students and researchers, as it provides a focused introduction and insights into this highly relevant antenna technology.

Electromagnetic levitation is commonly associated with transport applications, principally 'MagLev' trains. However, the technology has many potential applications across engineering, particularly where there is a requirement to improve efficiency of electrical products and devices, propelled by the desire to minimise frictional and bearing losses and ohmic losses in conductors, which are the major causes of machine inefficiency. Fundamentals of Electromagnetic Levitation: Engineering sustainability through efficiency is an introductory text encompassing the enabling electrical technologies associated with magnetic levitation, electrostatic suspension, diamagnetic levitation and superconduction, high frequency magnetic levitation, high frequency electric suspension, and levitation using microwave pressure. It aims to make aspiring and existing electrical engineers aware of the efficiency implications of frictionless machines and hence, of how important this may be in a post-fossil fuel world in which the energy available from renewable sources is strictly limited.