This volume presents a transdisciplinary approach to implementing a circular economy in international business. Written by global experts, this book provides a detailed and professional focus on issues that must be improved in order to successfully implement a circular economy in a variety of industries. The book begins with a discussion of the theoretical aspects of circular economy and the challenges of going from theory to practice. The following chapters present case studies on the circular economy in different sectors of international business such as food systems, mineral processing, water management, energy process, waste management, the cement industry, and 3D printing. Issues such as the role of SMEs in the circular economy, and the progress towards circular economy 3.0, and strategies for teaching the circular economy are also discussed. The volume ends with a critique of the concept of circular economy and suggestions for future research avenues. Written with multiple stakeholders in mind, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of economics, sustainability, international business, and management as well as industry professionals and governments working towards establishing a circular economy in their fields and jurisdictions.

Sustainable engineering is of great importance for resilient and agile technology and society. This book balances economics, environment, and societal elements of sustainable engineering by integrating process intensification, energy analysis, and artificial intelligence to reduce production costs, improve the use of material and energy, product quality, safety, societal well-being, and water usage. The book provides comprehensive discussion of topics on process intensification, energy analysis, and artificial intelligence that include optimization, energy integration, green engineering, pinch analysis, exergy analysis, feasibility analysis, life cycle assessment, circular economy, bioeconomy, data processing, machine learning, expert systems, digital twins, and self-optimized plants for sustainable engineering.

COVID-19 has demanded management innovations across all sectors. As urban systems are made more sustainable, and our focus shifts towards the Circular Economy, this timely book sheds new light on emerging issues. Contributions to this volume highlight developments in: smart cities and urban innovation and resilience; building and re-building cross-culturally sustainable tourism and recreation; new international business models in a digitally transforming world; how digital tools are being used to promote STEM education in the 'new normal' post-2020 world; food insecurity and energy policy in Latin America; the role of leadership in teleworking and job satisfaction in the Asia-Pacific region; economic and socio-cultural impacts of recreational activities affected by COVID-19; entrepreneurship in COVID-19 times; and the integration of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in higher education institutions. Presenting new, innovative conceptualizations and viewpoints on management, Sustainable Management in COVID-19 Times explores a range of concepts that give insights into our post-pandemic world.

District energy (DE) systems use central heating and/or cooling facilities to provide heating and/or cooling services for communities and can be particularly beneficial when integrated with cogeneration plants for electricity and heat. This book provides information on district energy and cogeneration technologies, and the systems that combine them, with a focus on their modelling, analysis and optimization. Topics covered include a brief introduction to district heating and cogeneration; background material on thermodynamics and exergy analyses; models for cogeneration, heating and district heating, and chilling and district cooling; descriptions and analyses of configurations for integrating cogeneration and DE technologies; economics of cogeneration and DE; environmental impact of cogeneration systems, including wastes and carbon dioxide emissions and their allocations; modelling and optimization of cogeneration-based district energy systems accounting for economics and environmental impact; developments and advances in technologies and systems for cogeneration and DE; and future directions. Examples and case studies are included throughout the book to illustrate the material covered, and to demonstrate the importance, benefits and value of cogeneration and district energy technologies in achieving sustainable and efficient energy systems.

This volume presents a transdisciplinary approach to implementing a circular economy in international business. Written by global experts, this book provides a detailed and professional focus on issues that must be improved in order to successfully implement a circular economy in a variety of industries.  The book begins with a discussion of the theoretical aspects of circular economy and the challenges of going from theory to practice. The following chapters present case studies on the circular economy in different sectors of international business such as food systems, mineral processing, water management, energy process, waste management, the cement industry, and 3D printing. Issues such as the role of SMEs in the circular economy, and the progress towards circular economy 3.0, and strategies for teaching the circular economy are also discussed. The volume ends with a critique of the concept of circular economy and suggestions for future research avenues.  Written with multiple stakeholders in mind, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of economics, sustainability, international business, and management as well as industry professionals and governments working towards establishing a circular economy in their fields and jurisdictions.

Design and Performance Optimization of Renewable Energy Systems provides an integrated discussion of issues relating to renewable energy performance design and optimization using advanced thermodynamic analysis with modern methods to configure major renewable energy plant configurations (solar, geothermal, wind, hydro, PV). Vectors of performance enhancement reviewed include thermodynamics, heat transfer, exergoeconomics and neural network techniques. Source technologies studied range across geothermal power plants, hydroelectric power, solar power towers, linear concentrating PV, parabolic trough solar collectors, grid-tied hybrid solar PV/Fuel cell for freshwater production, and wind energy systems. Finally, nanofluids in renewable energy systems are reviewed and discussed from the heat transfer enhancement perspective.

Sustainable Energy Technologies for Seawater Desalination provides comprehensive coverage of the use of renewable energy technologies for sustainable freshwater production. Included are design concepts for desalination and sustainable energy technologies based on thermodynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer and economics. Key topics covered include desalination fundamentals and models, desalination assessments using energy and exergy methods, economics of desalination and the optimization of renewable energy-driven desalination systems. Illustrative examples and case studies are incorporated throughout the book to demonstrate how to apply the concepts covered in practical scenarios. Following a coherent approach, starting from fundamentals and basics and culminating with advanced systems and applications, this book is relevant for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in engineering and non-engineering programs.

Exergy: Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, Third Edition provides a systematic overview of new and developed systems, new practical examples, problems and case studies on several key topics ranging from the basics of thermodynamic concepts to advanced exergy analysis techniques in a wide range of applications. With an ancillary online package and solutions manual, this reference connects exergy with three essential areas in terms of energy, environment and sustainable development. As such, it is a thorough reference for professionals who are solving problems related to design, analysis, modeling and assessment.

Battery Technology: From Fundamentals to Thermal Behavior and Management provides comprehensive coverage of rechargeable battery technology fundamentals, along with relevant aging mechanisms and thermal management systems. With a strong focus on the analysis and modeling of battery technologies, the book includes coverage of overpotentials in battery cells and discussions on the thermal-electrochemical coupled modeling of batteries. Beginning with an introduction to battery technology, the book then takes a deep dive into thermodynamics of batteries and electrochemical modeling of batteries. Subsequent chapters examine battery thermal behavior and thermal systems, before discussing integrated battery-based systems. Accompanied by chapter objectives, applications, case studies and study questions to test knowledge, this book is an essential resource for students and researchers wanting to understand the underlying basics of batteries, along with the latest advances in battery technology.

Improve and optimize efficiency of HVAC and related energy systems from an exergy perspective. From fundamentals to advanced applications, Exergy Analysis of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration provides readers with a clear and concise description of exergy analysis and its many uses. Focusing on the application of exergy methods to the primary technologies for heating, refrigerating, and air conditioning, Ibrahim Dincer and Marc A. Rosen demonstrate exactly how exergy can help improve and optimize efficiency, environmental performance, and cost-effectiveness. The book also discusses the analysis tools available, and includes many comprehensive case studies on current and emerging systems and technologies for real-world examples. From introducing exergy and thermodynamic fundamentals to presenting the use of exergy methods for heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning systems, this book equips any researcher or practicing engineer with the tools needed to learn and master the application of exergy analysis to these systems.

Energy storage can be utilised in a wide range of applications. The main types of applications covered by the chapters in the present volume include utility and other electrical power systems, conventional and renewable power generation, renewable energy sources, heat pumps, building heating and cooling and district energy systems. The ability of energy storage to facilitate the efficient, effective and economic operation of renewable energy systems is reinforced in this volume, with chapters focusing on using energy storage to improve solar power plants and other renewable energy applications. This book addresses both existing and potential future energy storage technologies and systems.

Growing concerns about the environmental and ecological implications of industrial and other systems, as well as the impact of energy resource utilisation, are fostering increasing interest in environmental and ecological protection. Such understanding is crucial to advancing the quest for a cleaner environment and sustainability. New approaches to ecology and the environment that provide an engineering perspective and a scientific basis to activities are of particular interest. The integration of the thermodynamic quantity exergy with the environment and ecology provides a novel approach that offers significant potential to improve environmental and ecological management. A brief summary is presented here of existing analysis techniques which integrate exergy with ecological and environmental factors.

Increasing concerns about energy systems and their environmental implications, as well as the costs, supply and security of energy resources, are fostering increasing interest in energy. Understanding the economics of energy systems is crucial to the proper development and beneficial application of advanced energy technologies, and to progress in society's quest for energy sustainability. New approaches to energy economics that facilitate more cost-effective use energy resources are of particular interest. This book focuses on the integration of exergy and economics and provides a novel approach that offers significant potential to improve our energy systems and their utilisation.