This latest volume includes contributions on the latest advances in energy research. Chapters include an overview of the production and recovery advancements of coal bed methane (CBM) reservoirs; an overview on the advancements in numerical and experimental studies of natural gas hydrate reservoirs; a discussion on the present state of the art of geothermal desalination, principles of operation for various desalination processes, and their applications and case studies around the world; an examination of ionic liquid applications as innovative electrolytes for fuel cells; a comparative study of the energy efficiency of a conventional ventilating and air conditioning (VAC) systems with three configurations; an assessment of desiccant assisted exergy recovery in air-conditioning systems; a technical and economic assessment of the Homer-pro environment simulations; and a study of an online in situ method for the monitoring of supercapacitor aging.

This latest volume includes contributions on the latest advances in energy research. Chapters include research on a Multi Agent System (MAS) design for fault location, isolation and service restoration (FLISR) in power distribution systems; coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs in China, their properties and strategies in which to reduce formation damage; a comprehensive review of energy sources; energy efficiency and ways to alleviate environmental impacts of the building sector; small-scale energy converters; current conditions, limitations and opportunities of existing carbon dioxide emissions; progress on tidal current technology in the UK and elsewhere as well as key design issues and options; and finally, the occurrence and properties of Mongolian bituminous coal which is presented and discussed in relation to its characterisations, petrography, pyrolysis and minerals.

This book presents a comprehensive review of renewable energy sources, the environment and sustainable development. This includes all the renewable energy technologies, materials and their development, energy efficiency systems, energy conservation scenarios, energy savings and other mitigation measures necessary to reduce climate change. Also explored in this volume is ocean energy, its benefits and barriers and solar radiation as a primary daytime source of energy. Various scenarios are extrapolated in order to assess the potential environmental impact of increasing world population and consumption throughout the 21st century and a general overview of the world-wide trend in fossil fuels.

In the past, fossil fuels have been considered a reliable source of energy by many countries. Despite the current measures to reduce the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation, the use of this type of energy source will continue for the foreseeable future. Advances in Energy Research. Volume 31 examines how, if this situation does not change in the future, then all types of fossil fuels, particularly oil, will be exhausted before the end of the current century. The use of microholes may potentially enhance the applications of fossil fuels in various energy fields, especially in thermal power plants. Therefore, the morphology variation of micropunch and microhole during the punching with WC/Co micropunches is investigated in this compilation through scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer and confocal laser studies. Following this, the authors provide a review on experimental and modeling studies performed with direct fuel cells, starting with the fundamentals and main drawbacks of these systems, followed by an exhaustive review on the different studies performed regarding the effects of operating conditions and design parameters. In the penultimate chapter, a new method for determining the cohesion potential energy in solids is described, and fundamental factors such as internal energy, entropy, temperature and time are examined, in particular the connection of entropy and time to potential energy. The method concerns molecular solids and rests upon measurable thermodynamic quantities: heat of sublimation, heat capacity, and entropy as derived from the latter. The closing chapter provides an overview of three methods (retarded osmosis method, forward osmosis-electrokinetic method, and diffusio-osmotic method) for sustainable power generation from the salinity gradient energy by using osmosis-based processes.

In this compilation, the authors first present a study in which computational design is performed, using empirical data, to fit physical models to extract transport and material parameters (which are then used in 1D continuum and 3D particle models of charge transport) to validate against empirical measurement and each other prior to use in extrapolation studies. Next, the book aims to discuss and illustrate the key trends behind the current international and European Union energy and climate policy. The authors provide insights into current dynamics, enabling a better understanding of future developments and indicating that unless a global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is made, emissions will continue to rise. The authors also present a computer algorithm based on type-1 fuzzy logic control strategies to manage the flow of energy in stand-alone PV/Wind/Battery hybrid systems. The solar and wind energies were combined together to increase systems efficiency and batteries were used to ensure the availability of power on demand and improve the dynamic behavior of the system. Both traditional and state-of-the-art proteomics techniques used for quantification of corn stover hydrolyzing enzymes are presented in the following chapter. The quantitative expression of cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes secreted by different microbes during corn stover hydrolysis is discussed, and an attempt is made to link the substrate complexity and quantitative composition of lignocellulolytic enzymes produced by microbes. Later, an algorithm based on artificial neural network (ANN) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) is proposed for analyzing and assessing industrial sectors for energy potential. For illustrative purposes, energy use in the South African industrial sector between 1993 and 2025 was presented as a case study. The closing study reviews the merits of these Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Data Envelopment Analysis to develop a new hybrid model to determine how much energy could be conserved in the residential sector. The model was applied to the United States residential sector from 1984 to 2010 and it was discovered that 7.5% of energy consumed could be conserved.

In this book, Chapter One reviews the environmental impact -- on human health, natural systems and natural resources -- in physical units and outlined the limitations and the challenges that are derived from an ecosystem service valuation based on monetary values including ecosystem disservices with associated negative monetary values. Chapter Two is focused on the analysis of TES technologies that provide a way of valorising solar heat and reducing the energy demand of buildings. Chapter Three investigates the prospects of a key enabling technology for large-scale injection of wind turbine energy to the electric power grid. Chapter four discusses how simple wet acid surface texturing methods for green energy-silicon solar energy are marked aim to provide the vital information about the growing field in solar energy with an environmental friendly nature. Chapter Five verifies the improvement performance by various components of the Enhance PSO, the ICA and the Wavelet in the forecasting frameworks. Chapter Six presents predictive current control(PCC) strategy for back-to-back connected voltage source converter employed in PMSG wind energy conversion systems.

In Chapter One, Zahra Sayyar, Navideh Anarjan, Hoda Jafarizadeh Malmiri, and Aydin Berenjian discuss nanoemulsions and their low-energy and high-energy production methods. They also examine modern techniques for the identification of nanoemulsions and review their stability. Next, Chapter Two by Bogdan-Constantin Neagu and Gheorghe Grigoras proposes the use of artificial intelligence techniques like clustering and fuzzy modelling to determine slow voltage variations among other things. In Chapter Three, Navideh Anarjan, Hamideh Vaghari, Hoda Jafarizadeh-Malmiri, and Aydin Berenjian explore bioreactor models applied to bioprocesses and solid-state fermentation processes in order to produce pertinent biomolecules for industrial applications. Akihiro Otsuka, PhD explores the correlation between fluctuating electricity rates and demand in Chapter Four. In Chapter Five, Samuel Olusegun David and Gulum Mert present a study wherein biodiesel production via waste cooking oil is examined. Oludolapo A Olanrewaju and Caroline C Olanrewaju review studies on energy consumption prediction through the application of neural networks, as well as machine and equipment processes, in Chapter Six. Lastly, Takeo Oku and Tatsuo Oku explore the development of carbon/copper-based materials through the addition of titanium in Chapter Seven.

This latest volume includes contributions on the latest advances in energy research. Chapter One discusses stability assessment using direct methods. Chapter Two focuses on the geopolitical implications of the energy reserves in the Caspian Basin. Chapter Three reviews an investigation into the effect of various parameters on the evaporator performance. Chapter Four helps to understand the vapour compression cycle in which heat is absorbed from a low temperature region and released in a high temperature region. Chapter Five examines static voltage stability enhancements by incorporating voltage-sourced based converters in continuation power flow.

This latest volume includes contributions on the latest advances in energy research. Chapter One discusses heat transfer in micro-ducts. Chapter Two addresses the description and analysis of volume holographic elements for solar concentrating systems based on the detailed simulation of the energy amount and profile along with the spectral distribution delivered onto the solar receiver. Chapter Three reviews the impact of using thin alloyed capping layers (CLs) for InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) solar cells. Chapter Four examines the development of soap based thermal insulation for buildings as a sustainable alternative to the petroleum based counterparts, whilst decreasing the associated environmental costs. Chapter Five analyzes the simulation of spark plasma sintering for the preparation of inhomogeneous thermoelectric materials for energy generators. Chapter Six proposes a new maximum power point tracking algorithm for generators based on the suggested accurate electro-thermal model for them. Chapter Seven focuses on signal processing based mechanical fault prognosis and diagnosis of operating wind turbines in wind farms.

This latest volume includes contributions on the latest advances in energy research. Chapter One introduces photovoltaic-green (PV-green) roofing systems according to three different approaches: critical review about crucial factors which influence the performance of a PV-green roof; experimental; and environmental/Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). Chapter Two discusses the benefits of green roof systems. Chapter Three provides an introduction to the composition and the functioning of building management systems (BMS), as well as shows some of the available systems in the market, specifically those that are related to the automatic control of lighting and shading devices according to sunlight intensity, climate control and the monitoring of energy consumption in a service building. Chapter Four reviews both the experimental and numerical work that has been conducted on encapsulated phase change material (EPCM) thermal energy storage (TES) systems with applications in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. Chapter Five presents the effect of thermal energy storage on the performance of combined heat and power (CHP) systems under different operational strategies. Chapter Six studies the effects of different levels of water flow rate and temperature on the performance of an induced draft cooling tower. Chapter Seven reviews the harvesting of power from bamboo charcoal. Chapter Eight investigates the magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere coupling and the effect of geomagnetic activity on meteorological processes in the atmosphere.

This book highlights recent advances in energy research. The chapters included in this volume include research on nuclear power reactors, specifically small modular reactors (SMRs) for electricity generation; stakeholder participation in local energy-planning and the possible ways of integrating stakeholder participation in current energy planning practices; a comprehensive review of energy sources, and the development of sustainable technologies to explore these energy sources; the modeling and analysis of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fired CCHP system, compared to the conventional method of generating useful energy, which is assumed to be a centralized electricity-only power plant; electrospray deposition method for fabricating organic photovoltaic cells; the application of energy-saving, passive strategies in occupied school building spaces; an evaluation of energy consumption in buildings with complex topology equipped with a HVAC system; and an evaluation of solar thermal technologies and applications.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors around the globe, including strategic interactions during oil exploration in the gulf of Mexico; ownership and regional economic impact; wind energy assessment and analysis; principle of low energy building design; conventional energy use, environment and sustainable development; drinking water from solar stills; and solar energy research, sustainable development and applications.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors around the globe, including recent research in energy, environmental protection from thermodynamic properties, the performance of refrigeration cycles and air-conditioning; science and technology policies for sustainable development; a case study of wind potential and its utilisation for water pumping; earth heat pump system with vertical pipes for heat extraction for domestic heating and cooling; and a critical review of the effects of diesel fuel composition and properties on engine performance and pollutant emissions.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors around the globe, including recent research in energy efficient appliances and energy efficient behaviors; renewable energy technologies and sustainable development; demand for clean energies efficient development in building technologies; recent advances in biomass and biogas development and perspectives; development and evaluation of a direct expansion heat pump system; assessment of the measured data with respect to renewable energy technologies; capacity of manets employing a continuous interference model with a propagation channel considering law of conservation of energy; assessing the sustainability of bioenergy systems; investigation of design parameters effect on power output and thermal efficiency of the stirling engine with irreversibility consideration using finite speed thermodynamics; energy saving and optimization of heat exchanger networks using an evolutionary method; and optimization of powered stirling heat engine with finite speed thermodynamics.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors around the globe, including recent research in energy use and its environmental impact; energy use in industry, buildings development and the environment; recent developments and perspectives on biomass and biogas; energy efficiency for refrigeration and air conditioning; hydroelectric storage; halophytes energy feed stocks; and energy consumption and growth in Nigeria.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors around the globe, including recent research in new technologies associated with the construction of nuclear power plants; oil disperse systems study using nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry (NMRR); low energy consumption for cooling and heating systems; experimental investigation of the performance of a ground-source heat pump system for buildings heating and cooling; sustainable development of bioenergy from agricultural wastes and the environment; hazard identification and parametric analysis of toxic pollutants dispersion from large liquid hydrocarbon fuel-tank fires; maintenance benchmarking in petrochemicals plants by means of a multicriteria model; wind energy development innovation; power, people and pollution; nature and technology of geothermal energy and clean sustainable energy for the benefit of humanity and the environment; and soil thermal properties and the effects of groundwater on closed loops.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors around the globe, including recent research in determining potential energy and environmental impacts; sustainable development and environmentally friendly systems; helping agriculture and horticulture through technology, energy efficiency and environmental protection; clean and green energy technologies; heat pump features, characteristics and refrigerants; a passive system for energy needs in green houses; design and operation of low consumption passive human comfort solutions; and the pretreatment of cellulosic biomass for better yield of bioethanol production.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors across the globe, including recent research in direct expansion ground source heat pumps for better heating and cooling in new buildings; potential renewable energy technologies, efficient energy systems, and energy savings techniques to reduce climate changes; sustainable energy development and the environment; non-linear finite element analysis of tubular expansion in oil wells; and super long conductive channels for energy delivery.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors across the globe, including recent research in renewable energy, emerging energy technologies and sustainable development; the production of biofuels in the Italian energy system; hydrogen production in the dark fermentation process; price effects of biofuel tax credits and blending mandates; wind power as an economically viable and environmentally sustainable source of renewable energy; and using aquatic plants as biofuel sources.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors across the globe, including recent research in solar ground radiation in greenhouses; the energy outlook in Malaysia; biodiesel production using heterogeneous catalysts; digital control system stimulation for nuclear reactor neutronic parameters; strategies to increase the viability of power generation using renewable energy sources; the current state of CPV in Spain as an alternative for producing solar electricity and evaluation of a new combined power generation system under CO2 emission constraints.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy research studies from authors across the globe, including recent research in thermoelectric power generation; thermal energy and sustainable development in the Sudan; nanocomposite polymer electrolytes for Li-Ion batteries; resonant wireless power transmission; energy reduction in the building sector and power transmission over optical fibres.

This book presents a comprehensive review of energy security in sustainability; hydroelectric power plants v. nature in the Czech Republic; the role of crop residues and second generation energy crops in biofuel production; electricity from renewable energy sources; technologies for CO2 capture in power plants; and electricity distribution networks.

Advances in Energy Research. Volume 33 begins with a focus on gas hydrates, also known as methane hydrates, which are formed due to high hydraulic pressures present under the cold seabed over long periods of time. Following this, an exploratory method using semi-structured interviews was undertaken to investigate the barriers and drivers for implementing energy efficiency measures in South Africa's cement finishing mill. To address the large energy consumption of microalgae dewatering and to increase revenues from microalgae, a novel process for the prior sustainable extraction of carotenoids from wet microalgae biomass is proposed. The authors describe the evolution of smart grids in some developing countries, highlighting the challenges and trends for the next years. For this purpose, reference cases corresponding to different developing countries of Africa and America are used. Additionally, the basics of high efficiency cogeneration and the mathematical model used to calculate the amount of electricity in cogeneration are discussed. In one study, the impedance of the diffusion and reaction processes in an electrochemical cell is modelled by means of transmission line equivalent electric circuits. To discuss the applications of common techniques to control the efficiency and costs of underground ventilation, detailed information on current practices is collected through discussions with miners to identify relevant problems. The authors go on to explore barriers and enablers which impact the durability of solar street lighting systems in rural India to create a renewable energy eco-system in rural poor communities. Later, it is proposed that statistical control charts can assist in controlling energy consumption in universities, and the rate of energy consumption flow is used to diagnose high-energy consumption. The closing research is an analysis of problems found during the operation of the biogas power system at Baiturrahman boarding school, West Java, Indonesia, and recommendations to enhance the system performance are provided.