1st Edition

The Dynamics of Energy Supply, Conversion, and Utilization

By Horacio Perez-Blanco Copyright 2009
    332 Pages 332 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    336 Pages 332 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    As mankind searches for energy alternatives with minimal environmental consequences and acceptable cost, it is necessary to identify valid areas of endeavor that can activate favorable energy sources and technological developments. Toward that end, The Dynamics of Energy: Supply, Conversion, and Utilization develops competence in energy matters on three levels: basic concepts, essential computations, and dynamic modeling.

    The book reviews the laws of thermodynamics and rate relationships between flows and gradients as a foundation for subsequent topics. Using dynamic analysis, it examines the potential of current energy sources to serve the needs of a growing world economy. The text also describes key fossil conversion, renewable conversion, and utilization technologies. It presents a technique to assess efficiencies from ground (or harvest) to end use, explores the effects of energy use on the environment, and offers an introduction to dynamic modeling. The book concludes with a description of energy technologies that, if suitably employed, could configure a sustainable energy future.

    Studying the dynamics of thermal systems is conducive to ascertaining what technologies could indeed make a difference for a desirable energy future. Suitable response time to demand and acceptable fuel lifetimes are necessary conditions for energy systems to compete in the marketplace. The planning effort that should lead the energy endeavor requires projection of the time span of pollution effects. Harnessing the flexibility and speed of VisSim™ for dynamic modeling, this book provides the tools to model most thermal systems with moderate complexity. It also evaluates energy supplies, conversion, and end use.

    The Laws

    Energy

    Energy in Motion

    The Second Law

    The First Law

    If Energy Is Conserved, Why Worry about Energy Supplies?

    Temperature: Can It Get Any Colder?

    Entropy: Does It Really Exist?

    Entropy Grows Like Weeds

    Irreversibility and Entropy

    Conversions—Cyclical and Direct

    Summary

    The Equations for Transient Phenomena

    State, Properties, and Process

    Enthalpy

    Reynold’s Transport Theorem

    Conservation of Mass

    Conservation of Momentum

    Conservation of Energy

    Entropy Generation

    No "Lost and Found" for Lost Work

    Exergy, or Work Not Yet Lost

    Reversible Work and Real Work

    Direct Conversion Processes: Is an Efficiency Close to One Possible?

    Other Useful Empirical Dissipation Laws

    Summary

    Predicting Peaks: A Difficult Art

    Disclaimer and Method

    Resource Lifetime and the Laws of Thermodynamics

    Example of Resource Lifetime Estimation

    Projecting into the Past

    Units: A Practical Choice

    A Recapitulation

    The Fuels

    Renewables

    The Center of It All

    An Overview: All Together Now

    Fossil Fuels and Their Technology

    Natural Gas

    Oil

    Coal

    Nuclear

    Renewable Technology

    Solar

    Photovoltaic

    Wind

    Solar Thermal

    Hydro

    Area: Not a Superficial Topic

    Summary

    Après Conversion: Utilization Technology

    Residential

    Commercial

    Industrial

    Transportation

    Summary

    Chain Efficiencies: From Capture to Utilization

    On This Chapter

    Steady-State Efficiencies

    Extraction Energy Costs

    Energy Conversion/Distribution Efficiencies

    Storage Efficiency

    Energy Analysis

    Examples

    Energy and Its Sequels

    Constant Travel with a Brief Stop on Earth

    Combustion

    All Together Now

    Nuclear

    Renewables

    Dynamic Modeling

    Variables and Elements

    General Forms of Commonly Used Laws

    Programming in VisSim

    The Future: A Moving Green Target

    The Future and Criteria

    Coal: Many Possible Futures

    CO2 Capture and Its Possibilities

    Oil and Gas

    Moving Fuels around

    Nuclear Energy

    Renewables

    Energy Savings through Enhanced Efficiency

    A Convergence to Renewables?

    Index

    References appear at the end of each chapter.

    Biography

    Horacio Perez-Blanco is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. A fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Dr. Perez-Blanco teaches short courses on gas turbines for the International Gas Turbines Institute and has developed an energy systems laboratory for his department. His research interests include thermal systems, simultaneous heat and mass transfer, and gas turbine inlet cooling.