Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes

With energy sustainability and security at the forefront of public discourse worldwide, there is a pressing need to foster an understanding of clean, safe alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power. Aldo da Rosa's highly respected and comprehensive resource fulfills this need; it has provided thousands of engineers, scientists, students and professionals alike with a thorough grounding in the scientific principles underlying the complex world of renewable energy technologies. This new third edition of the classic text highlights advances in this vital area, which are proceeding at an unprecedented pace, allowing everyone interested in this burgeoning field to keep up with the latest developments in diverse topics from solar cooling to renewable energy storage.

• Illuminates the basic principles behind all key renewable power sources- solar, wind, biomass, hydropower and fuel cells
• Connects scientific theory with practical implementation through physical examples; end-of-chapter questions help readers apply their knowledge
• Written by one of the world's foremost experts in renewable energy, drawing from his decades of experience in academia and industry

Autorentext

Dr. da Rosa taught the perennially popular Renewable Energy course at Stanford University for over 30 years. Former Chairman of the Brazilian National Research Council, Director of the Aeronautical Technical Center, and founder of Brazilian NASA, he also served as the CEO of a tech start-up, Chairman of the Board for a microprocessor manufacturer, and as a member of Siemens Corporation's scientific advisory board.

Inhalt

1. Generalities

Part I: Heat Engines 2. A Minimum of Thermodynamics and of the Kinetic Theory of Gases 3. Mechanical Heat Engines 4. Ocean Thermal Energy Converters 5. Thermoelectricity 6. Thermionics 7. AMTEC 8. Radio-Noise Generators

Part II: The World of Hydrogen 9. Fuel Cells 10. Hydrogen Production 11. Hydrogen Storage

Part III: Energy from the Sun 12. Solar Radiation 13. Biomass 14. Photovoltaic Converters

Part IV: Wind and Water 15. Wind Energy 16. Ocean Engines 17. Nuclear Energy 18. Storage of Energy