Physics of Energy Sources

Physics of Energy Sourcesprovides readers with a balanced presentation of the fundamental physics needed to understand and analyze conventional and renewable energy sources including nuclear, solar, wind and water power. It also presents various ways in which energy can be stored for future use. The book is an informative and authoritative text for students in the physical sciences and engineering and is based on a lecture course given regularly by the author.

With the ever increasing demand for sustainable, environmentally-friendly and reliable sources of energy, the need for scientists and engineers equipped to tackle the challenges of developing and improving upon commercially viable energy sources has never been more urgent. By focusing on the physical principles governing energy production, storage, and transmission, this book provides readers with a solid foundation in the science and technology of energy sources.

Physics of Energy Sources features include:

• Analyses of conventional and renewable energy sources in terms of underlying physical principles

• Integrated application of a wide range of physics, from classical to quantum physics

• Coverage of nuclear, wind, wave, tidal, hydroelectric, geothermal and solar power, including many practical systems

• Consideration of efficiency for power production as well as energy storage and transportation

• Consideration of key environmental issues

• Worked examples in text, and problems & solutions to encourage understanding

• Derivation of formulae with a minimum of mathematical complexity

Autorentext

George King is Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Manchester where he is a member of the Photon Physics Research Group. His area of research is Atomic and Molecular physics and he has published more than 200 papers in the scientific literature. He has taught a number of lecture courses in the School of Physics and Astronomy including the course Physics of Energy Sources. Professor King is author of Vibrations and Waves, which is also in the Manchester Physics Series. He has acted as External Examiner in Physics at a number of universities in both the UK and Ireland and as a scientific consultant to industry. He is married to Dr Michele Siggel-King who works in cancer research and his hobbies include playing and listening to music.

Klappentext

Physics of Energy Sources provides readers with a balanced presentation of the fundamental physics needed to understand and analyze conventional and renewable energy sources including nuclear, solar, wind and water power. It also presents various ways in which energy can be stored for future use. The book is an informative and authoritative text for students in the physical sciences and engineering and is based on a lecture course given regularly by the author.

With the ever increasing demand for sustainable, environmentally-friendly and reliable sources of energy, the need for scientists and engineers equipped to tackle the challenges of developing and improving upon commercially viable energy sources has never been more urgent. By focusing on the physical principles governing energy production, storage, and transmission, this book provides readers with a solid foundation in the science and technology of energy sources.

Physics of Energy Sources features include:

• Analyses of conventional and renewable energy sources in terms of underlying physical principles
• Integrated application of a wide range of physics, from classical to quantum physics
• Coverage of nuclear, wind, wave, tidal, hydroelectric, geothermal and solar power, including many practical systems
• Consideration of efficiency for power production as well as energy storage and transportation
• Consideration of key environmental issues
• Worked examples in text, and problems & solutions to encourage understanding
• Derivation of formulae with a minimum of mathematical complexity

Zusammenfassung

*Physics of Energy Sources*provides readers with a balanced presentation of the fundamental physics needed to understand and analyze conventional and renewable energy sources including nuclear, solar, wind and water power. It also presents various ways in which energy can be stored for future use. The book is an informative and authoritative text for students in the physical sciences and engineering and is based on a lecture course given regularly by the author.

With the ever increasing demand for sustainable, environmentally-friendly and reliable sources of energy, the need for scientists and engineers equipped to tackle the challenges of developing and improving upon commercially viable energy sources has never been more urgent. By focusing on the physical principles governing energy production, storage, and transmission, this book provides readers with a solid foundation in the science and technology of energy sources.

Physics of Energy Sources features include:

• Analyses of conventional and renewable energy sources in terms of underlying physical principles
• Integrated application of a wide range of physics, from classical to quantum physics
• Coverage of nuclear, wind, wave, tidal, hydroelectric, geothermal and solar power, including many practical systems
• Consideration of efficiency for power production as well as energy storage and transportation
• Consideration of key environmental issues
• Worked examples in text, and problems & solutions to encourage understanding
• Derivation of formulae with a minimum of mathematical complexity

Inhalt

Editors' preface to the Manchester Physics Series xi

Author's preface xiii

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Energy consumption 1

1.2 Energy sources 3

1.3 Renewable and non-renewable energy sources 5

1.4 The form and conversion of energy 6

1.4.1 Thermal energy sources 7

1.4.2 Mechanical energy sources 7

1.4.3 Photovoltaic sources 7

1.4.4 Energy storage 8

Problems 1 9

2 The atomic nucleus 11

2.1 The composition and properties of nuclei 12

2.1.1 The composition of nuclei 12

2.1.2 The size of a nucleus 14

2.1.3 The distributions of nuclear matter and charge 19

2.1.4 The mass of a nucleus 21

2.1.5 The charge of a nucleus 24

2.1.6 Nuclear binding energy 27

2.1.7 Binding energy curve of the nuclides 30

2.1.8 The semi-empirical mass formula 32

2.2 Nuclear forces and energies 35

2.2.1 Characteristics of the nuclear force 35

2.2.2 Nuclear energies 36

2.2.3 Quantum mechanical description of a particle in a potential well 39

2.3 Radioactivity and nuclear stability 47

2.3.1 Segré chart of the stable nuclides 48

2.3.2 Decay laws of radioactivity 49

2.3.3 , and decay 57

Problems 2 67

3 Nuclear power 71

3.1 How to get energy from the nucleus 71

3.2 Nuclear reactions 73

3.2.1 Nuclear reactions 73

3.2.2 Q-value of a nuclear reaction 74

3.2.3 Reaction cross-sections and reaction rates 76

3.3 Nuclear fission 82

3.3.1 Liquid-drop model of nuclear fission 83

3.3.2 Induced nuclear fission 86

3.3.3 Fission cross-sections 87

3.3.4 Fission reactions and products 88

3.3.5 Energy in fission 90

3.3.6 Moderation of fast neutrons 92

3.3.7 Uranium enrichment 93

3.4 Controlled fission reactions 97

3.4.1 Chain reactions 97

3.4.2 Control of fission reactions 101

3.4.3 Fission reactors 103

3.4.4 Commercial nuclear reactors 105

3.4.5 Nuclear waste 107

3.5 Nuclear fusion 109

3.5.1 Fusion reactions 110

3.5.2 Energy in fusion 111

3.5.3 Coulomb barrier for nuclear fusion 113

3.5.4 Fusion reaction rates 113

3.5.5 Performance criteria 115

3.5.6 Controlled thermonuclear fusion 117

Problems 3 123

4 Solar power 127

4.1 Stellar fusion 128

4.1.1 Star formation and evolution 128

4.1.2 Thermonuclear fusion in the Sun: the p…