An in-depth understanding of energy technology, sources, conversion, storage, transport and conservation is crucial for developing a sustainable and economically viable energy infrastructure. This need, for example, is addressed in university courses with a special focus on the energy mix of renewable and depletable energy resources. Energy makes our lives comfortable, and the existence of amenities such as heaters, cars, warm water, household appliances and electrical light is characteristic for a developed economy. Supplying the industrial or individual energy consumer with energy 24 hours a day is a non-trivial challenge, especially in times where the energy is coming from very diverse resources such as oil, gas, nuclear fuels, wind, sun, or waves. This book gives physics, chemistry, engineering, and materials science students insights in the basics of energy and energy technology. It was developed along a successful course for advanced bachelor or graduate students and is written in a didactic style. The problems and solutions at the end of each chapter are ideal for exams and make self-study easy. Topics covered include energy from fossil and nuclear fuels, renewable sources, energy transport, storage, and conservation.

Autorentext
Jochen Fricke became professor for experimental physics at the University of Würzburg in 1975, where he is still giving lectures on energy technology. He was appointed as founding director of the Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research (ZAE) in Würzburg in 1991, and was head of the board of directors until 2005. His research interests started in nuclear energy and went on to energy conservation and renewables. He received his PhD at the Technical University of Munich, followed by post-doc research in Munich and Pittsburgh. In 2006 he was appointed as spokesperson for the Bavarian Energy Technology Cluster. Jochen Fricke was honoured with several prizes, among them the 'Medal for Scientific Publication' by the German Physical Society and the "State Medal for Special Services to the Bavarian Economy". Walter Borst is Professor Emeritus of Physics at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, where he still teaches. He joined the University as department chairman in 1984. Before coming to Texas he was Professor of Physics at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. In Illinois he also served as chairman of the advisory board of the Illinois Energy Resources Commission. Borst received his Ph. D. in Physics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1968 with a specialty in atomic and molecular physics. He then went to the University of Pittsburgh as a postdoctoral fellow. Before coming to the United States he received his Diplom in Physik from the University of Tübingen, Germany, in nuclear physics. His main research has been in atomic collisions and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence for materials characterization, and in renewable energy, especially solar heat collectors and long-term solar heat storage. During his professional career Borst served in a variety of scientific organizations. He recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Section of the American Physical Society.

Inhalt
Preface INTRODUCTION Global Energy Flow Natural and Anthropogenic Greenhouse Effect Limit to Atmospheric CO2 Concentration Potential Remedies ENERGY CONSERVATION WITH THERMAL INSULATION Opaque Insulations Transparent and Translucent Insulations THERMODYNAMIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY Carnot's Law Stirling Engine Irreversibilities Exergy and Anergy Compression Heat Pumps and Air-Conditioning Systems Absorption Heat Transformers Energy and Exergy Efficiency FOSSIL FUEL-FIRED ENERGY CONVERTERS Power Plants Internal Combustion Engines Thermoelectric Converters (TECs) Exotic Energy Converters Absorption Cycles Condensation Boilers NUCLEAR FISSION ENERGY AND POWER PLANTS Binding Energy and Mass Defect Fission The Multiplication Factor Reactor Control Neutron Flux Reactivity Changes during Power Plant Operation Fuel Conversion and Breeding Nuclear Reactor Types The Fuel Question U235 Enrichment Spent Fuel Reactor Safety and Accidents HYDROPOWER Water Runoff from Mountains Laminar and Turbulent Flow in Pipes Running Water from Oceans Ocean Tides Ocean Waves Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Energy from Osmotic Pressure WINDPOWER Wind Velocity Using the Drag Using the Lift Technical Questions Electricity from Wind on Demand Small-Scale Wind Energy Conversion Alternative Wind Energy Converters Wind Energy Concentration PHOTOVOLTAICS (PV) Diodes and Solar Cells Transport Phenomena, Isc and Uoc Temperature Effects Equivalent Circuit Absorption Process and Transitions Advanced Solar Cells Si Production and Energy Amortization Other Solar Materials From Solar Cells to Modules Future Prospects for Photovoltaics Wet Solar Cells SOLAR SPACE AND HOT WATER HEATING Solar Radiation Flat Plate Collectors Evacuated Thermal Collectors Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) Solar Thermal Heating Systems Active Solar Heating Systems Thermosiphon ELECTRICITY AND FUELS FROM SOLAR HEAT Concentration of Solar Radiation Solar Troughs Fresnel Systems Solar Dish and Solar Tower Solar Thermic Power Plants Solar Fuels BIOMASS ENERGY Growth of Biomass Direct Use of Solid Biomass Biogas Biofuel Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biomass GEOTHERMAL ENERGY The Origin of Geothermal Energy Geothermal Anomalies Geothermal Power Plants Hot Dry Rock ENERGY STORAGE Mechanical Energy Storage Electric Energy Storage Electrochemical Energy Storage Chemical Energy Storage Thermal Energy Storage ENERGY TRANSPORT Mechanical Energy Transport Transporting Electricity Heat Transport FUEL CELLS General Considerations Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Other Fuel Cells NUCLEAR FUSION ENERGY Introduction Fuel for Fusion Break-Even and the Lawson Criterion Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) The National Ignition Facility (NIF)