Alternative Energy Systems and Applications

The comprehensive guide to engineering alternative and renewable energy systems and applications—updated for the latest trends and technologies This book was designed tohelp engineers develop new solutions for the current energy economy. To that end it provides technical discussions, along with numerous real-world examples of virtually all existing alternative energy sources, applications, systems and system components. All chapters focus on first-order engineering calculations, and consider alternative uses of existing and renewable energy resources. Just as important, the author describes how to apply these concepts to the development of new energy solutions.  Since the publication of the critically acclaimed first edition of this book, the alternative, renewable and sustainable energy industries have witnessed significant evolution and growth. Hydraulic fracturing, fossil fuel reserve increases, the increasing popularity of hybrid and all-electric vehicles, and the decreasing cost of solar power already have had a significant impact on energy usage patterns worldwide. Updated and revised to reflect those and other key developments, this new edition features expanded coverage of topics covered in the first edition, as well as entirely new chapters on hydraulic fracturing and fossil fuels, hybrid and all-electric vehicles, and more. Begins with a fascinating look at the changing face of global energy economy Features chapters devoted to virtually all sources of alternative energy and energy systems Offers technical discussions of hydropower, wind, passive solar and solar-thermal, photovoltaics, fuel cells, CHP systems, geothermal, ocean energy, biomass, and nuclear Contains updated chapter review questions, homework problems, and a thoroughly revised solutions manual, available on the companion website While Alternative Energy Systems and Applications, Second Edition is an ideal textbook/reference for advanced undergraduate and graduate level engineering courses in energy-related subjects, it is also an indispensable professional resource for engineers and technicians working in areas related to the development of alternative/renewable energy systems.

Table of Contents:
Preface to the Second Edition xiii Preface to the First Edition xv About the Companion Website xvii 1 Energy Usage in the USA and the World 1 1.1 Energy and Power 1 1.2 Energy Usage and Standard of Living 1 1.3 A Historical Perspective of Energy Usage in the USA 4 1.4 US Energy Usage in 2014 7 1.5 Worldwide Energy Use 17 1.6 Efficiencies 19 1.7 Closure 21 References 21 2 Fundamentals of Turbomachinery 23 2.1 Definition of a Turbomachine 23 2.2 Turbomachine Classifications 23 2.3 Turbomachine Analysis 23 2.4 Example Problems 28 2.5 Closure 33 References 33 Further Reading 33 3 Hydropower 35 3.1 Introduction 35 3.2 Examples of Hydroelectric Dams 35 3.3 Hydraulic Analysis 39 3.4 Turbine Specific Speed Considerations 44 3.5 Energy Transfer in Turbines 48 3.6 Closure 57 References 60 Further Reading 61 4 Wind Energy 63 4.1 Introduction 63 4.2 Fundamental Concepts 64 4.3 Wind Energy Resources 72 4.4 Wind Turbine Operation 78 4.5 Commercial Wind Turbine Examples 83 4.6 Growth in Wind Power Capacity 88 4.7 Closure 90 References 92 Further Reading 92 5 Combustion Turbines 93 5.1 Introduction 93 5.2 The Combustion Turbine 93 5.3 The Air-Standard Brayton Cycle 95 5.4 Actual Gas Turbine Cycle Analysis 96 5.5 Combustion Turbine Cycle Variations 104 5.6 Examples of Commercially Available Combustion Turbines 105 5.6.1 Solar Turbines 106 5.6.2 GE Energy 107 5.6.3 Capstone Turbines 110 5.6.4 Other Gas Turbine Suppliers 112 5.7 Closure 113 References 113 Further Reading 113 6 Solar Energy Fundamentals 115 6.1 Introduction 115 6.2 Radiation Heat Transfer Review 115 6.3 Sun Path Description and Calculation 126 6.4 Sun Path Development Using Mathcad 131 6.5 The National Solar Energy Database 137 6.6 Closure 140 References 140 7 Active Solar Thermal Applications 143 7.1 Introduction 143 7.2 Flat-Plate Collector Fundamentals 148 7.3 Solar Collector and Weather Data 152 7.4 The f-Chart Method 159 7.5 Other Solar Thermal Systems 165 7.6 Closure 166 References 167 8 Passive Solar Energy 169 8.1 Fundamental Concepts of Passive Solar Energy 169 8.2 Quantifying Passive Solar Features 172 8.3 The First-Level Method (Rules of Thumb) 176 8.4 The Second-Level Method (the Load Collector Ratio Method) 177 8.5 Daylighting 178 8.6 Passive Solar Simulation Software 180 8.7 Closure 181 References 181 9 Photovoltaic Systems 183 9.1 Introduction 183 9.2 Photovoltaic Cell Fundamentals 183 9.3 Photovoltaic Components 190 9.4 Photovoltaic Systems 196 9.5 Growth in Photovoltaic Capacity 201 9.6 Closure 202 References 203 10 Fuel Cells 205 10.1 Introduction 205 10.2 Fuel Cell Fundamentals 205 10.3 Fuel Cell Thermodynamics Fundamentals 207 10.4 Fuel Cell Types 213 10.5 Fuel Cell Availability 220 10.6 Closure 223 References 223 11 Combined Heat and Power Systems 225 11.1 Introduction 225 11.2 Combined Heat and Power System Fundamentals 227 11.3 Combined Heat and Power System Economics and Operation 231 11.4 Economic Assessment of Combined Heat and Power Suitability 236 11.5 Thermal and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Combined Heat and Power Metrics 240 11.6 Combined Heat and Power System Example 241 11.7 Closure 245 References 246 12 Biomass 249 12.1 Introduction 249 12.2 Biomass Availability 250 12.3 Biomass Fundamentals 253 12.4 Biomass Characteristics 255 12.5 Biomass-Based Fuels and Products 255 12.5.1 Ethanol 255 12.5.2 Methanol 261 12.5.3 Biodiesel/Vegetable Oil 261 12.5.4 Pyrolysis Liquids 263 12.5.5 Biogas 264 12.5.6 Producer Gas 265 12.5.7 Synthesis Gas 267 12.5.8 Biopower and Biofuels Statistics 270 12.6 Municipal Solid Waste 270 12.7 Closure 278 References 278 Further Reading 280 13 Geothermal Energy 281 13.1 Introduction 281 13.2 Geothermal Resources 281 13.3 Geothermal Energy Systems 286 13.3.1 Hydrothermal 286 13.3.2 Geopressurized 295 13.3.3 Magma 296 13.3.4 Enhanced Geothermal Systems 297 13.4 Geothermal Examples 297 13.5 Ground-Source Heat Pumps 300 13.6 Closure 304 References 305 Further Reading 306 14 Ocean Energy 307 14.1 Introduction 307 14.2 Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion 307 14.2.1 Open Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Systems 308 14.2.2 Closed Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Systems 312 14.2.3 Hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Systems 315 14.2.4 Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion System Outputs 315 14.2.5 Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Assessment 315 14.3 Tidal energy 319 14.4 Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy 324 14.4.1 Rotating devices 330 14.5 Closure 331 References 332 15 Nuclear Energy 333 15.1 Introduction 333 15.2 Fundamentals of Nuclear Energy 334 15.3 Nuclear Power 339 15.3.1 Chernobyl 348 15.3.2 Fukashima Daiichi 350 15.3.3 Nuclear Power in the Twenty-First Century 351 15.4 Fusion Power 354 15.5 Closure 359 References 359 16 Transportation and Hybrid and Electric Vehicles 361 16.1 Transportation Energy Usage Alternatives to Internal Combustion Engines 361 16.2 Hybrid and Electric Vehicles 364 16.3 Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Past, Present, and Future 370 16.4 Closure 375 References 375 17 Hydraulic Fracturing, Oil, Natural Gas, and the New Reality 377 17.1 Introduction 377 17.2 Unconventional Oil and Gas 377 17.3 Reservoir Engineering Concepts 381 17.4 Oil and Gas Recovery from Tight Plays 386 17.5 The New Reality 392 17.6 Closure 399 References 399 Further Reading 400 Appendix A 401 Appendix B 415 Index 431

About the Author :
B. K. Hodge is Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University (MSU) where he continues to be involved in MSU mechanical engineering education and research activities. His research areas include enhanced heat transfer, thermal systems simulation, and energy engineering. He also served as the Director of the MSU Industrial Assessment Center. Prior to retirement, B. K. Hodge held the Tennessee Valley Authority Professorship in Energy Systems and the Environment and was Giles Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a Grisham Master Teacher. He has served as Chair of the ASEE Mechanical Engineering Division and as President of the ASEE Southeastern Section. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.