Energy in the 21st Century

by Fanchi, John R.; Fanchi, Christoper J. (CON)

• ISBN13: 9789814324540
• ISBN10: 981432454X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-03-31
• Publisher: World Scientific Pub Co Inc

Summary

Energy may be the most important factor that will influence the shape of society in the 21st century. The cost and availability of energy significantly impacts our quality of life, the health of national economies, the relationships between nations, and the stability of our environment. What kind of energy do we want to use in our future? Will there be enough? What will be the consequences of our decisions? Everyone has a stake in the answers to these questions and the decisions that are being made to provide energy. Energy in the 21st Century, in its second edition, examines the energy sources that play a vital role in society today, as well as those that may be the primary energy sources of tomorrow. From our reliance on fossil fuels to the quest for energy independence, and the environmental issues that follow each decision, this book delves into the most prominent energy issues of our time. Armed with this information, the reader can think critically about the direction they want this world to take.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition	p. vii
Preface to the First Edition	p. ix
About the Authors	p. xv
A Brief History of Energy Consumption	p. 1
What is Energy?	p. 1
Historical Energy Consumption	p. 4
Energy Consumption and the Quality of Life	p. 11
Energy in Transition	p. 15
"Decarbonization"	p. 21
Activities	p. 24
Fossil Energy - Coal	p. 26
Geologic History of the Earth	p. 26
Origin of Coal	p. 33
Coal	p. 34
Distribution and Production of Coal	p. 36
Fossil Energy and Combustion	p. 39
Case Study: A Coal-Fired Power Plant	p. 40
Coal Gas	p. 42
Activities	p. 44
Fossil Energy - Oil and Gas	p. 46
Geology of Oil and Gas Reservoirs	p. 48
Origin of Oil and Gas	p. 51
Oil and Gas Reservoirs and Reserves	p. 54
Classification of Oil and Gas	p. 59
Shale Oil, Tar Sands and Extra Heavy Oil	p. 61
Unconventional Gas	p. 63
Global Distribution of Oil and Gas	p. 66
Activities	p. 67
Peak Oil	p. 69
Oil and Gas Production	p. 69
Global Oil and Gas Production and Consumption	p. 81
The First Oil Crisis	p. 83
The Price of Oil	p. 87
Hubbert's Oil Supply Forecast	p. 91
Environmental Issues	p. 95
Activities	p. 96
Nuclear Energy	p. 98
History of Nuclear Energy	p. 99
Nuclear Reactors	p. 105
Global Dependence on Nuclear Power	p. 114
Nuclear Energy and the Environment	p. 116
Activities	p. 124
Renewable Energy - Solar Energy	p. 126
Source of Solar Energy	p. 127
Energy Conversion Efficiency and Intermittency	p. 131
Passive Solar Energy	p. 132
Active Solar Energy	p. 134
Solar Power Plants	p. 137
Solar Electric Technology	p. 144
Activities	p. 146
Renewable Energy - Wind Energy	p. 148
History of Wind Power	p. 148
Wind Turbine	p. 153
Wind Farms	p. 157
Case Study: European Wind Power	p. 163
Can Wind Provide All of Our Energy Needs?	p. 166
Environmental Impact	p. 169
Activities	p. 170
Renewable Energy - Energy from Water	p. 172
Hydroelectric Power	p. 173
Case Study: Three Gorges Dam	p. 178
Waves and Tides	p. 182
Geothermal	p. 187
Activities	p. 193
Renewable Energy - Bioenergy and Synfuels	p. 195
Biomass	p. 195
Case Study: Biofuels in Brazil	p. 205
Synfuels	p. 207
Environmental Impact of Combustible Materials	p. 211
Activities	p. 218
Energy Carrier, Energy Storage and Hybrid Energy Systems	p. 220
Hydrogen	p. 221
The Hydrogen Economy	p. 229
Large Scale Energy Storage	p. 233
A Hybrid Energy System for the Hydrogen Economy	p. 238
Activities	p. 239
Electricity Generation and Distribution	p. 241
Historical Development of Electric Power	p. 241
Electric Power Generation	p. 246
Transformers	p. 249
Electric Power Distribution	p. 251
Developments in Electric Grid Design	p. 259
Activities	p. 264
Energy Economics	p. 266
Principles of Economics	p. 266
Costs and Benefits	p. 273
Economies of Scale	p. 276
Management Decisions in the Energy Sector	p. 278
Levelized Energy Cost	p. 286
Activities	p. 289
Future Issues - Geopolitics of Energy	p. 291
Sustainable Development	p. 293
Energy and Ethics	p. 295
Energy and Geopolitics	p. 296
Global Regulation of Carbon Emissions	p. 305
Activities	p. 310
Future Issues - Energy Forecasts	p. 312
Nuclear Energy Forecast	p. 313
Renewable Energy Forecast	p. 316
Energy Conservation and Energy Forecasts	p. 317
Energy Mix Forecasts	p. 318
Forecasts Based on Supply	p. 321
The Future of Energy	p. 324
Activities	p. 325
Appendix A	p. 327
Appendix B	p. 331
Appendix C	p. 339
References	p. 343
Index	p. 353
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