As mankind searches for energy alternatives with minimal environmental consequences and acceptable cost, it is necessary to identify valid areas of endeavor that can activate favorable energy sources and technological developments. Toward that end, The Dynamics of Energy: Supply, Conversion, and Utilization develops competence in energy matters on three levels: basic concepts, essential computations, and dynamic modeling.

The book reviews the laws of thermodynamics and rate relationships between flows and gradients as a foundation for subsequent topics. Using dynamic analysis, it examines the potential of current energy sources to serve the needs of a growing world economy. The text also describes key fossil conversion, renewable conversion, and utilization technologies. It presents a technique to assess efficiencies from ground (or harvest) to end use, explores the effects of energy use on the environment, and offers an introduction to dynamic modeling. The book concludes with a description of energy technologies that, if suitably employed, could configure a sustainable energy future.

Studying the dynamics of thermal systems is conducive to ascertaining what technologies could indeed make a difference for a desirable energy future. Suitable response time to demand and acceptable fuel lifetimes are necessary conditions for energy systems to compete in the marketplace. The planning effort that should lead the energy endeavor requires projection of the time span of pollution effects. Harnessing the flexibility and speed of VisSim™ for dynamic modeling, this book provides the tools to model most thermal systems with moderate complexity. It also evaluates energy supplies, conversion, and end use.

Assessing the existing and future possibilities of energy sources and technologies, this book helps develop competence in energy matters on three levels: basic concepts, essential computations, and dynamic modeling. It provides a complete portfolio of various energy technologies to enhance understanding of the present and enable innovative specu

The Laws Energy Energy in Motion The Second Law The First Law If Energy Is Conserved, Why Worry about Energy Supplies? Temperature: Can It Get Any Colder? Entropy: Does It Really Exist? Entropy Grows Like Weeds Irreversibility and Entropy Conversions?Cyclical and Direct Summary The Equations for Transient Phenomena State, Properties, and Process Enthalpy Reynold’s Transport Theorem Conservation of Mass Conservation of Momentum Conservation of Energy Entropy Generation No "Lost and Found" for Lost Work Exergy, or Work Not Yet Lost Reversible Work and Real Work Direct Conversion Processes: Is an Efficiency Close to One Possible? Other Useful Empirical Dissipation Laws Summary Predicting Peaks: A Difficult Art Disclaimer and Method Resource Lifetime and the Laws of Thermodynamics Example of Resource Lifetime Estimation Projecting into the Past Units: A Practical Choice A Recapitulation The Fuels Renewables The Center of It All An Overview: All Together Now Fossil Fuels and Their Technology Natural Gas Oil Coal Nuclear Renewable Technology Solar Photovoltaic Wind Solar Thermal Hydro Area: Not a Superficial Topic Summary Apres Conversion: Utilization Technology Residential Commercial Industrial Transportation Summary Chain Efficiencies: From Capture to Utilization On This Chapter Steady-State Efficiencies Extraction Energy Costs Energy Conversion/Distribution Efficiencies Storage Efficiency Energy Analysis Examples Energy and Its Sequels Constant Travel with a Brief Stop on Earth Combustion All Together Now Nuclear Renewables Dynamic Modeling Variables and Elements General Forms of Commonly Used Laws Programming in VisSim The Future: A Moving Green Target The Future and Criteria Coal: Many Possible Futures CO2 Capture and Its Possibilities Oil and Gas Moving Fuels around Nuclear Energy Renewables Energy Savings through Enhanced Efficiency A Convergence to Renewables? Index References appear at the end of each chapter.