Green Energy and Technology

This new book presents recent developments, state-of-the-art and progresses in
the field of energy where efforts are done in order to improve the usability of
energy systems, reducing their environmental impact. The book aims at providing
researchers, academics, engineers and advanced students information and points
of discussion, a platform for future improvements in green energy. Both
theoretical and applied aspects are treated in this book. Many illustrations and
mathematical equations as well as practical on-the-field applications are
incorporated. This book aims at contributing to the increasing interest in reducing
the environmental impact of energy as well as its further development.
Three parts are considered. The first part treats different energy applications and
the efforts that are done in order to improve their impact on the environment. It
deals with bio-energy, well-to-wheel analyses and heavy oils. Concerning bioenergy,
the costs are evaluated under strict regulations imposed by a climate
stabilization target, where a certain case is taken as example. The well-to-wheel
energy analyses take into consideration a comprehensive study on greenhouse
gases and certain criteria that concern the emissions in the case of hydrogen based
fuel-cells.
The second part deals with different kinds of renewable energy sources. The
chapters discuss bioenergy, wind energy and solar energy. The use of biofuels is
critically discussed. A real application and evaluation of wind energy is presented,
by means of designing and optimalizing a wind power system. A detailed
discussion about the generation of electricity by means of different kinds of solar
energy is performed.
The third part puts emphasis on alternative energy processes for transport utilities.
In this part, is discussed, amongst others, the Homogeneous Charge Compression
Ignition combustion mode. Advantages and inconveniences are proposed. Wide
and comprehensive studies on this combustion mode are presented. Both a large
synthesis of available work and experimental results are used in an effort to
discuss these advantages and inconveniences in order to propose possible solutions. Some examples are treated elaborately. Hydrogen-based combustion is
discussed and its efficiency evaluated in detail. Elaborate studies and examples
give a rather complete vision of the probable use of hydrogen in internal
combustion engines and the different aspects that are to be examined are treated in
detail. The commercialization of fuel-cells are investigated, giving trends and
possible developments that can be envisaged. Finally, a philosophy of controlling
the auto-ignition in an HCCI engine is presented. This philosophy is somewhat
general and the outlines can also be used for the abovementioned transportation
modes.
A rather general overview is given in this book, starting from different visions on
reducing the impact of energy on the environment (green energy) and continuing
on how this can be achieved (green technology). The different results and the
available literature that is treated in various chapters in this book show that many
researchers are investigating the efficient use of energy whilst looking for ways to
decrease its impact on the environment. This shows the importance of such
research and the work that remains to be done.