The science of renewable energy / Frank Spellman and Revonna Bieber.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Machine generated contents note: The Gathering Storm -- Peak Oil -- Hirsch Report -- A Malthusian Catastrophe? -- Blame or Tame? -- Weathering the Storm -- Alternative and Renewable Energy -- The Bottom Line: The Need for Innovation -- Discussion Questions -- References and Recommended Reading -- Energy -- Types of Energy -- Measuring Energy -- Heat Engines -- Rankine Cycle Heat Engine -- Stirling Cycle Heat Engine -- Principles of Basic Electricity -- Nature of Electricity -- Structure of Matter -- Conductors, Semiconductors, and Insulators -- Static Electricity -- Charged Bodies -- Coulomb's Law -- Electrostatic Fields -- Magnetism -- Magnetic Materials -- Magnetic Earth -- Difference in Potential -- Water Analogy -- Principal Methods for Producing Voltage -- Electric Current -- Resistance -- Battery-Supplied Electricity -- Battery Terminology -- Voltaic Cell -- Primary and Secondary Cells -- Battery -- Battery Operation -- Combining Cells -- Types of Batteries.

Battery Characteristics -- DC Circuits -- Schematic Representation -- Ohm's Law -- Electric Power -- Electrical Power Calculations -- Electric Energy -- Series DC Circuit Characteristics -- DC Resistance -- DC Current -- Voltage -- DC Power -- Summary of Rules for Series DC Circuits -- General DC Series Circuit Analysis -- Kirchoff's Voltage Law -- Polarity of Voltage Drops -- Series Aiding and Opposing Sources -- Kirchoff's Law and Multiple-Source Solutions -- Ground -- Open and Short Circuits -- Parallel DC Circuits -- Parallel Circuit Characteristics -- Voltage in Parallel Circuits -- Current in Parallel Circuits -- Parallel Circuits and Kirchoff's Current Law -- Parallel Resistance -- The Reciprocal Method -- Product over Sum Method -- Reduction to an Equivalent Circuit -- Power in Parallel Circuits -- Rules for Solving Parallel DC Circuits -- Series[-]Parallel Circuits -- Solving a Series[-]Parallel Circuit -- Conductors -- Unit Size of Conductors -- Square Mil -- Circular Mil -- Circular-Mil-Foot -- Resistivity.

Wire Measurement -- Factors Governing Selection of Wire Size -- Copper vs. Other Metal Conductors -- Wire Temperature Coefficients -- Conductor Insulation -- Conductor Splices and Terminal Connections -- Soldering Operations -- Solderless Connectors -- Insulation Tape -- Electromagnetism -- Magnetic Field around a Single Conductor -- Polarity of a Single Conductor -- Field around Two Parallel Conductors -- Magnetic Field of a Coil -- Polarity of an Electromagnetic Coil -- Strength of an Electromagnetic Field -- Magnetic Units -- Properties of Magnetic Materials -- Permeability -- Hysteresis -- Electromagnets -- AC Theory -- Basic AC Generator -- Cycle -- Frequency, Period, and Wavelength -- Characteristic Values of AC Voltage and Current -- Peak Amplitude -- Peak-to-Peak Amplitude -- Instantaneous Amplitude -- Effective or RMS Value -- Average Value -- Resistance in AC Circuits -- Phase Relationships -- Inductance -- Inductance: What Is It? -- Unit of Inductance -- Self-Inductance -- Growth and Decay of Current in an RL Series Circuit.

L/R Time Constant -- Mutual Inductance -- Calculation of Total Inductance -- Capacitance -- The Capacitor -- Dielectric Materials -- Unit of Capacitance -- Factors Affecting Value of Capacitance -- Voltage Rating of Capacitors -- Charge and Discharge of an RC Series Circuit -- RC Time Constant -- Capacitors in Series and Parallel -- Types of Capacitors -- Ultracapacitors -- Ultracapacitor Operation -- Inductive and Capacitive Reactance -- Inductive Reactance -- Capacitive Reactance -- Phase Relationships for R,L, and C Circuits -- Impedance -- Power in Reactive Circuits -- AC Circuit Theory -- Series RLC Circuit -- Parallel RLC Circuits -- Power in AC Circuits -- Generators -- DC Generators -- AC Generators -- Motors -- DC Motors -- Brushless DC Motor -- AC Motors -- Induction Motors (Polyphase) -- Synchronous Motors -- Single-Phase Motors -- Split-Phase Motor -- Capacitor Motor -- Shaded-Pole Motor -- Repulsion-Start Motor -- AC Series Motor -- Transformers -- Power Distribution System Protection -- Fuses -- Circuit Breakers.

Control Devices -- Electrical Drawings -- Electrical Symbols -- Types of Electrical Drawings -- Architectural Drawings -- Circuit Drawings -- Ladder Drawing -- Discussion and Review Questions -- References and Recommended Reading -- Introduction -- Concentrating Solar Power -- Linear Concentrators -- Parabolic Trough Systems -- Fresnel Reflector Systems -- Dish/Engine Systems -- Power Tower Systems -- Thermal Energy Storage -- Two-Tank Direct System -- Two-Tank Indirect System -- Single-Tank Thermocline System -- Photovoltaics -- Domestic and Industrial Use of Solar Energy -- Solar Hot Water -- Space Heating -- General Motors Battery Plant -- Water Heating -- Space Cooling -- Let There Be Natural Light -- Lighting Technologies -- Lamps -- Incandescent Lamps -- Fluorescent Lamps -- Compact Fluorescent Lamps -- High-Intensity Discharge Lamps -- Low-Pressure Sodium Lamps -- Solid-State Lighting -- Ballasts -- Luminaires (Lighting Fixtures) -- Lighting Controls -- Daylighting -- The Bottom Line on Solar Energy -- Discussion and Review Questions.

Minor Head Loss -- Reservoir Stored Energy -- Water Turbines -- Impulse Turbine -- Reaction Turbine -- Advanced Hydropower Technology -- Hydropower Generation: Dissolved Oxygen Concerns -- The Bottom Line on Hydropower -- Discussion and Review Questions -- References and Recommended Reading -- Introduction -- Biomass -- Feedstock Types -- Composition of Biomass -- Starch (Glucose) -- Lignocellulosic Biomass -- Cellulose -- Hemicellulose -- Lignin -- Oils and Protein -- Plant Basics -- Plant Terminology -- The Plant Cell -- Vascular Plants -- Leaves -- Chlorophyll and Chloroplasts -- Photosynthesis -- Roots -- Growth in Vascular Plants -- Plant Hormones -- Tropisms -- Photoperiodism -- Plant Reproduction -- Plant Cell Walls -- Feedstocks -- First-Generation Feedstocks -- Second-Generation Feedstocks: Short-Term Availability -- Second-Generation Feedstocks: Long Term Availability -- Bioethanol Production by Dry Corn Mill Process -- Gasoline Gallon Equivalent -- Pros and Cons of Bioethanol -- Corn for Ethanol Production or Food Supply?

The Brazilian Example -- Biomass for Biopower -- Biomass for Bioproducts -- Classes of Bioproducts -- Biodiesel -- Algae to Biodiesel -- Characteristics of Algal Divisions -- Algal Biomass -- Open-Pond Algae Farms -- Jatropha to Biodiesel -- Pros and Cons of Biodiesel -- Biogas (Methane, CH4) -- Anaerobic Digestion -- Stages of Anaerobic Digestion -- Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Biosolids (Sludge) -- Anaerobic Digestion of Agricultural Wastes -- Landfill Biogas -- The Bottom Line on Biofuels -- Discussion and Review Questions -- References and Recommended Reading -- Introduction -- Geothermal Timeline -- Geothermal Energy as a Renewable Energy Source -- Geothermal Energy: The Basics -- Earth's Layers -- Crustal Plates -- Convergent Boundaries -- Divergent Boundaries -- Transform Boundaries -- Energy Conversion -- Geothermal Power Plant Technologies -- Dry-Steam Power Plants -- Flash-Steam Power Plants -- Binary-Cycle Power Plants -- Enhanced Geothermal Systems -- Geothermal Heat Pumps -- Types of Geothermal Heat Pumps -- Closed-Loop Systems.

Open-Loop System -- The Bottom Line on Geothermal Energy -- Discussion and Review Questions -- References and Recommended Reading -- Introduction -- Oceans and Their Margins -- The Ocean Floor -- Ocean Tides, Currents, and Waves -- Tides -- Currents -- Waves -- Coastal Erosion, Transportation, and Deposition -- Wave Erosion -- Marine Transportation -- Marine Deposition -- Wave Energy -- Wave Energy: Facts, Parameters, and Equations -- Wave Height -- Deep Water Waves -- Intermediate Depth Waves -- Shallow Water Waves -- Group Velocity -- Wave Energy Conversion Technology -- Tidal Energy -- Tidal Energy Technologies -- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion -- Ocean Energy Conversion Process -- Types of OTEC Technologies -- The Bottom Line on Ocean Energy -- Discussion and Review Questions -- References and Recommended Reading -- Fuel Cells: The Basics -- Open Cells vs. Closed Cells.

Note continued: Hydrogen Fuel Cells: A Realistic View -- Hydrogen Storage -- How a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Works -- Discussion and Review Questions -- References and Recommended Reading.