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1 - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2021

Efstathios Michaelides
Affiliation:
Texas Christian University
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Summary

The use of energy has defined our civilization and governs our lives. Throughout the day and night modern humans consume enormous quantities of energy resources for: food preparation; transportation; lighting, heat, ventilation and air-conditioning of buildings; entertainment; and a myriad other applications that define modern life. A gigantic global energy industry transports and inconspicuously transforms the energy resources to convenient forms (gasoline, diesel, electricity) that are vital to the functioning of the modern society. This introductory chapter surveys the types of the global primary energy sources, how they are transformed to useful energy, and how they are used. The chapter introduces the two laws of thermodynamics that govern the conversion of energy from one form to another; explains the methodology of thermodynamics, which is essential for the understanding of energy conversion processes; and delineates the limitations on energy conversion. The thermodynamic cycles for the generation of power and refrigeration are reviewed and the thermodynamic efficiencies of the cycles and energy conversion equipment (turbines, compressors, solar cells, etc.) are defined.

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Chapter
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

International Energy Agency, Key World Energy Statistics-2019 (IEA: Paris, 2019).Google Scholar
Michaelides, E. E., Energy, the Environment, and Sustainability (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2018).Google Scholar
Kestin, J., A Course in Thermodynamics, vol. 1. (New York: Hemisphere, 1979).Google Scholar
Bejan, A., Advanced Thermodynamics, 3rd ed. (New York, Wiley: 2006).Google Scholar
Moran, M. J. and Shapiro, H. N. Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, 6th ed. (New York, Wiley: 2008).Google Scholar

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  • Introduction
  • Efstathios Michaelides, Texas Christian University
  • Book: Exergy Analysis for Energy Conversion Systems
  • Online publication: 19 March 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108635684.002
Available formats
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  • Introduction
  • Efstathios Michaelides, Texas Christian University
  • Book: Exergy Analysis for Energy Conversion Systems
  • Online publication: 19 March 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108635684.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Efstathios Michaelides, Texas Christian University
  • Book: Exergy Analysis for Energy Conversion Systems
  • Online publication: 19 March 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108635684.002
Available formats
×