Energy for Sustainable Society

From Resources to Users

Oguz A. Soysal, Hilkat S. Soysal

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781119561354
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Sciences physiques
• Subtopic: Énergie

A handbook of sustainable energy, covering entire energy aspects from present status to future alternatives under one umbrella

This book takes an interdisciplinary system approach to evaluating energy systems so that readers can gain the necessary technical foundation to perform their own performance evaluations and understand their interactions with socioeconomic indicators. Topics include the current and future availability of primary sources, energy supply chain, conversion between different forms of energy, security of energy supply, and efficient end-use of energy sources. Each chapter provides readers with comprehensive background information, an outline of the current technologies, and potential future developments. The book also examines the global, economic, societal, ethical, and environmental issues associated with currently used energy technologies.

Energy for Sustainable Society: From Resources to Users starts with ageneral overview of energy systems, and describes the major elements of energy transformation and supply chain. It then discusses interdisciplinary career opportunities in the energy engineering field. The fundamental concepts of energy conversion, transmission, and load flow in electrical systems are covered, as are conventional and unconventional fossil fuels, and the basics of nuclear power generation and reactor types. Other chapters look at: the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics and basic operation of steam turbines, gas turbines, and combined cycle heat engines used in fossil fuel and nuclear power plants; current technologies in hydroelectric power generation; renewable and alternative energy sources; energy security issues; and more.

• Contains up-to-date information on renewable energy technologies such as grid-tie, net-zero energy, battery backup, and utility-independent micro grids
• Presents the status of the share of renewable sources in the current and future energy supply mix
• Provides solved examples, case studies, self-assessment quizzes, and problems to enhance the understanding of readers
• Includes an exclusive chapter on energy security issues

Energy for Sustainable Society gives readers a solid foundation to study energy related subjects and is an ideal book for a first course on energy systems for upper division undergraduate and first year graduate students.

1
Overview

Image available at https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=55167/ (Accessed in August 2018).

Credit: Data courtesy Marc Imhoff of NASA GSFC and Christopher Elvidge of NOAA NGDC. Image by Craig Mayhew and Robert Simmon, NASA GSFC.

City lights show urbanized areas around the world. Although the density of lights is not necessarily proportional to the population density and degree of development, use of electricity reflects various aspects of social and economic activities. Energy intensity is higher in brighter areas of the earth such as Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asia, North America, parts of South America, and Oceania. Big metropolitan areas around the world are visible as bright light clusters. In the USA, the interstate highway network is detectable from the city lights. Dark spots in Africa, South America, Asia, and Oceania correspond to sparsely populated and less industrialized areas. Polar regions are entirely dark since they are not populated. According to the World Bank database (The World Bank Group [US] 2018), about 13% of the world population still does not have access to electricity. In darker areas of the earth, vital elements of modern society such as sanitary services, healthcare, education, transportation, water, and food supply are minimal.

1.1 Introduction

An energy system is a collection of elements that work together to supply the energy needs of a society. Inputs of an energy system are natural primary sources that can be economically converted to fuels, secondary energy sources, and energy carriers. Outputs are various forms of energy supplied to end‐users.

Sun is the essential external energy source for life on earth. While sunlight is the natural source of heat, most primary energy sources available on earth are consequences of solar radiation heating the earth surface and atmosphere. Flowing water, wind, and firewood resulting from solar heat have energized human activities since early civilizations. Vegetation and living organisms initially developed due to the solar energy have been transformed over millions of years to coal, petroleum, and natural gas. In addition, periodic variations in gravitational attraction of the moon and other celestial bodies cause tidal motions and ocean waves.

Figure 1.1 outlines the interactions between the energy system, nature, and society. An energy system transforms primary sources into fuels and electric power to deliver various forms of energy needed for manufacturing, construction, agriculture, transportation, and public services. Commercial transactions, communication, computation, and data processing are essential economic functions that depend on energy. Economy delivers industrial products, buildings, roads, public services, food, treated water, education, recreation, and entertainment to the society.

Energy systems use water for extraction and processing of coal, petroleum, and natural gas; irrigation of crops for biofuel production; and cooling of power plants. Air is necessary for combustion of fuels and cooling of engines, motors, and generators.

On the other hand, natural resources are critical for life, productivity, and economy of the society. Obviously, all creatures need fresh water, clean air, and food to survive. Food supply depends on adequate irrigation of farmlands and drinking water for livestock. Nature offers feedstock for industrial processes and production.

Modern society cannot sustain without abundant energy, water, and food. Such commodities strongly depend on each other. Agriculture and food production rely on both water and energy supply. Energy systems use significant amount of water for fuel production and cooling purposes. Part of this water is recycled to the source, but some part is evaporated. In addition, energy systems are major sources of air, water, and land pollution. If not eliminated properly, toxic compounds released from energy facilities may be deposited in plants, seafood, and other living organisms. Air and water pollution strongly affect human health and can even cause fatal diseases. In populated areas, noise and vibration produced by mining equipment, fuel transportation trucks, freight trains, and generation units create public reactions.

Society is the receiving end of the energy system. Institutions collecting energy data categorize end‐users based on their energy consumption profiles. Industrial, commercial, transportation, and residential sectors are the major groups of energy users. Each one may be expanded to subcategories for more detailed statistical evaluations of energy use.

Government offices closely watch the interactions between the energy system and society using “social and economic indicators.” Such indicators reflect the welfare, living standards, and productivity of the society. Since food supply, water, and air quality affect the health and well‐being of the population, social and economic indicators include pollution and climate change information too. Legislators, government administrators, and decision makers issue laws, policies, regulations, codes, and guidelines to ensure proper management of the energy system for the benefits of the society.

Figure 1.1 Interactions of an energy system with nature and society.

Intergovernmental organizations are also part of the feedback process. For example, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) established the International Energy Agency (IEA) to help countries in a broad range of energy issues including oil, gas, and coal supply and demand, renewable energy technologies, electricity markets, energy efficiency, and access to energy. International agreements establish global dialog on energy related issues. Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement are examples of international movements to reduce the greenhouse effect and global warming resulting from human activities, especially from operation of energy systems.

As Figure 1.1 illustrates, an energy system is the central element of a closed loop global scheme, which also includes natural resources and society. Stakeholders are diverse groups concerned about energy production and consumption. Legislators, government offices, and local administrators regulate the management and development of the e...