Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems

Engineering for sustainability is an emerging theme for the twenty-first century. On campuses, new courses on renewable and efficient power systems are being introduced, while the demand for practicing engineers with expertise in this area is rapidly increasing. Written both for professionals seeking a self-study guide and for upper division engineering students, Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems is a design-oriented textbook that gives readers a comprehensive understanding of distributed power generation systems and renewable energy technologies. Numerous worked examples in the text illustrate the principles, while problems at the ends of each chapter provide practical applications using realistic data.

The author begins with an overview of the development of today's electric power industry, including the historical and regulatory evolution of the industry, and provides an introduction to the technical side of power generation, including the basics of electric and magnetic circuits, three-phase power, and thermodynamics. After introducing conventional steam-cycle, gas-turbine, combined-cycle, and cogeneration power plants, he leads the reader into emerging technologies including:

• Distributed generation technologies for combined heat and power, including fuel cells, microturbines, Stirling engines, and reciprocating internal combustion engines
• An introduction to the range of renewable technologies, including concentrating solar power (cSP) dish and trough systems, micro-hydropower, and biomass systems
• Economic analysis of renewable and combined heat and power systems
• Wind power, from single, home-size wind turbines to large wind farms
• Solar energy, with equations for estimating solar resources at any location and time
• Photovoltaic (PV) systems—grid-connected, roof-top designs, off-grid stand-alone systems, and PV water pumping systems

While assuming no prerequisites, the book provides enough technical background to enable the reader to do first-order calculations on how well systems will actually perform. Throughout, techniques for evaluating the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the technologies are provided.

Comprehensive and clearly-organized, Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems prepares engineers to make their own contribution, and build their careers, in one of the most exciting, beneficial, and high-profile areas of endeavor in engineering today.