Product Description

Do renewable energy sources really provide a realistic alternative to fossil fuels? How does wind power compare to nuclear power, in terms of the energy it can generate? How do we get energy from the tides, and is it really a useful source of power? Energy Science: Principles, Technologies, and Impacts integrates the science behind the key energy sources that are at our disposal today with the socioeconomic issues which surround their use to give a balanced, objective overview of the range of energy sources available to us today. Covering both traditional and renewable energy sources, the book encourages the reader to evaluate different energy sources on the basis of sound quantitative understanding. It also explores the fundamentals of energy generation, storage and transmission, to build a complete picture of energy supply, from wind turbine, nuclear reactor, or hydroelectric dam, to our homes. Different energy sources have different social and economic impacts; the book uses examples and case studies throughout to help the reader critically assess the information to hand and reach a well-rounded, informed view of the relative merits and drawbacks of the energy sources available. Problems with current and future energy use and supply extend globally; Energy Science: Principles, Technologies, and Impacts introduces the potential solutions that science can offer, within a framework that encourages the critical assessment of the pros and cons of each. Online resource centre: The Online Resource Centre features: For lecturers: Figures from the book available to download, to facilitate lecture preparation Solutions to end of chapter questions, to aid marking and assessment For students: Library of web links, giving students quick access to an extensive range of additional resources

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56948 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 344 pages

Review
As educators what we need is a good source of information to examine competing ideas and to show students what sort of questions need to be asked. This is a very useful text. Its value lies in the degree to which the science of energy is inter-linked with issues of safety, environment etc. For those aiming to deal with this area in more detail than normally found, this is a very good place to start. (Ecological and Environmental Education, February 2007 )

About the Author
Dr John Andrews is currently a Visiting Fellow at Bristol University where he lectures in physics and applied mathematics; until recently he also lectured at Nottingham and Oxford Universities. His main research interest is in mathematical modelling of industrial process. Before returning to the academic world, he spent 30 years in the electricity supply industry, where he was involved in research activities related to conventional, nuclear and alternative energy technologies. He has
lectured on Energy Studies at Bristol and Oxford Universities.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic book for renewable energy with 2 colour
this books has good content in renewable energy, with two colour, blue and black. the worked examples are really helpfull to understand. The pictures are excellent. 1 of my best books in energy, beside Babcock Wilcock's book.

Unsurpassed!
Imparts a thorough understanding and excellent awareness of not only the physical means of generating energy, but also the economic circumstances surrounding each form and evaluates their potential in an empirical manner. Requires a fairly good scientific background, as it probably exceeds the scope of most undergraduate physics courses, but well worth the money. If only more 'green' protesters read it then perhaps we'd have more action and fewer people who don't have a clue.

Good for large-scale, low-carbon power generation technologies for people who are good at physics
This is quite a difficult book. It would certainly help to have a background in physics. It's not as bad as some though. It only really deals with large low carbon power generation technologies, such as those used in power stations. It does not explain small scale renewable energy technologies such as solar thermal water heating or ground source heat pumps. Apart from the main renewable energy technologies: hydro, tidal, wave, wind, solar and biomass, there are also chapters on nuclear fission and fusion. The last chapters are on electricity transmission, energy storage, environmental and economic matters. There are also two chapters on thermodynamics and fluid dynamics. I thought the chapters on thermodynamics and fluid dynamics were good, as I understood them better than from other books. I think I've understood wind and solar better elsewhere, although they are difficult subjects. I didn't understand much of the nuclear chapters, especially fusion. The best thing was that most of the questions at the end of the chapters were do-able, except for those marked with an asterisk, which I learned to avoid. I'm a bit suspicious there are some mistakes in the questions and answers, but more likely it's my dodgy maths. I'm not sure whether to give it four or five stars. I think I'll give it five and if another reviewer is not sure, they can give a lower mark.