This handbook surveys the range of methods and fuel types used in generating energy for industry, transportation, and heating and cooling of buildings. Solar, wind, biomass, nuclear, geothermal, ocean and fossil fuels are discussed and compared, and the thermodynamics of energy conversion is explained. Appendices are provided with fully updated data. Thoroughly revised, this second edition surveys the latest advances in energy conversion from a wide variety of currently available energy sources. It describes energy sources such as fossil fuels, biomass (including refuse-derived biomass fuels), nuclear, solar radiation, wind, geothermal, and ocean, then provides the terminology and units used for each energy resource and their equivalence. It includes an overview of the steam power cycles, gas turbines, internal combustion engines, hydraulic turbines, Stirling engines, advanced fossil fuel power systems, and combined-cycle power plants. It outlines the development, current use, and future of nuclear power.

This book covers the design, analysis, and optimization of the cleanest, most efficient fossil fuel-fired electric power generation technology at present and in the foreseeable future. The book contains a wealth of first principles-based calculation methods comprising key formulae, charts, rules of thumb, and other tools developed by the author over the course of 25+ years spent in the power generation industry. It is focused exclusively on actual power plant systems and actual field and/or rating data providing a comprehensive picture of the gas turbine combined cycle technology from performance and cost perspectives. Material presented in this book is applicable for research and development studies in academia and government/industry laboratories, as well as practical, day-to-day problems encountered in the industry (including OEMs, consulting engineers and plant operators).