Supercritical fluids are increasingly being used in energy conversion and fluid dynamics studies for energy-related systems and applications. These new applications are contributing to both the increase of energy efficiency as well as greenhouse gas reduction. Such research is critical for scientific advancement and industrial innovations that can support environmentally friendly strategies for sustainable energy systems. The Handbook of Research on Advancements in Supercritical Fluids Applications for Sustainable Energy Systems is a comprehensive two-volume reference that covers the most recent and challenging issues and outlooks for the applications and innovations of supercritical fluids. The book first converts basic thermo-dynamic behaviors and “abnormal” properties from a thermophysical aspect, then basic heat transfer and flow properties, recent new findings of its physical aspect and indications, chemical engineering properties, micro-nano-scale phenomena, and transient behaviors in fast and critical environments. It is ideal for engineers, energy companies, environmentalists, researchers, academicians, and students studying supercritical fluids and their applications for creating sustainable energy systems.

Supercritical fluids have been utilized for numerous scientific advancements and industrial innovations. As the concern for environmental sustainability grows, these fluids have been increasingly used for energy efficiency purposes. Advanced Applications of Supercritical Fluids in Energy Systems is a pivotal reference source for the latest academic material on the integration of supercritical fluids into contemporary energy-related applications. Highlighting innovative discussions on topics such as renewable energy, fluid dynamics, and heat and mass transfer, this book is ideally designed for researchers, academics, professionals, graduate students, and practitioners interested in the latest trends in energy conversion.

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Power Systems: Technologies and Applications provides a systematic and detailed description of organic Rankine cycle technologies and the way they are increasingly of interest for cost-effective sustainable energy generation. Popular applications include cogeneration from biomass and electricity generation from geothermal reservoirs and concentrating solar power installations, as well as waste heat recovery from gas turbines, internal combustion engines and medium- and low-temperature industrial processes. With hundreds of ORC power systems already in operation and the market growing at a fast pace, this is an active and engaging area of scientific research and technical development. The book is structured in three main parts: (i) Introduction to ORC Power Systems, Design and Optimization, (ii) ORC Plant Components, and (iii) Fields of Application. - Provides a thorough introduction to ORC power systems - Contains detailed chapters on ORC plant components - Includes a section focusing on ORC design and optimization - Reviews key applications of ORC technologies, including cogeneration from biomass, electricity generation from geothermal reservoirs and concentrating solar power installations, waste heat recovery from gas turbines, internal combustion engines and medium- and low-temperature industrial processes - Various chapters are authored by well-known specialists from Academia and ORC manufacturers

The articles presented in this Special Issue cover different aspects of the urban planning process, such as simulation, optimization or decision-making. The authors highlighted the importance of performing an integrated design of the district, considering different sectors, different energy vectors and different operation modes. In order to better integrate renewable and residual energy sources (R²ES), careful design of systems and storage solutions should be performed. Different storage solutions were tested, ranging from large-scale thermal energy storage to vehicle batteries or the thermal mass of buildings. Van der Heijde et al. (2019) proposed a two-layer design optimization algorithm to design a district heating network with solar thermal collectors, seasonal thermal energy storage and excess heat injection. Pajot et al. (2019) also performed an optimization of the sizing and control of energy systems in a district equipped with heat pumps, with thermal energy storage or thermal mass utilization. A hybrid distribution system, coupling the thermal and electrical networks, was proposed by Widl et al. (2019). Arnaudo et al. (2019) used the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) concept to decrease the overloading of the electrical distribution network during heat pump operation. Finally, Kazmi et al. (2019) proposed an integrated decision-making planning approach for a better integration of R²ES in the distribution network. The complexity of urban planning leads to the development of new tools and methodologies. Until now, operation was poorly integrated in the design phase. New urban building energy modeling tools were proposed by the different authors. These tools are either based on co-simulations or integrated solutions to be able to capture the fine dynamics of a district. The difficulty of generating the input data for the models was also discussed. Regarding the methodology, most articles proposed a two-stage optimization procedure to optimize both the operational and design aspects. Mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and genetic algorithms were often used to find optimal solutions.

3D PRINTING FOR ENERGY APPLICATIONS Explore current and future perspectives of 3D printing for the fabrication of high value-added complex devices 3D Printing for Energy Applications delivers an insightful and cutting-edge exploration of the applications of 3D printing to the fabrication of complex devices in the energy sector. The book covers aspects related to additive manufacturing of functional materials with applicability in the energy sector. It reviews both the technology of printable materials and 3D printing strategies itself, and its use in energy devices or systems. Split into three sections, the book covers the 3D printing of functional materials before delving into the 3D printing of energy devices. It closes with printing challenges in the production of complex objects. It also presents an interesting perspective on the future of 3D printing of complex devices. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to 3D printing of functional materials, including metals, ceramics, and composites An exploration of 3D printing challenges for production of complex objects, including computational design, multimaterials, tailoring AM components, and volumetric additive manufacturing Practical discussions of 3D printing of energy devices, including batteries, supercaps, solar panels, fuel cells, turbomachinery, thermoelectrics, and CCUS Perfect for materials scientists, 3D Printing for Energy Applications will also earn a place in the libraries of graduate students in engineering, chemistry, and material sciences seeking a one-stop reference for current and future perspectives on 3D printing of high value-added complex devices.

Theoretical and Applied Aspects of Biomass Torrefaction: For Biofuels and Value-Added Products presents a firm foundation of torrefaction technologies and their economic and sustainability aspects. It offers a theoretical background in the underlying principles of torrefaction reactions, including thermodynamics, chemical reactions, process modeling, end-products, and value-added products such as biochar and torr-gas. It also provides an overview of best practices in torrefaction systems, reactor design and scale-up, and compares torrefaction with other thermochemical processing technologies. The authors discuss feedstock availability for a variety of biomass types, such as agricultural residues, woody residues, energy crops and municipal solid waste. They also examine logistics and markets for torrefied products, which includes their use in co-firing and combined heat and power generation, as well as emissions and other environmental aspects. This balanced and thorough approach to the subject matter makes this an excellent resource for engineers, researchers, and graduate students in the field of biomass conversion, especially with background in energy engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, biological engineering, and agriculture. - Offers a comprehensive overview of torrefaction, balancing theoretical and applied perspectives of torrefaction technologies from a holistic perspective - Examines economic and sustainability aspects, including logistics, markets, feedstock, and emissions - Presents a variety of relevant, real-world examples that underscore the production and utilization of torrefied material - Offers a balanced and thorough approach to the subject, making it an excellent resource for engineers, researchers, and graduate students in the field of biomass conversion