Entransy in Phase-Change Systems summarizes recent developments in the area of entransy, especially on phase-change processes. This book covers new developments in the area including the great potential for energy saving for process industries, decreasing carbon dioxide emissions, reducing energy bills and improving overall efficiency of systems. This concise volume is an ideal book for engineers and scientists in energy-related industries.

High-Temperature Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage covers the fundamentals, thermal characteristics, measurement, design, and applications of high-temperature phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage, supported by examples and numerical modeling. The differences between low-temperature and high-temperature PCMs are examined with respect to thermophysical properties, phase change properties, and melting/solidification processes, with detailed coverage of how to alter or shorten the phase transition temperature range between melting and solidification, providing routes for the utilization of PCMs for specific high-temperature applications. The book also addresses key challenges, such as the design of PCM containers, phase transition temperature with little deviation, high latent heat capacity, thermal conductivity, viscosity, efficiency, ecocompatibility, and cost. This book is a valuable resource for researchers, advanced students, and scientists across the areas of energy storage, power generation, energy engineering, thermodynamics, materials science, renewable energy, energy management, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering as well as engineers, research and development professionals, and other industry personnel with an interest in thermal energy storage design and materials. - Focuses on high-temperature PCMs for thermal energy storage, with real-life applications - Provides detailed information on fundamentals, thermal characteristics, measurement, and design - Addresses key challenges and includes examples, numerical studies, and modeling

This book presents a wide-ranging review of the latest research and development directions in thermal systems optimization using population-based metaheuristic methods. It helps readers to identify the best methods for their own systems, providing details of mathematical models and algorithms suitable for implementation. To reduce mathematical complexity, the authors focus on optimization of individual components rather than taking on systems as a whole. They employ numerous case studies: heat exchangers; cooling towers; power generators; refrigeration systems; and others. The importance of these subsystems to real-world situations from internal combustion to air-conditioning is made clear. The thermal systems under discussion are analysed using various metaheuristic techniques, with comparative results for different systems. The inclusion of detailed MATLAB® codes in the text will assist readers—researchers, practitioners or students—to assess these techniques for different real-world systems. Thermal System Optimization is a useful tool for thermal design researchers and engineers in academia and industry, wishing to perform thermal system identification with properly optimized parameters. It will be of interest for researchers, practitioners and graduate students with backgrounds in mechanical, chemical and power engineering.

Today, the application of phase change materials (PCMs) has developed in different industries, including the solar cooling and solar power plants, photovoltaic electricity systems, the space industry, waste heat recovery systems, preservation of food and pharmaceutical products, and domestic hot water. PCMs use the principle of latent heat thermal storage to absorb energy in large quantities when there is a surplus and release it when there is a deficit. This promising technology has already been successfully implemented in many construction projects. The aim of this book is to assist the scientists and to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the properties that characterize the phase change materials from theoretical and experimental perspectives with a focus on their technological applications. The present status and future perspectives of phase change material are discussed.

to increase the use of direct contact processes, the National Science Foundation sup ported a workshop on direct contact heat transfer at the Solar Energy Research Insti tute in the summer of 1985. We served as organizers for this workshop, which em phasized an area of thermal engineering that, in our opinion, has great promise for the future, but has not yet reached the point of wide-spread commercial application. Hence, a summary of the state of knowledge at this point is timely. The workshop had a dual objective: 1. To summarize the current state of knowledge in such a form that industrial practi tioners can make use of the available information. 2. To indicate the research and development needed to advance the state-of-the-art, indicating not only what kind of research is needed, but also the industrial poten tial that could be realized if the information to be obtained through the proposed research activities were available.

The ability of thermal energy storage (TES) systems to facilitate energy savings, renewable energy use and reduce environmental impact has led to a recent resurgence in their interest. The second edition of this book offers up-to-date coverage of recent energy efficient and sustainable technological methods and solutions, covering analysis, design and performance improvement as well as life-cycle costing and assessment. As well as having significantly revised the book for use as a graduate text, the authors address real-life technical and operational problems, enabling the reader to gain an understanding of the fundamental principles and practical applications of thermal energy storage technology. Beginning with a general summary of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer, this book goes on to discuss practical applications with chapters that include TES systems, environmental impact, energy savings, energy and exergy analyses, numerical modeling and simulation, case studies and new techniques and performance assessment methods.

The years 2006 and 2007 mark a dramatic change of peoples view regarding c- mate change and energy consumption. The new IPCC report makes clear that - mankind plays a dominant role on climate change due to CO emissions from en- 2 ergy consumption, and that a significant reduction in CO emissions is necessary 2 within decades. At the same time, the supply of fossil energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas becomes less reliable. In spring 2008, the oil price rose beyond 100 $/barrel for the first time in history. It is commonly accepted today that we have to reduce the use of fossil fuels to cut down the dependency on the supply countries and to reduce CO emissions. The use of renewable energy sources and 2 increased energy efficiency are the main strategies to achieve this goal. In both strategies, heat and cold storage will play an important role. People use energy in different forms, as heat, as mechanical energy, and as light. With the discovery of fire, humankind was the first time able to supply heat and light when needed. About 2000 years ago, the Romans started to use ceramic tiles to store heat in under floor heating systems. Even when the fire was out, the room stayed warm. Since ancient times, people also know how to cool food with ice as cold storage.