This book is a unique, multidisciplinary effort to apply rigorous thermodynamics fundamentals, a disciplined scholarly approach, to problems of sustainability, energy, and resource uses. Applying thermodynamic thinking to problems of sustainable behavior is a significant advantage in bringing order to ill-defined questions with a great variety of proposed solutions, some of which are more destructive than the original problem. The articles are pitched at a level accessible to advanced undergraduates and graduate students in courses on sustainability, sustainable engineering, industrial ecology, sustainable manufacturing, and green engineering. The timeliness of the topic, and the urgent need for solutions make this book attractive to general readers and specialist researchers as well. Top international figures from many disciplines, including engineers, ecologists, economists, physicists, chemists, policy experts and industrial ecologists among others make up the impressive list of contributors.

This book is a unique, multidisciplinary, effort to apply rigorous thermodynamics fundamentals, a disciplined scholarly approach, to problems of sustainability, energy, and resource uses. Applying thermodynamic thinking to problems of sustainable behavior is a significant advantage in bringing order to ill defined questions with a great variety of proposed solutions, some of which are more destructive than the original problem. The articles are pitched at a level accessible to advanced undergraduates and graduate students in courses on sustainability, sustainable engineering, industrial ecology, sustainable manufacturing, and green engineering. The timeliness of the topic, and the urgent need for solutions make this book attractive to general readers and specialist researchers as well. Top international figures from many disciplines, including engineers, ecologists, economists, physicists, chemists, policy experts and industrial ecologists among others make up the impressive list of contributors. About the Authors Bhavik R. Bakshi holds a dual appointment as a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The Ohio State University, and Vice Chancellor and Professor of Energy and Environment at TERI University, New Delhi. He is also the Research Director of the Center for Resilience at Ohio State. From 2006 to 2010, he was a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, India. He has written over 100 refereed publications in areas such as Process Systems Engineering and Sustainability Science and Engineering. Timothy G. Gutowski is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. He was the Director of MIT's Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity (1994-2004), and the Associate Department Head for Mechanical Engineering (2001-2005). From 1999 to 2001 he was the chairman of the National Science Foundation - Department of Energy panel on Environmentally Benign Manufacturing. He has written over 150 technical publications, and seven patents and patent applications. He is the editor of Advanced Composites Manufacturing (1997). Dusan P. Sekulic is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kentucky. He is a fellow of ASME. Dr. Sekulic is a consulting professor at the Harbin Institute of Technology, PR China. He is the author of over 150 refereed research publications, more than a dozen book chapters, and the author of the book Fundamentals of Heat Exchanger Design (jointly with R.K. Shah), published in English, and in Chinese. He is the editor of the books Advances in Brazing: Science, Technology and Applications and Fundamentals of Heat Exchanger Design (2003) co-edited with Ramesh K. Shah.

This book is a unique, multidisciplinary, effort to apply rigorous thermodynamics fundamentals, a disciplined scholarly approach, to problems of sustainability, energy, and resource uses. Applying thermodynamic thinking to problems of sustainable behavior is a significant advantage in bringing order to ill defined questions with a great variety of proposed solutions, some of which are more destructive than the original problem. The articles are pitched at a level accessible to advanced undergraduates and graduate students in courses on sustainability, sustainable engineering, industrial ecology, sustainable manufacturing, and green engineering. The timeliness of the topic, and the urgent need for solutions make this book attractive to general readers and specialist researchers as well. Top international figures from many disciplines, including engineers, ecologists, economists, physicists, chemists, policy experts and industrial ecologists among others make up the impressive list of contributors"

Presents a unique, stepwise exergy-based approach to thermodynamic concepts, systems, and applications Thermodynamics: A Smart Approach redefines this crucial branch of engineering as the science of energy and exergy—rather than the science of energy and entropy—to provide an innovative, step-by-step approach for teaching, understanding, and practicing thermodynamics in a clearer and easier way. Focusing primarily on the concepts and balance equations,this innovative textbook covers exergy under the second law of thermodynamics, discusses exergy matters, and relates thermodynamics to environmental impact and sustainable development in a clear, simple and understandable manner. It aims to change the way thermodynamics is taught and practiced and help overcome the fear of thermodynamics. Author Ibrahim Dincer, a pioneer in the areas of thermodynamics and sustainable energy technologies, draws upon his multiple decades of experience teaching and researching thermodynamics to offer a unique exergy-based approach to the subject. Enabling readers to easily comprehend and apply thermodynamic principles, the text organizes thermodynamics into seven critical steps—property, state, process, cycle, first law of thermodynamics, second law of thermodynamics and performance assessment—and provides extended teaching tools for systems and applications. Precise, student-friendly chapters cover fundamental concepts, thermodynamic laws, conventional and innovative power and refrigeration cycles, and more. This textbook: Covers a unique approach in teaching design, analysis and assessment of thermodynamic systems Provides lots of examples for every subject for students and instructors Contains hundreds of illustrations, figures, and tables to better illustrate contents Includes many conceptual questions and study problems Features numerous systems related examples and practical applications Thermodynamics: A Smart Approach is an ideal textbook for undergraduate students and graduate students of engineering and applied science, as well researchers, scientists, and practicing engineers seeking a precise and concise textbook and/or reference work.

The concept of a circular economy has been gaining increasing attention in recent years. Many of the sources of chemicals we have become reliant on are dwindling and the accumulation of waste products poses a serious environmental problem. Recovering resources from these waste materials can reduce our dependence on less sustainable virgin feedstocks, as well as reducing the quantity of material going to landfill sites. Bringing together a broad range of cross-disciplinary topics on resource recovery this book provides a valuable resource for those working in circular economy research, green chemistry and waste management.

Exergy, Second Edition deals with exergy and its applications to various energy systems and applications as a potential tool for design, analysis and optimization, and its role in minimizing and/or eliminating environmental impacts and providing sustainable development. In this regard, several key topics ranging from the basics of the thermodynamic concepts to advanced exergy analysis techniques in a wide range of applications are covered as outlined in the contents. Offers comprehensive coverage of exergy and its applications, along with the most up-to-date information in the area with recent developments Connects exergy with three essential areas in terms of energy, environment and sustainable development Provides a number of illustrative examples, practical applications, and case studies Written in an easy-to-follow style, starting from the basics to advanced systems

The authors look to the laws of thermodynamics for answers to the questions of evolution, ecology, economics, and even life's origin.