Short description Explores humanity's increasing need for energy and the various energy sources that might provide our needs into the future given the need to move away from petroleum. The book begins by examining our uses of energy in history and the exponential expansion of our energy use beginning with the industrial revolution and continuing into the present day. At this point the author begins analyzing the various alternative energy sources including nuclear, hydrogen, solar and wind power and their respective pros and cons. In the end Kruger proposes the use of nuclear energy to produce our hydrogen needs. This book will fill a need at both introductory and capstone levels in curriculums of engineering and general science - a large and growing market in need of a book.
From the contents Preface.
1. Human Ecology on Spaceship Earth.
1.0 Introduction.
1.1 Development of Human Ecology.
1.2 Summary.
References.
2. The Unending Quest for Abundant Energy.
2.0 Historic Perspective.
2.1 Characteristics of an Industrial Nation.
2.2 Exponential Growth Dynamics.
2.3 Current Growth in Energy Consumption.
2.4 Summary.
References.
3. The Fossil Fuel Era.
3.0 Historic Perspective.
3.1 Fossil Fuels.
3.2 Forecast of U.S. Energy Consumption thru 2025.
3.3 How Long Will Fossil Fuels Last?.
3.4 Growth of Fossil Fuel Demand for Generation of Electricity.
3.5 Summary.
References.
4. Sustainability of Energy Resources.
4.0 Sustainable Economic Development.
4.1 Sustainability of Electric Energy Demand.
4.2 Natural Gas in Sustainable Energy Supply.
4.3 Natural Gas Commitment for Electric Power Generation.
4.4 Sustainability of Natural Gas as an Energy Resource.
4.5 Non-Fossil Energy Resources.
4.6 Summary.
References.
5. Environmental Impact of Energy Consumption.
5.0 Historic Perspective.
5.1 Basics of Environmental Impact.
5.2 The Saga of the Greenhouse Effect.
5.3 Local Air Pollution from Automobile Exhaust.
5.4 Value of Air Quality Improvement in Transportation.
5.5 Some Data for the Los Angeles Air Basin.
5.6 Summary.
References.
6. The Nuclear Energy Era.
6.0 Historic Perspective.
6.1 Basic Elements of Nuclear Science.
6.2 Basic Elements of Nuclear Power.
6.3 The OKLO Natural Nuclear Reactors.
6.4 Thermonuclear Fusion.
6.5 Summary.
References.
7. Renewable Energy Resources.
7.0 Renewable Energy.
7.1 Hydroelectric Power.
7.2 Solar Energy.
7.3 Wind Energy.
7.4 Biomass Energy.
7.5 Other Renewable Resources.
7.6 Summary.
References.
8. Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier.
8.0 Historic Perspective.
8.1 Hydrogen and Electricity as Parallel Energy Carriers.
8.2 The Hydrogen Energy Fuel Cycle.
8.3 Summary.
References.
9. Hydrogen as a Transportation Fuel.
9.0 Historic Perspective.
9.1 Hydrogen Fuel Cells in Vehicle Transportation.
9.2 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles.
9.3 What More is Needed?.
9.4 Summary.
References.
10. The Hydrogen Fuel Era.
10.0 Perspective of an Era.
10.1 Potential for Air Quality Improvement.
10.2 Modeling Health Benefit from Hydrogen Fuel Transportation.
10.3 Electric Energy Requirement for Hydrogen Fuel.
10.4 Prospects for the Future of Sustainable Energy Supply.
