About Book

Energy is considered to be a main contributor in the accumulation of wealth and also a key component in economic growth. This makes energy resources extremely significant for every country in the world. Energy and environment are closely related issues in the present along the whole world. Energy and environment research focuses on the generation, storage and efficient utilization of energy and natural resources and the assessment of the interaction between the environment and energy technologies in order to establish clean and renewable energy. Research on the interaction between renewable energy technologies and the environment is essential to understanding and establishing sustainability. A number of factors are considered to be important in determining world energy consumption and production, including population growth, economic performance, consumer tastes, technological developments, government policies concerning the energy sector, and developments on world energy markets. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts in the field of energy and environment research. It explores all the important aspects of this field in the present day scenario. It deals with environmental remediation, energy conversion, energy harvesting, fuels from the environment, environmental externalities, energy storage and concentrated solar energy. While understanding the long-term perspectives of the topics, the book makes an effort in highlighting their impact as a modern tool for the growth of the discipline. It presents the complex subject of energy and environment in the most comprehensible and easy to understand language. This book is appropriate for those seeking detailed information in this area.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Solar Thermal Energy Storage Using Paraffins as Phase Change Materials for Air Conditioning in the Built Environment...............1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Overview of thermal energy storage using paraffin-based PCMs

in buildings............................................................................................3

3. Case study I: solar-assisted heating system with integrated

paraffin-based PCMs............................................................................9

4. Case study II: solar-assisted cooling system with integrated

paraffin-based PCMs..........................................................................12

5. Conclusions..........................................................................................15

Chapter 2 Small-Scale Energy Harvesting from Environment by Triboelectric Nanogenerators..........................................................................................21

Abstract.................................................................................................21

1. Introduction..........................................................................................22

2. Fundamental working modes of the TENG..................................23

3. TENGs as small-scale power source...............................................25

4. Conclusions..........................................................................................49

Acknowledgements.............................................................................50

Chapter 3 A Societal Life Cycle Costing of Energy Production: The Implications of Environmental Externalities.....................................63

Abstract ................................................................................................63

1. Introduction..........................................................................................64

2. Method..................................................................................................66

3. Results and discussion.......................................................................71

4. Conclusion and policy implications................................................76

Chapter 4 Development of New Nanostructured Electrodes for Electrochemical

Conversion: Energy and Fuels from the Environment....................81

Abstract ................................................................................................81

1. Introduction..........................................................................................82

2. Electrochemical energy conversion..................................................83

3. Carbon-based nanofibers by electro-spinning...............................84

4. Carbon nanofibers morphology and composition........................95

5. Application of carbon nanofibers for energy conversion...........96

Chapter 5 Self-Oscillatory DC-DC Converter Circuits for Energy Harvesting in

Extreme Environments...........................................................................109

Abstract...............................................................................................109

1. Introduction........................................................................................110

2. Power sources and energy options for wireless sensor

nodes....................................................................................................112

3. Theory behind the self-starting DC-DC converter.....................115

4. The self-starting DC-DC converter................................................119

5. Conclusions........................................................................................126

Chapter 6 Indium-Containing Visible-Light-Driven (VLD) Photocatalysts for

Solar Energy Conversion and Environment Remediation............131

Abstract...............................................................................................131

1. Introduction........................................................................................132

2. Indium-containing oxides................................................................134

3. Indium-containing sulfide...............................................................139

4. Indium-containing hydroxides.......................................................145

5. Conclusion and prospective............................................................146

Chapter 7 Fuel Production Using Concentrated Solar Energy ......................157

1. Introduction ......................................................................................157

2. Concentrated solar fuel production methods ............................159

3. Concentrated solar reactors ...........................................................167

4. Conclusions and outlook ...............................................................187

Chapter 8 Potential Applications for Solar Photocatalysis: From Environmental

Remediation to Energy Conversion...................................................197

1. Introduction........................................................................................197

2. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP).........................................198

3. Obtention of gaseous hydrogen for energy production...........218

4. Solar cells............................................................................................224

5. Organic synthesis mediated by heterogeneous

photocatalysis.....................................................................................227

6. Conclusion..........................................................................................227

Chapter 9 Solar Radiation, a Friendly Renewable Energy Source................250

1. Introduction........................................................................................250

2. The sun, origin of solar energy......................................................252

3. Solar radiation fundamentals..........................................................255

4. Factors affecting the amount of solar radiation received on the

earth surface.......................................................................................255

5. Other radiation and atmospheric related parameters...............257

6. Solar radiation measurement and analysis..................................258

7. Radiation fluxes formulae...............................................................260

8. Solar energy applications................................................................263

9. Spectral selectivity surface applicat-ions......................................264

10. Conclusion..........................................................................................268

11. Summary of the chapter..................................................................269

Chapter 10 Modern Transitions in Saving Energy and the Environment.....271

1. Introduction........................................................................................271

2. Nature of the decline of fossil fuel ..............................................271

3. Renewable energy ............................................................................275

4. The transportation sector ...............................................................276

5. Saving energy programs ................................................................278

6. Consumer behavior .........................................................................281

7. Barriers to energy conservation ....................................................283

8. Larger automobiles ..........................................................................285

9. Urban sprawl ....................................................................................286

10. Increasing density of forests ........................................................288

11. Declining marine life ......................................................................292

12. Rising ocean levels ..........................................................................294

13. Conclusion .........................................................................................295

Citation......................................................................................................301

Index...........................................................................................................303

About Author

Andrea Warner obtained her Ph.D. in Energy and Power Engineering from Public Research University, Angers. Her research interests lie in energy conservation, renewable energy engineering and sustainable development. She is a Senior Research Specialist at Science and Technology Institute, Brussels. Warner has contributed numerous articles and research papers on electric power systems and electrical to mechanical energy conversion, alternative energy systems, including wind and solar energy, geothermal and small-scale hydroelectric generation. She has also presented over 10 papers at international symposiums and conferences.