Efficiency and Power in Energy Conversion and Storage : Basic Physical Concepts

This book provides fundamental theoretical concepts for the understanding, the modelling, and the optimisation of energy conversion and storage devices. The discussion is based on the general footing of efficiency-power relations and energy-power relations (Ragone plots). Efficiency and Power in Energy Conversion and Storage: Basic Physical Concepts, is written for engineers and scientists with a bachelor-degree level of knowledge in physics. It contains:

• An introductory motivation of the topic
• A review on equilibrium thermodynamics
• A primer to linear non-equilibrium thermodynamics and irreversible processes
• An introduction to endo-reversible thermodynamics
• The basics on the theory of Ragone plots
• Derivations of efficiency-power relations or Ragone plots for illustrative examples like heat engines, batteries, capacitors, kinetic energy storage devices, solar power, photodiodes, electro-motors, transformers, and flow turbines
• An excursion to impedance matching and the optimization of technical devices with respect to economic and related objectives

Preface

Chapter 1 : Introduction
Chapter 2 : Ragone Plots
Chapter 3 : Thermodynamics Basics
Chapter 4 : Energy, Entropy, and Efficiency
Chapter 5 : Entropy Production Rate
Chapter 6 : Endoreversible Thermodynamics
Chapter 7 : Entropy Generation Minimization
Chapter 8 : Efficiency-Power Relations
Chapter 9 : The Endoreversible Carnot Engine
Chapter 10 : Thermal Heat Storage
Chapter 11 : Battery Capacitor
Chapter 12 : Kinetic Energy Storage Devices
Chapter 13 : Electro-Motor
Chapter 14 : Super-Capacitor With Frequency Dependent Impedance
Chapter 15 : Piezoelectric Energy Harvester
Chapter 16 : Economic Optimization
Chapter 17 : Net Present Value
Chapter 18 : Applications
Chapter 19 : Other Power Maximization Problems
Chapter 20 : Wind Turbine
Chapter 21 : Photovoltaics
Chapter 22 : Solar Power

Index