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Alternative Energy Volume 1 – UXL Thomson-Gale.Pdf Alternative Energy Alternative Energy Volume 1 Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt, editors Alternative Energy Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt, Editors Project Editor Indexing Services Product Design Madeline S. Harris Factiva, a Dow Jones & Reuters Company Jennifer Wahi Rights and Acquisitions Editorial Composition Margaret Abendroth, Timothy Sisler Luann Brennan, Marc Faeber, Kristine Evi Seoud, Mary Beth Trimper Krapp, Elizabeth Manar, Kim McGrath, Paul Imaging and Multimedia Lewon, Rebecca Parks, Heather Price, Randy Bassett, Lezlie Light, Michael Manufacturing Lemma Shomali Logusz, Christine O’Bryan, Denay Wilding Wendy Blurton, Dorothy Maki ª 2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the For permission to use material from While every effort has been made to Thomson Corporation. this product, submit your request via ensure the reliability of the informa- Web at http://www.gale-edit.com/ tion presented in this publication, Thomson and Star Logo are trademarks permissions, or you may download our Thomson Gale does not guarantee the and Gale and UXL are registered Permissions Request form and submit accuracy of the data contained herein. trademarks used herein under license. your request by fax or mail to: Thomson Gale accepts no payment for For more information, contact listing; and inclusion in the publication Permissions Thomson Gale of any organization, agency, Thomson Gale 27500 Drake Rd. institution, publication, service, or 27500 Drake Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535 individual does not imply endorsement Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535 Or you can visit our Internet site at of the editors or publisher. Errors Permissions Hotline: http://www.gale.com brought to the attention of the 248-699-8006 or 800-877-4253, ext. 8006 publisher and verified to the Fax: 248-699-8074 or 800-762-4058 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED satisfaction of the publisher will be No part of this work covered by the Cover photograph for corrected in future editions. copyright hereon may be reproduced Volume 1 Oil drilling or used in any form or by any means— platforms off the coast graphic, electronic, or mechanical, of Texas ª Jay Dickman/Corbis. including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution, or information storage retrieval systems—without the written permission of the publisher. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Alternative energy / Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt, editors. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7876-9440-1 (set hardcover : alk. paper) – ISBN 0-7876-9439-8 (vol 1 : alk. paper) – ISBN 0-7876-9441-X (vol 2 : alk. paper) – ISBN 0-7876-9442-8 (vol 3 : alk. paper) 1. Renewable energy sources. I. Schlager, Neil, 1966- II. Weisblatt, Jayne. TJ808.A475 2006 333.79’4–dc22 2006003763 This title is also available as an e-book ISBN 1-4414-0507-3 Contact your Thomson Gale sales representative for ordering information. Printed in China 10987654321 Contents Introduction ........................................viii Words to Know . ..................................... x Overview . ........................................xxi CHAPTER 1: FOSSIL FUELS Introduction: What are Fossil Fuels? . .................. 001 Petroleum......................................... 020 Natural Gas ....................................... 030 Coal . ........................................... 038 Coal Gasification ................................... 044 Liquefied Petroleum Gas: Propane and Butane . ......... 046 Methanol . ....................................... 050 Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether. .......................... 052 For More Information . .............................. 054 CHAPTER 2: BIOENERGY Introduction: What is Bioenergy? ...................... 057 Solid Biomass . ................................... 069 Biodiesel . ....................................... 075 Vegetable Oil Fuels . .............................. 080 Biogas . ........................................... 084 Ethanol and Other Alcohol Fuels ...................... 087 P-Series Fuels . ................................... 092 For More Information . .............................. 094 CHAPTER 3: GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Introduction: What is Geothermal Energy?. ............. 097 Agricultural Applications . .......................... 115 Aquacultural Applications . .......................... 118 Alternative Energy v CONTENTS Geothermal Power Plants. .......................... 121 Geothermal Heating Applications . ..................... 125 Industrial Applications. .............................. 130 For More Information . .............................. 131 CHAPTER 4: HYDROGEN Introduction: What is Hydrogen Energy? . ............. 133 Historical Overview . .............................. 134 Producing Hydrogen . .............................. 147 Using Hydrogen . .................................. 150 Transporting Hydrogen .............................. 157 Distributing Hydrogen . .............................. 159 Storing Hydrogen . .................................. 160 Impacts........................................... 162 Future Technology.................................. 165 For More Information . .............................. 166 CHAPTER 5: NUCLEAR ENERGY Introduction: What is Nuclear Energy?. ................. 169 Historical Overview . .............................. 171 How Nuclear Energy Works .......................... 184 Current and Future Technology . ..................... 188 Benefits and Drawbacks .............................. 192 Environmental Impact . .............................. 202 Economic Impact . .................................. 204 Societal Impact. .................................. 206 Barriers to Implementation or Acceptance . ............. 207 For More Information . .............................. 208 CHAPTER 6: SOLAR ENERGY Introduction: What is Solar Energy? . ................. 209 Passive Solar Design. .............................. 222 Daylighting........................................ 226 Transpired Solar Collectors . .......................... 228 Solar Water Heating Systems .......................... 230 Photovoltaic Cells .................................. 236 Dish Systems ...................................... 243 Trough Systems . .................................. 246 Solar Ponds. ...................................... 248 Solar Towers. ...................................... 253 Solar Furnaces . .................................. 255 For More Information . .............................. 258 CHAPTER 7: WATER ENERGY Introduction: What is Water Energy? . ................. 261 Hydropower . ...................................... 275 vi Alternative Energy CONTENTS Hydroelectricity . ................................... 279 Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. .................. 290 Tidal Power ....................................... 294 Ocean Wave Power . .............................. 299 For More Information . .............................. 302 CHAPTER 8: WIND ENERGY Introduction: What is Wind Energy? . .................. 305 How Wind Energy Works . .......................... 317 Current and Future Technology . ...................... 321 Benefits and Drawbacks of Wind Energy . ............. 321 Wind Turbines . ................................... 324 Current and Potential Uses . .......................... 329 Issues, Challenges, and Obstacles ...................... 334 For More Information . .............................. 336 CHAPTER 9: ENERGY CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY Introduction ....................................... 337 Climate Responsive Buildings . ...................... 341 Green Building Materials . .......................... 347 Lighting.......................................... 352 Energy Efficiency and Conservation in the Home ......... 358 Transportation . ................................... 364 Hybrid Vehicles . ................................... 365 Leaving an Energy Footprint on the Earth . ............. 374 For More Information . .............................. 377 CHAPTER 10: POSSIBLE FUTURE ENERGY SOURCES Is Alternative Energy Enough? . ...................... 380 Dreams of Free Energy .............................. 384 Perpetual Motion, an Energy Fraud and Scam . ......... 385 Advances in Electricity and Magnetism.................. 386 Zero Point Energy .................................. 390 Fusion. ........................................... 395 Solar Power Satellites . .............................. 407 No Magic Bullets ................................... 408 For More Information . .............................. 409 WHERE TO LEARN MORE . xxix INDEX . xxxix Alternative Energy vii Introduction Alternative Energy offers readers comprehensive and easy-to-use information on the development of alternative energy sources. Although the set focuses on new or emerging energy sources, such as geothermal power and solar energy, it also discusses existing energy sources such as those that rely on fossil fuels. Each volume begins with a general overview that presents the complex issues surrounding existing and potential energy sources. These include the increasing need for energy, the world’s current dependence on nonrenewable sources of energy, the impact on the environment of current energy sources, and implications for the future. The over- view will help readers place the new and alternative energy sources in perspective. Each of the first eight chapters in the set covers a different energy source. These chapters each begin with an overview that defines the source, discusses its history and the scientists who developed it, and
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