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Student Edition
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NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES

H S KHAN

ISBN: 0070606544
Copyright year: 2006

Preface



The oil crisis of 1973 and concern for environment due to excessive use of fossil fuels have led to a remarkable global effort to harness renewable energy sources. The related technologies are also referred to as non-conventional energy technologies as, at present, their large-scale use is not common. These technologies are steadily gaining technical and economic importance worldwide. Most governments have substantial plans directed towards encouraging these technologies in order to develop them commercially. Therefore, it is necessary for the energy planners / users to know the virtues as well as limitations of these technologies. As we had hoped and wished initially, the developments of these technologies have not been dramatic. They have yet to achieve the cost-benefit ratio possible with conventional fuels and in near future they are not likely to replace the fossil fuels. But they have come to play a very important supportive role to conventional sources. The present book is an effort to explore these technologies in a balanced perspective.

The book is primarily intended to serve as textbook for undergraduate level courses for engineering students. It stresses scientific understanding and analysis of non-conventional energy technologies. Many practicing engineers and scientists may not have a formal exposure to this area and may be interested to have a general training of these technologies. Therefore, the book is oriented to cover both basic study and its widespread applications. It describes the fundamental physical processes governing various non-conventional energy technologies and their applications. Because of spread of disciplines involved it is not possible to discuss each of them exhaustively in a single book. Therefore, only relevant background up to a depth essential to understand the basic principles has been included.

After a brief review of both conventional and non-conventional energy sources the concepts of energy storage and energy conservation are introduced early in the text. General background of these concepts is helpful to understand these sources and to integrate them in energy systems. For each of the technologies covered; the basic principle, system of conversion, current status and environmental impacts are discussed. Useful review question are also included at the end of each chapter. Some important units and their interrelations are also given in appendix. Selected URL’s of some interesting internet sites for supplementary reading material and project related suggestions are included on the back cover page of the book.

The contents of the book have been class tested for a two-semester (one year) course offered to final year B. Tech. student at AMU Aligarh. In fact the book, in its present form, is an outcome of teaching of this course for many years by the author. As a result, it has undergone extensive screening and has been revised wherever found necessary.

The author had useful discussions with many individuals from different areas of specialization during the course of preparation of this book. Their cooperation is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due to my students who used the early versions of the manuscript in their course and provided valuable feedback. The author also thanks his family members for their cooperation, understanding and patience.

B. H. KHAN

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