Page 15 - Handbook of Energy Engineering Calculations

Section 6 of this handbook covers hydroelectric generation of electrical
power. Long a “clean” energy source, hydro power is limited by the number
of suitable sites that can be found for new plants. Today, “small-scale” sites
are popular. Calculation procedures given in this handbook show how such
small-scale sites can be used and the types of turbines most suitable for such

sites. Using the data provided, an engineer can safely choose a site, and its
equipments, to generate “clean” energy.
Wind power is another “clean” energy source and it is covered in Section

7. Calculation procedures in this section cover the range of wind turbines
available today. With wind farms on both land and sea throughout the world,
a steady growth in the generation of power from this source is forecast. The
capacity of wind turbines increases almost every year, providing larger output
from each unit and each farm. With some states ordering electric utilities to

generate 20 percent of their output from renewable energy sources by 2020,
or sooner, the future of wind power is most promising.
Section 8 of this handbook covers solar-power energy applications and

usage. A number of calculation procedures show how to select solar panels
and other devices for efficient use of sun-generated electric power. Many new
ways to use solar panels are being found throughout the world. Thus,
automobile parking fields are being covered with solar panels to generate
electric power for local structures—schools, shopping malls, office buildings,

etc. Another advantage of such panels is that they can generate power to
recharge electric-powered cars when both solar panels and electric-powered
vehicles become more common. So, as with wind power, the future of solar

power is also most promising.
Geothermal energy engineering is covered in Section 9 of this handbook.
As with hydroelectric power, geothermal power is very dependent on
available sites. There are very few suitable geothermal sites worldwide. But
for those that are available, the calculation procedures in this section show

how to make maximum use of the available energy. And the various types of
steam-generating cycles that can be used are fully explored in the procedures
presented. Any engineer can become reasonably conversant with geothermal

energy engineering in a few hours using the calculation procedures in this
section of the handbook.
Ocean-energy and tidal-stream energy calculation procedures are presented
in Section 10. Again, as with hydro and geothermal energy engineering,