ENERGY AND FUELS IN SOCIETY:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ENERGY FUNDAMENTALS
CONCEPT OF ENERGY
- Qualitative definition of energy
- Energy: evolution of a concept
- An elementary mathematical prelude
- Energy in its various forms: first approximation
- Quantitative definition of energy
- Power
LAWS OF ENERGY CONVERSION
- Where does energy come from?
- Work and heat (first law of thermodynamics)
- Entropy (second law of thermodynamics)
EFFICIENCY OF ENERGY CONVERSION
- Energy conversion devices and their efficiency
- Heat engines and system efficiency
- Heat transfer devices and their efficiency
- Comparison of efficiencies
ENERGY SUPPLY AND DEMAND: OVERVIEW
- Exponential growth: population and energy consumption
- Energy consumption and economic development
- Renewable and nonrenewable energy
- Resources and reserves
- Population and energy demand growth: projections
ENERGY SUPPLY
FOSSIL FUELS: OVERVIEW
- The carbon cycle
- An elementary chemical prelude
- Comparison of reserves of fossil fuels
COAL
- Coal formation
- Properties of coal
- Coal utilization
PETROLEUM
- Petroleum formation
- Properties of petroleum
- Petroleum utilization
NATURAL GAS
- Formation of natural gas
- Properties of natural gas
- Utilization of natural gas
SYNTHETIC FUELS, OIL SHALE AND TAR SANDS
- Oil shale
- Tar sands
- "Synthetic" fuels (synfuels)
FOSSIL FUELS: ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
- Primary air pollutants
- Secondary air pollutants
- Air pollution control
- Greenhouse effect
NUCLEAR ENERGY: INTRODUCTION
- A brief historical prelude: isotopes
- Nuclear fission and fusion: introduction
NUCLEAR FISSION
- Principles of nuclear fission
- Nuclear reactors
- Nuclear fuel cycle
- What happened at Three Mile Island?
- What happened at Chernobyl?
NUCLEAR FUSION
- Fusion reactions
- A fusion reactor
- The "cold fusion" confusion
NUCLEAR ENERGY: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
- Emission of radioactivity
- Absorption of radioactivity
- Nuclear accidents
- Disposal of nuclear waste
- Nuclear weapons
- Future of nuclear energy: summary
WATER, WIND, BIOMASS AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
- Geothermal energy
- Wind energy
- Tidal energy
- Hydroelectric energy
- Wave energy
- Biomass energy
SOLAR ENERGY
- Solar energy balance
- Direct solar heating
- Indirect production of electricity
- Direct production of electricity
ENERGY DEMAND
ELECTRICITY
- A (very) brief prelude: electric energy
- The electric power plant
- Electricity supply and demand
- Demand-side management
- Reading the press: NIMBY
RESIDENTIAL COMFORT
- A typical home: energy input and output
- Our home: analysis of energy input and output
- Case study 1: an all-electric home
- Case study 2: gas heating and electricity
- Case study 3: oil heating and electricity
- Case study 4: a complete analysis by a new "energy expert"
- EnergyGuide labels
- Reading the press: energy conservation
TRANSPORTATION
- Transportation fuels: consumption trends
- The automobile
- Mileage: vehicle efficiency
- Alternative transportation fuels
- Cost of transportation
- Reading the press: gasoline conservation tips
SUMMARY: Energy economics, politics and policies
- Economic issues
- Political issues
- Energy policies
- National energy strategy
- Clean air act
- Sustainable energy strategy
lrr3@psu.edu (updated 8/28/97)