Descripciones mejoradas de Syndetics:

Renewable Energy Has a Good Side and a Bad Side... Evaluate Both

All energy sources affect the environment in which we live. While fossil fuels may essentially do more harm, renewable energy sources can also pose a threat to the environment. Allowing for the various renewable energy sources: solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal, Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy examines the environmental effects of all available renewable or alternative sources, as they increasingly play a large part in our energy supply, and provides a counterargument about the benefits of renewable energy. This book discusses both the merits and the physical, mechanical, electrical, and environmental limitations of renewable sources of energy. It discusses the pros and cons of renewable energy, addresses environmental issues and concerns, and determines ways to avoid or minimize these impacts.

This text contains nine chapters reviewing in depth:

Renewable energy impact on the environment Major renewable energy types Environmental health, safety, and ecological impacts Impact on tribal sacrosanct areas

Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy covers the adverse effects of major renewable energy sources. Environmental engineers working with renewable energy, environmental consultants/managers working with municipalities regarding environmental impact and land use, and undergraduate students taking related courses in environmental college programs can greatly benefit from this text.

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Preface(p. xv)
• To the Reader(p. xvii)
• Author(p. xix)
• Chapter 1 Setting the Stage: The 411 on Energy Basics(p. 1)
• Energy(p. 1)
• Types of Energy(p. 2)
• Nonrenewable Energy(p. 3)
• Benefits(p. 3)
• Non-Benefits(p. 3)
• Renewable Energy(p. 4)
• Benefits(p. 4)
• Non-Benefits(p. 4)
• Energy Use in the United States(p. 4)
• Measuring Energy(p. 5)
• Heat Engines(p. 6)
• Rankine Cycle Heat Engine(p. 7)
• Stirling Cycle Heat Engine(p. 8)
• Thought-Provoking Questions(p. 8)
• References and Recommended Reading(p. 8)
• Chapter 2 Wind Power: Where Eagles Don't Dare(p. 11)
• Introduction(p. 11)
• Wind Power Basics(p. 13)
• Air in Motion(p. 13)
• Wind Energy(p. 14)
• Wind Power(p. 16)
• Wind Turbine Types(p. 16)
• Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines(p. 16)
• Wind Turbine Components(p. 18)
• Wind Energy Site Evaluation Impacts(p. 19)
• Air Quality(p. 19)
• Cultural Resources(p. 20)
• Ecological Resources(p. 20)
• Water Resources(p. 20)
• Land Use(p. 20)
• Soils and Geologic Resources(p. 20)
• Paleontological Resources(p. 21)
• Transportation(p. 21)
• Visual Resources(p. 21)
• Socioeconomics(p. 21)
• Environmental Justice(p. 21)
• Hazardous Materials and Waste Management(p. 21)
• Acoustics (Noise)(p. 21)
• Wind Energy Construction Impacts(p. 34)
• Air Quality(p. 34)
• Cultural Resources(p. 35)
• Ecological Resources(p. 35)
• Water Resources(p. 36)
• Land Use(p. 36)
• Soils and Geologic Resources(p. 37)
• Paleontological Resources(p. 37)
• Transportation(p. 38)
• Visual Resources(p. 38)
• Socioeconomics(p. 42)
• Environmental Justice(p. 43)
• Hazardous Materials and Waste Management(p. 43)
• Wind Energy Operations Impacts(p. 43)
• Air Quality(p. 43)
• Cultural Resources(p. 43)
• Ecological Resources(p. 44)
• Water Resources(p. 44)
• Land Use(p. 44)
• Soils and Geologic Resources(p. 45)
• Paleontological Resources(p. 45)
• Transportation(p. 45)
• Visual Resources(p. 45)
• Socioeconomics(p. 46)
• Environmental Justice(p. 46)
• Hazardous Materials and Waste Management(p. 46)
• Wind Energy Impacts on Wildlife(p. 46)
• Motion Smear(p. 50)
• Law of the Visual Angle(p. 51)
• Wind Energy Impacts on Human Health(p. 53)
• Power Transmission Lines(p. 55)
• Energy Transmission Site Evaluation Impacts(p. 55)
• Air Quality(p. 55)
• Cultural Resources(p. 55)
• Ecological Resources(p. 56)
• Water Resources(p. 56)
• Land Use(p. 56)
• Soils and Geologic Resources(p. 56)
• Paleontological Resources(p. 56)
• Transportation(p. 57)
• Visual Resources(p. 57)
• Socioeconomics(p. 57)
• Environmental Justice(p. 57)
• Energy Transmission Construction Impacts(p. 57)
• Air Quality(p. 57)
• Cultural Resources(p. 58)
• Ecological Resources(p. 58)
• Water Resources(p. 58)
• Land Use(p. 59)
• Soils and Geologic Resources(p. 59)
• Paleontological Resources(p. 60)
• Transportation(p. 60)
• Visual Resources(p. 60)
• Socioeconomics(p. 61)
• Environmental Justice(p. 61)
• Energy Transmission Operations Impacts(p. 61)
• Air Quality(p. 61)
• Cultural Resources(p. 61)
• Ecological Resources(p. 62)
• Water Resources(p. 62)
• Land Use(p. 62)
• Soils and Geologic Resources(p. 63)
• Paleontological Resources(p. 63)
• Transportation(p. 63)
• Visual Resources(p. 63)
• Socioeconomics(p. 64)
• Environmental Justice(p. 64)
• Wind Turbine Operations and Maintenance Personnel Safety Concerns(p. 64)
• Wind Energy Fatalities/Incidents(p. 64)
• Case Study 2.1. Wind Turbine Fatality(p. 65)
• Wind Turbine Hazards and Applicable OHSA Standards and Controls(p. 66)
• Wind Power: The Bottom Line(p. 72)
• Thought-Provoking Questions(p. 73)
• References and Recommended Reading(p. 74)
• Chapter 3 Solar Energy(p. 77)
• Icarus Revisited at Ivanpah(p. 77)
• Energy from the Sun(p. 77)
• Photovoltaics(p. 78)
• Concentrating Solar Power(p. 80)
• Environmental Impacts of Solar Energy(p. 81)
• Land Use and Siting(p. 81)
• Water Resources(p. 82)
• Hazardous Waste(p. 87)
• Ecological Impacts(p. 89)
• Solar Energy Job Hazards(p. 91)
• Fatalities and Incidents(p. 91)
• Hazards and Controls(p. 92)
• Thought-Provoking Questions(p. 97)
• References and Recommended Reading(p. 97)
• Chapter 4 Hydropower(p. 103)
• The Rachel River(p. 103)
• Historical Perspective(p. 108)
• Impoundment(p. 111)
• Diversion(p. 111)
• Pumped Storage(p. 111)
• Key Definitions(p. 11)
• Hydropower Basic Concepts(p. 112)
• Stevin's Law(p. 113)
• Properties of Water(p. 114)
• Reservoir Stored Energy(p. 126)
• Hydroturbines(p. 128)
• Advanced Hydropower Technology(p. 131)
• Hydropower Generation: Dissolved Oxygen Concerns(p. 132)
• Ecological Impacts of Hydropower(p. 133)
• Physical Barrier to Fish Migration(p. 133)
• Flow Alterations, Flow Fluctuations, and Regulated and Unregulated Rivers and Salmonids(p. 134)
• Biological Impacts of Flow Fluctuations(p. 137)
• Increases in Flow(p. 137)
• Stranding(p. 138)
• Juvenile Emigration (Salmonid Drift)(p. 143)
• Increased Predation(p. 143)
• Aquatic Invertebrates(p. 143)
• Redd Dewatering(p. 145)
• Spawning Interference(p. 145)
• Hydraulic Response to Flow Fluctuations(p. 146)
• Types of Hydropower Activity That Cause Flows to Fluctuate(p. 146)
• Low Water Levels and Evaporation of Reservoirs(p. 147)
• Estimating Evaporation from Lake Mead(p. 149)
• Impacts on Human Health and Safety(p. 155)
• Hydropower: The Bottom Line(p. 155)
• Thought-Provoking Questions(p. 156)
• References and Recommended Reading(p. 157)
• Chapter 5 Biomass/Bioenergy(p. 163)
• Introduction(p. 163)
• Biomass(p. 167)
• Feedstock Types(p. 167)
• Composition of Biomass(p. 169)
• Plant Basics(p. 171)
• Plant Terminology(p. 172)
• Plant Cell(p. 173)
• Vascular Plants(p. 174)
• Leaves(p. 175)
• Roots(p. 176)
• Growth in Vascular Plants(p. 177)
• Plant Hormones(p. 177)
• Tropisms(p. 178)
• Photoperiodism(p. 178)
• Plant Reproduction(p. 179)
• Plant Cell Walls(p. 179)
• Feedstocks(p. 180)
• First-Generation Feedstocks(p. 180)
• Second-Generation Feedstocks: Short-Term Availability(p. 181)
• Second-Generation Feedstocks: Long-Term Availability(p. 186)
• Biothanol Production by Dry Corn Mill Process(p. 189)
• Gasoline Gallon Equivalent (GGE)(p. 190)
• Pros and Cons of Bioethanol(p. 191)
• Corn for Ethanol Production or Food Supply?(p. 192)
• Biomass for Biopower(p. 195)
• Biomass for Bioproducts(p. 198)
• Classes of Bioproducts(p. 198)
• Biodiesel(p. 200)
• Algae to Biodiesel(p. 202)
• Algal Biomass(p. 210)
• Jatropha to Biodiesel(p. 212)
• Pros and Cons of Biodiesel(p. 212)
• Biogas (Methane)(p. 213)
• Anaerobic Digestion(p. 213)
• Landfill Biogas(p. 221)
• Impacts of Biomass Construction. Production, and Operation(p. 221)
• Biomass Energy Construction Impacts(p. 222)
• Biomass Feedstock Production Impacts(p. 229)
• Biomass Energy Operations Impacts(p. 232)
• Impacts on Human Health and Safety(p. 237)
• Biofuel Hazards(p. 237)
• Fatalities and Incidents(p. 239)
• Ethanol(p. 239)
• Biodiesel(p. 240)
• Biofuels: The Bottom Line(p. 240)
• Thought-Provoking Questions(p. 241)
• References and Recommended Reading(p. 241)
• Chapter 6 Geothermal Energy(p. 247)
• Introduction(p. 247)
• Geothermal Timeline(p. 249)
• Geothermal Energy as a Renewable Energy Source(p. 252)
• Geothermal Energy: The Basics(p. 253)
• Earth's Layers(p. 253)
• Crustal Plates(p. 254)
• Energy Conversion(p. 256)
• Geothermal Power Plant Technologies(p. 256)
• Dry Steam Power Plants(p. 257)
• Flash Steam Power Plants(p. 258)
• Binary Cycle Power Plants(p. 258)
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems(p. 259)
• Geothermal Heat Pumps(p. 260)
• Types of Geothermal Heat Pumps(p. 262)
• Environmental Impacts of Geothermal Power Development(p. 263)
• Geothermal Energy Exploration and Drilling Impacts(p. 265)
• Geothermal Energy Construction Impacts(p. 268)
• Geothermal Energy Operations and Maintenance Impacts(p. 272)
• Impacts on Human Health and Safety(p. 275)
• Fatalities and Incidents(p. 275)
• Hazards and Controls(p. 276)
• Geothermal Energy: The Bottom Line(p. 284)
• Thought-Provoking Questions(p. 285)
• References and Recommended Reading(p. 285)
• Chapter 7 Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy(p. 287)
• Introduction(p. 287)
• Oceans and Their Margins(p. 288)
• Ocean Floor(p. 289)
• Ocean Tides, Currents, and Waves(p. 290)
• Tides(p. 290)
• Currents(p. 290)
• Waves(p. 291)
• Coastal Erosion, Transportation, and Deposition(p. 291)
• Wave Erosion(p. 291)
• Marine Transportation(p. 292)
• Marine Deposition(p. 292)
• Wave Energy(p. 292)
• Wave Energy: Facts, Parameters, and Equations(p. 293)
• Wave Energy Conversion Technology(p. 295)
• Tidal Energy(p. 298)
• Tidal Energy Technologies(p. 300)
• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion(p. 301)
• Ocean Energy Conversion Process(p. 301)
• Types of OTEC Technologies(p. 303)
• Ocean Energy and Hydrokinetic Technology Impacts(p. 303)
• Alteration of River or Ocean Currents or Waves(p. 304)
• Alteration of Substrates and Sediment Transport and Deposition(p. 307)
• Impacts of Habitat Alterations on Benthic Organisms(p. 308)
• Impacts of Noise(p. 310)
• Impacts of Electromagnetic Fields(p. 319)
• Toxic Effects of Chemicals(p. 327)
• Interference with Animal Movements(p. 328)
• Interference with Migratory Animals(p. 331)
• Collisions and Strikes(p. 332)
• Impacts of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion(p. 334)
• Environmental Impacts of Hydrokinetic Energy(p. 336)
• Hydrokinetic Energy Site Evaluation Impacts(p. 337)
• Hydrokinetic Energy Facility Construction Impacts(p. 339)
• Hydrokinetic Energy Facility Operations and Maintenance Impacts(p. 345)
• Impacts on Human Health and Safety(p. 349)
• Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy: The Bottom Line(p. 350)
• Thought-Provoking Questions(p. 350)
• References and Recommended Reading(p. 350)
• Chapter 8 Fuel Cells(p. 361)
• Introduction to Hydrogen Fuel Cells(p. 361)
• Hydrogen Storage(p. 363)
• How a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Works(p. 363)
• Environmental Impacts of Fuel Cells(p. 364)
• Properties of Hydrogen(p. 365)
• Thought-Provoking Question(p. 365)
• References and Recommended Reading(p. 365)
• Chapter 9 Carbon Capture and Sequestration(p. 367)
• Introduction to Carbon Capture and Sequestration(p. 367)
• Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration(p. 369)
• Geologic Carbon Sequestration(p. 373)
• Potential Impacts of Terrestrial Sequestration(p. 374)
• Potential Impacts of Geologic Sequestration(p. 375)
• Geologic Sequestration Exploration Impacts(p. 375)
• Geologic Sequestration Drilling/Construction Impacts(p. 378)
• Geologic Sequestration Operations Impacts(p. 383)
• Impacts on Human Health and Safety(p. 388)
• Thought-Provoking Questions(p. 389)
• References and Recommended Reading(p. 389)
• Glossary(p. 391)
• Appendix 1 Conversion Factors(p. 441)
• Index(p. 445)

Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Spellman (retired, environmental engineering, Old Dominion Univ.) details the theoretical and practical aspects of the development and use of renewable energy, with emphasis on positive and negative impacts associated with each energy option. He devotes chapters to wind power, solar energy, hydropower, biomass/bioenergy, geothermal energy, marine and hydrokinetic energy, fuel cells, and carbon capture and sequestration. In each chapter, subtitles direct readers to particular material; for example, heat engines are introduced to describe how a thermal gradient is used to do work, and diagrams and well-labeled figures provide an understanding of open- and closed-cycle heat engines (including the Rankine and Stirling cycles). Spellman offers anecdotal sidelights and highlights hazards and safety measures; e.g., readers are warned that solar panels should never be carried by hand while climbing a ladder. Although geothermal energy has a proven history, environmental disruption remains a factor, and smaller and more versatile sources such as fuel cells may become widespread. Including basic definitions, tables, and diagrams, this book will serve as a resource for engineers, scientists, and indeed anyone interested in environmental studies. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --R. Max Ferguson, emeritus, Eastern Connecticut State University

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Frank R. Spellman, PhD, is a retired assistant professor of environmental health at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. The author of more than 90 books covering topics ranging from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to all areas of environmental science and occupational health, he has been cited in more than 450 publications, and is a co-author to well-recognized experts in various scientific fields. For example, he is a contributing author of The Engineering Handbook, 2nd ed. Spellman holds a BA in public administration, a BS in business management, an MBA, and both an MS and a PhD in environmental engineering.