A Treatise Of Heat And Energy

This textbook explains the meaning of heat and work and the definition of energy and energy systems. It describes the constructive role of entropy growth and makes the case that energy matters, but entropy growth matters more. Readers will learn that heat can be transferred, produced, and extracted, and that the understanding of generalized heat extraction will revolutionize the design of future buildings as thermal systems for managing low grade heat and greatly contribute to enhanced efficiency of tomorrow's energy systems and energy ecosystems. Professor Wang presents a coherent theory-structure of thermodynamics and clarifies the meaning of heat and the definition of energy in a manner that is both scientifically rigorous and engaging, and explains contemporary understanding of engineering thermodynamics in continuum of its historical evolution. The textbook reinforces students' grasp of concepts with end-of-chapter problems and provides a historical background of pioneering work by Black, Laplace, Carnot, Joule, Thomson, Clausius, Maxwell, Planck, Gibbs, Poincare and Prigogine. Developed primarily as a core text for graduate students in engineering programs, and as reference for professional engineers, this book maximizes readers' understanding and shines a light on new horizons for our energy future. Brings forth students' understanding of how heat and work are different and why the principle of their inter-convertibility (i.e., exchangeability) should be rejected; Elucidates the constructive role of entropy growth, and the notion that energy matters, but entropy growth matters more; Demonstrates that heat can be transferred, produced, and extracted; Teaches readers that all reversible-like processes are heat extraction processes and how this understanding will revolutionize the design of future buildings.

This textbook explains the meaning of heat and work and the definition of energy and energy systems. It describes the constructive role of entropy growth and makes the case that energy matters, but entropy growth matters more. Readers will learn that heat can be transferred, produced, and extracted, and that the understanding of generalized heat extraction will revolutionize the design of future buildings as thermal systems for managing low grade heat and greatly contribute to enhanced efficiency of tomorrow’s energy systems and energy ecosystems. Professor Wang presents a coherent theory-structure of thermodynamics and clarifies the meaning of heat and the definition of energy in a manner that is both scientifically rigorous and engaging, and explains contemporary understanding of engineering thermodynamics in continuum of its historical evolution. The textbook reinforces students’ grasp of concepts with end-of-chapter problems and provides a historical background of pioneering work by Black, Laplace, Carnot, Joule, Thomson, Clausius, Maxwell, Planck, Gibbs, Poincare and Prigogine. Developed primarily as a core text for graduate students in engineering programs, and as reference for professional engineers, this book maximizes readers’ understanding and shines a light on new horizons for our energy future.

The book details sources of thermal energy, methods of capture, and applications. It describes the basics of thermal energy, including measuring thermal energy, laws of thermodynamics that govern its use and transformation, modes of thermal energy, conventional processes, devices and materials, and the methods by which it is transferred. It covers 8 sources of thermal energy: combustion, fusion (solar) fission (nuclear), geothermal, microwave, plasma, waste heat, and thermal energy storage. In each case, the methods of production and capture and its uses are described in detail. It also discusses novel processes and devices used to improve transfer and transformation processes.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1866.

The portrayal of Mao Zedong, which touches upon this leader's earthy personality and his reckless political visions, demonstrates the tendency of the Chinese not to divorce ideology from its human context: Maoism for them is a form of "objective" Marxism, inseparable from one man's life and leadership.