Global economy, principles of prosperity such as home heating and mobility are increasingly and often radically sacrificed on the altar of climate salvation in politics and media. Ignoring physics, thermodynamics, and technical diversity, monopolistic, universal solutions are decreed: automobile drives exclusively electric, reverse-running, air-sucking "household refrigerators" as heaters, electricity for the large and small, highly diverse industry solely from wind turbines and solar panels, even though their contribution has remained nearly negligible for decades. This book demystifies such dangerous climate myths based on understandable principles from physics and thermodynamics. Wind and sun are good, but by far not enough. The book describes diverse, climate-friendly fuels from plant residues, algae, used oils, and fats. It discusses "green" hydrogen as a storage or intermediate storage medium. It also describes surprising, unexpected energy scenarios that arise from the interconnection of conventional thermal machines: a jet engine combined with a steam power plant, a tank with a diesel engine as a mobile heating and power plant? The author Professor Cornel Stan studied aerospace engineering. He teaches in many Universities worldwide on energy conversion and application in technical systems, as well as on alternative propulsion systems for automobiles. His research areas include thermodynamic processes, combustion, alternative propulsion, biofuels, energy management. Cornel Stan is the author of numerous books and scientific papers, published in several languages. Professor Stan is Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International). |