Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0123970210 ISBN 13: 9780123970213

Publisher: Academic Press, 2013

Solar energy conversion requires a different mind-set from traditional energy engineering in order to assess distribution, scales of use, systems design, predictive economic models for fluctuating solar resources, and planning to address transient cycles and social adoption. Solar Energy Conversion Systems examines solar energy conversion as an integrative design process, applying systems thinking methods to a solid knowledge base for creators of solar energy systems. This approach permits different levels of access for the emerging broad audience of scientists, engineers, architects, planners, and economists. Traditional texts in solar energy engineering have often emerged from mechanical or chemical engineering fields. Instead, Solar Energy Conversion Systems approaches solar energy conversion from the perspectives of integrative design, environmental technology, sustainability science, and materials science in the wake of amazing new thin films, polymers, and glasses developed by the optoelectronics and semiconductor industries. This is a new solar text for the new generation of green job designers and developers. It’s highlighted with vignettes that break down solar conversion into useful stories and provides common points of reference, as well as techniques, for effective estimation of evolving technologies.

• Contextualizes solar conversion for systems design and implementation in practical applications
• Provides a complete understanding of solar power, from underlying science to essential economic outcomes
• Analytical approach emphasizes systems simulations from measured irradiance and weather data rather than estimations from "rules of thumb"
• Emphasizes integrative design and solar utility, where trans-disciplinary teams can develop sustainable solar solutions that increase client well-being and ecosystems services for a given locale

About the Author:

Jeffrey R. S. Brownson, Associate Professor of Energy & Mineral Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering; Solar Option Lead: iMPS Renewable Energy & Sustainability Systems, The Pennsylvania State University

Review:

"...distinguishes itself by addressing the readers of diversified disciplines in a simple way by moving more complex mathematics out to associated user-friendly computer programs." --Energy Technology, Solar Energy Conversion Systems

"...Elsevier Science and Technology Books...has published three books about solar energy...masterworks from world-renowed experts who have championed solar energy for decades...Solar Energy Conversion Systems,...Solar Energy Engineering,...and Solar Energy Markets" --EnergieVision.com, September 2014