"In today's industrialized world, energy became vital to all human activities including manufacturing, data processing, heating, cooling, lighting, transportation, food processing, etc., yet it is invisible for most of us. Today's energy generation technologies are undergoing a paradigm shift; the solution to our current dilemma requires more renewable contribution as well as the more efficient utilization of conventional energy sources. Recognizing this importance, this chapter focuses on energy sourcesand energy generation technologies including, coal, hydroelectric, nuclear, solar, wind, ocean, and several others. Alternative energy technologies received great interest in recent years due to environmental impact, greenhouse gas emissions, national energy security, and increasing cost of fossil fuel based sources. With particular emphasis on renewable and alternative energy systems, characteristic features of the renewable energy sources have been reviewed. Since power electronics is a key enabling technology for renewable energy utilization, power electronic converters and interfaces that are used for grid interconnection and stand-alone operation have been presented"--
This new resource is a practical overview of designing, testing and troubleshooting power electronics in alternative energy systems, providing you with the most important information on how power electronics components such as inverters, controllers and batteries can play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of green energy solutions for both stand-alone and grid-connected applications. You will learn how to choose the right components for diverse systems, from utility-scale wind farms to photovoltaic panels on single residences, how to get the most out of existing systems, and how to solve the tough challenges particular to alternative energy applications. Whether you are a renewables professional who needs to understand more about how power electronics impact energy output, or a power engineer who is interested in learning what new avenues the alternative energy revolution is opening for your work, start here with advice and explanations from the experts, including equations, diagrams and tables designed to help you understand and succeed.
- Provides a thorough overview of the key technologies, methods and challenges for implementing power electronics in alternative energy systems for optimal power generation
- Includes hard-to-find information on how to apply converters, inverters, batteries, controllers and more for stand-alone and grid-connected systems
- Covers wind and solar applications, as well as ocean and geothermal energy, hybrid systems and fuel cells
