P. Chartier - Böcker

The purpose of this book is to lay the groundwork for the analysis and the design of processes with a view to energetic efficiency. Energetics is used in the original sense of the engineer W. J. M. Rankine (Proc. Roy. Philosoph. Soc. of Glasgow III, 381 [1955]) and the physical chemist J. N. Br\3nsted (Principles and Problems in Energetics, Interscience, New York, 1955), i.e., the macroscopic description of the flows of different forms of energy, and the general laws governing the mutual transforma­ tions of these flows. The prerequisite for the use of the book is a conventional course in equilibrium thermodynamics as usually taken in the junior (third) col­ lege year. The author believes that while knowledge about equilibria is essential, most engineers and many scientists are mostly interested in systems in which equilibrium has not yet been reached. In such systems, flow phenomena such as heat, mass and electricity transfer, as well as chemical reactions, can take place, and it is important to know the driv­ ing forces and laws governing the interactions of these flows.

This book is the first volume of a new ser ies on solar energy researeh and developnent whieh is earried out in the European Communi ty. The Commission of the European Cammunity's Directorate General (XII) for Researeh, Scienee and Edueation is eurrently implementing, on a eost-sharing hasis, a solar energy R+D programme through eontraets wi th European industry, researeh institutions and universities. This programme eovers the following sectors : Project A Solar Energy Applieations to Dwellings project B Thermo-mech. Solar Power Plants project C Photovoltaie Power Generation project D Photochemieal, Photoelectrochemical and Photobiological Processes project E Energy fram Biamass project F Solar Radiation Data project G Wind Energy project H Solar Energy in Agricul ture and Industry In the course of the programme the Commission organises each year several coordination meetings to which the contractors within each sector are invited to present details of their work.As the information presented at these meetings is recent and of high interest for other researchers working in these particular sectors, the Commission has decided to start this new ser ies of publieations in cooperation with D. Reidel Publishing Campany in order that this new infor- mation ean be quickly and widely circulated for the benefit of advancement and progress in the whole field of solar energy.