Green Energy ― Basic Concepts and Fundamentals

Green Energy: Basic Concepts and Fundamentals addresses the need for diversity within energy systems. It focuses on the theme of energy diversity with local resources, and the integration and optimisation of conventional and alternative energy systems. The book provides a summary of the state-of-art knowledge and technology for future energy systems, covering topics such as:

‧ green energy carriers;

‧ emission control, reduction, and abatement;

‧ energy conversation and management; and

‧ energy environment interaction.

This first book in the Progress in Green Energy series will be of value to energy researchers, technology developers and professionals from policy makers to engineers, as well as to advanced undergraduate and postgraduates studying in the field.

My academic career began in January 1992 when I joined the University of Victoria as a faculty member after obtaining Masters and Ph.D. degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A. in 1986 and 1989, respectively and spending the next couple of years at the University of Waterloo, Canada as a postdoctoral fellow and research assistant professor. In 1997 I moved back to the University of Waterloo as a faculty member until now.

My research group and I myself are currently focused on promoting/developing green (or greener) energy through energy diversification and energy localization for sustainable development and energy security. Green energy, despite the variety of interpretations possible, is taken as the form and utilization of energy with no, minimal, or reduced negative environmental and societal impact, or simply as environmentally friendly energy use. Therefore, the topical areas of my research activities and interests include, but are not limited to

1. Energy Systems and Energy Policy/Planning:

a. Energy and Exergy Analysis and Thermodynamic Optimization

b. Energy Systems Evolution, Modelling and Optimization

c. Design of Future Energy Systems

d. Life Cycle Analysis

Sample publication:

‧ Li, X., Diversification and localization of energy systems for sustainable development and energy

security. Energy Policy, Vol. 33, pp. 2237-2243, 2005.

‧ Dincer, I., S. Dost and X. Li, Energy reality and future projections for Canada. Energy Sources -

Journal of Extraction, Conversion, and the Environment, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 233-243, 1997.

‧ Hussain, M.M., J. Baschuk, X. Li and I. Dincer, Thermodynamic analysis of a PEM fuel cell

power system. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, Vol. 44, pp. 903-911, 2005.

‧ Zamel, N. and X. Li, Life cycle analysis of vehicles powered by a fuel cell and internal

combustion engine for Canada. Journal of Power Sources, accepted, March 2005.

2. Renewable Energy:

a. Wind Energy: Wind energy potential assessment, and theoretical determination of the probability

distribution of wind speed

Sample publication:

‧ Li, M. and X. Li, Investigation of wind characteristics and assessment of wind energy potential for

Waterloo Region, Canada. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 46, pp. 3014-3033, 2005.

‧ Li, M. and X. Li, MEP-type distribution function: a better alternative to Weibull function for wind

speed distribution. Renewable Energy, Vol. 30, pp. 1221-1240, 2005.

‧ Li, M. and X. Li, On the probabilistic distribution of wind speeds: theoretical development and

comparison with data. International Journal of Exergy, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 237-255, 2004.

3. Energy Conversion Technologies:

a. Fuel Cells:

I. PEM Fuel Cells: modeling, experiment, design of flow fields and bipolar plates, scaling law

for cell and stack design, CO poisoning and mitigation, transport through membrane

II. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells: modeling of transport phenomena and cell performance

III. SOFCs: energy and exergy analysis, transport phenomena modeling and cell performance

Sample publication:

‧ Karimi, G., J.J. Baschuk and X. Li, Performance Analysis and Optimization of PEM Fuel Cell

Stacks Using Flow Network Approach. Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 147, pp. 162-177, 2005.

‧ Karimi, G. and X. Li, Electroosmotic flow through polymer electrolyte membranes in PEM fuel

cells. Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 140, pp. 1-11, 2005.

‧ Sabir, I. and X. Li, Review of bipolar plates in PEM fuel cells: flow field designs. International

Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 30, pp. 359-371, 2005

‧ Hum, B. and X. Li, Two-dimensional analysis of PEM fuel cells. Journal of Applied

Electrochemistry, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 205-215, 2004.

‧ Baschuk, J.J. and X. Li, Mathem