Energy and Energy Transformation

Yongjian Gu (Author)

ISBN: 9781041131359

Published: 29 August 2026

Format: Hardcover, 582 pages, 337 b/w illustrations

Language: English

Publisher: CRC Press

Description

A comprehensive engineering reference on how energy is converted, transferred and used. Yongjian Gu covers the analysis and calculation of energy transformation processes across both renewable and non-renewable sources, and explains how to compare and select energy systems for a given application.

The book works through the main equipment of energy conversion (boilers, turbomachinery and heat exchangers) and the thermodynamic cycles behind gas, vapor, cogeneration, combined-cycle and refrigeration power plants. It also addresses efficiency measurement, energy economics and auditing, energy storage technologies, and the environmental and health impacts of energy production together with possible mitigation measures.

Key Features

• Single-volume coverage of energy and exergy analysis, conversion equipment, power cycles and storage
• Treats conventional thermal plants and renewable power plants side by side for direct comparison
• Includes energy economics and energy audit methods, not only thermodynamics
• Extensively illustrated (337 figures) for teaching and design reference
• Practical application 1: comparing and selecting energy systems for industrial or building projects using energy and exergy analysis
• Practical application 2: evaluating cogeneration and combined-cycle configurations to improve plant efficiency
• Practical application 3: running an energy audit and measuring efficiency in HVAC and power installations

Coverage

Fundamentals of energy transformation; energy and exergy analysis; devices and equipment for energy transformation; thermodynamic cycles and conventional thermal power plants; renewable energy and power plants; heating, ventilation, air conditioning and power; efficiency measurement; energy economics and audit; energy storage technology; future trends and research.

About the Authors

Yongjian Gu is a professor at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and an adjunct professor at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). He teaches thermal fluids, total energy systems and design, propulsion, steam and gas turbines, marine components and engineering economics at undergraduate and graduate level. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of New York. Before joining academia he worked for many years as a senior mechanical engineer, project engineer and lead engineer in industrial corporations, consulting firms and a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory, with expertise in energy systems design, HVAC, piping, thermal fluids and renewable energy applications. He serves as a peer reviewer and editor for several scientific and technical journals.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Fundamentals of Energy Transformation
3. Energy and Exergy Analysis
4. Devices and Equipment for Energy Transformation
5. Thermodynamic Cycles and Conventional Thermal Power Plants
6. Renewable Energy and Power Plants
7. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Power
8. Efficiency Measurement
9. Energy Economics and Audit
10. Energy Storage Technology
11. Future Trends and Research
Appendix

Why buy this book?

Engineers usually need several separate texts to cover thermodynamics, power plant cycles, HVAC, renewables and energy economics. This book brings them together in one practitioner-oriented reference written by a licensed P.E. with long industry and national-laboratory experience. It suits engineering libraries supporting mechanical, energy and environmental engineering programmes, as well as design, R&D and energy management teams in utilities, consultancies and industrial plants.

Keywords

energy transformation, energy conversion, exergy analysis, thermodynamic cycles, power plants, cogeneration, combined cycle, refrigeration cycle, boilers, turbomachinery, heat exchangers, HVAC, renewable energy, energy storage, energy audit, energy economics, energy efficiency

Target Audience

Engineers, Industry practitioners, Academics

Genre

Power & Energy, Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, Engineering

Q&A

What is the difference between energy analysis and exergy analysis?
Energy analysis tracks quantities of energy under the first law of thermodynamics, while exergy analysis measures the useful work potential lost at each step. Exergy shows where real inefficiencies occur in a system, which is why the book treats both methods together.

How do cogeneration and combined-cycle plants improve efficiency?
Cogeneration uses waste heat from power generation for heating or industrial processes, and combined-cycle plants use gas-turbine exhaust heat to drive a steam cycle. Both extract more useful output from the same fuel, and the book explains how to analyse and compare these configurations.

How is an energy audit carried out for an industrial or building system?
An energy audit measures how energy is consumed, identifies losses and evaluates improvement options against their costs. The book covers efficiency measurement and energy economics so that engineers can quantify savings and justify investments.

Who is Energy and Energy Transformation written for?
Professional engineers and researchers working on the design and R&D of energy systems and energy management, as well as engineering and environmental science students studying energy systems, energy management and HVAC.

Where can I buy Energy and Energy Transformation by Yongjian Gu?
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