The evolution of oil prices is typically subject to a very high degree of uncertainty, given the extremely volatile nature of conditions that affect prices. Information on the future of oil prices is, however, extremely important for market operators as well as for central banks. Central banks, in particular, have a forward-looking perspective, attaching a very important role to inflation forecasts. This uncertainty tends to reinforce the importance of the relationship between oil prices and inflation, independently of estimates of the effects of a permanent change in oil prices on inflation and how to forecast oil prices. Two alternative technical assumptions on oil prices are worth mentioning: (more…)
The focus of this section is on the quantitative assessment of the impact of oil price fluctuations on inflation. For that purp ...
The volatility in oil prices since the early 1970s is a remarkable feature of energy economics. Annual fluctuations in the oil ...
In the post-World War II period, until the beginning of the 1970s, oil price fluctuations were very small. From 1949 to 1970, a ...
Most major oil and gas firms engage in both upstream (i.e., hydrocarbon exploration and production) and downstream (i.e., hydro ...
Energy is consumed by various segments of the economy, including households, commercial establishments, manufacturing enterpris ...
Microtechnology-Based Energy and Chemical Systems will most likely employ combustion for driving processes such as vapor generation and vapor barrier, endothermic chemical reactions, and (most notably) fuel reforming. Both fuel reformers and combustors will be of a miniature design relying on embedded catalysts for promoting chemical reactions at moderate temperatures (350–7501C). Many potential configurations exist depending on the application and constraints on the design. Microchannel arrays are a potential configuration; mesh and post architecture is another to achieve the desired surface area and small diffusional lengths necessary. (more…)
Fuel cells are direct energy conversion devices that combine two reactants to produce electrical power. The reactants are typic ...
Mixing is a process where two or more liquids or gas phase components are brought together and combined to form a uniform compositi ...
Heat-actuated heat pumps are cooling systems requiring no electricity for operation. Rather, a heat source is used, avoiding the ne ...
Many characteristics of traditional engines make them attractive for use in power generation and propulsion technology. They tend t ...
The most fundamental process from an energy systems standpoint is heat transfer to (or from) a working fluid. This unit operation t ...
Many small-scale energy systems require effective miniaturized pumps and expanders. These devices are responsible for conveying a working fluid through various components to execute a cycle that may result in power production, heat pumping, or refrigeration. As an example, a pump is required for pressurizing the working fluid in Rankine power cycles. Miniaturized pumps could also cycle a heat transfer fluid through a cooling loop for heat rejection purposes. On the other hand, expanders are necessary for any cycle employing a working fluid to generate power. Specific examples include microturbines, miniaturized piston-based machines, and roots-type expanders. (more…)
Heat-actuated heat pumps are cooling systems requiring no electricity for operation. Rather, a heat source is used, avoiding the ne ...
Micro technology can be employed to produce miniaturized refrigeration and cryocooling systems. Although process intensificat ...
Separation is a unit operation used in absorption heat pumps and chemical processing applications such as solvent extraction and pr ...
Many characteristics of traditional engines make them attractive for use in power generation and propulsion technology. They tend t ...
Microvalves have been developed for a variety of applications suitable for Microtechnology-Based Energy and Chemical Systems. Valve ...
The age of industrialization came into full force through the modern exploration and use of fossil fuels. As one of its most striking phenomena, the rapid expansion of cities throughout the late 19th and the 20th centuries was a direct outcome of the fossil fuel energy economy as well. (more…)
The aim is to work with cities in advancing renewable energy technologies and systems and to help promote the renewable energy indu ...
The Solar City approach originally emerged from a new generation of International Energy Agency (IEA) energy research and developme ...
In the absence of useful and established patterns of practice, a search is under way for new means of reconciling local government’ ...
As a reaction to these historical perspectives, the building industry has witnessed a certain rise in design responses to regio ...
Climate change caused by the enhanced greenhouse effect is one of the most significant global environmental issues. Increased emiss ...
Throughout the British energy crisis there were some grounds evident that more drivers drove more slowly to conserve their vehicle fuels. This is the basis facts that showed clearly during crisis circumstances, drivers are willing to change and adopt these types of driving strategies: (more…)
A variety of information programs exist in the major automobile markets to assist potential purchasers of new cars in comparing fue ...
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has offered, and the European Commission (EC) has accepted, a voluntar ...
Whatever the actual motivation, American policymakers perceived a need after 1973 to restrict automobile and light truck cons ...
Although the focus of many policy studies of climate change is on establishing the causal links between anthropogenic systems, emis ...
Economists have overwhelmingly favored fuel taxes over fuel economy standards as a means to reduce fuel or gasoline consumption ...