Synthetic Fuels (Dover Books on Aeronautical Engineering) [Paperback]

Ronald F. Probstein (Author), R. Edwin Hicks (Author), Engineering (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0486449777 | ISBN-13: 978-0486449777

This unified presentation starts with fundamentals and proceeds to the derivation of gas from coal and gas upgrading. Subsequent chapters examine liquids and clean solids produced from coal, liquids obtained from oil shale and tar sands, biomass conversion, and environmental and economic aspects. 1982 edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (January 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486449777
• ISBN-13: 978-0486449777
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction, July 11, 2006

By 

S. H. Lam "Harvey Lam" (San Mateo, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Synthetic Fuels (Dover Books on Aeronautical Engineering) (Paperback)

This book was written for an engineering graduate course at MIT, but it is surprising readable.

It is a technical book, so you do need an adequate technical background to read it. After two chapters on the technical fundamentals, five chapters were devoted to specific synthetic fuels technologies (three on coal, one on oil shale/tar sands, and one on biomass), followed by two chapters on environmental and economic issues. Lots of data are provided, and with the fundamentals provided one can use these data to make back-of-the-envelop calculations to quantitatively assess some of the currently popular synthetic fuels ideas, such as ethanol from corn---and to realize what key issues remain to be solved in order for such ideas to be viable.

I recommend it highly to all who are seriously interested in the general topic of energy, and the role synthetic fuels can play in the future---particularly to the technical writers who are assigned the task of writing simplified-for-the-general-public articles for the public media.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Synthetic Fuels, November 12, 2007

By 

Lawrence W. Nisbet - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Synthetic Fuels (Dover Books on Aeronautical Engineering) (Paperback)

Although the text is a bit dated, the chemistry and technology covered appear to be completly applicable to today's subject matter. The use of practical metric units is a plus, considering the industries involved. I rate the work as an outstanding and excellent contribution.

Lawrence W. Nisbet, P. E.

Consulting Chemical Engineer

5.0 out of 5 stars Synthetic Fuels, June 2, 2008

By 

Faustino L. Prado "Tino Prado" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Synthetic Fuels (Dover Books on Aeronautical Engineering) (Paperback)

This is a relatively old publication. However, it provides a very comprehensive review of synthetic fuels and it is a very good introduction for anyone interested in the subject. I recommend it to anyone in this business.