Customer Reviews

Synthetic Fuels (Dover Books on Aeronautical Engineering)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

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.

The book has been expedited in very good condition and almost immediately.

Very interesting book covering a broad spectrum of applications and techniques.