The energy crisis and environmental concerns have made society and scientists aware of the need for more efficient energy. This awareness is reflected in the curricula of engineering and science. Decher addresses his textbook to the need for increased efficiency of energy conversion, and the technology and the costs required. The book emphasizes models of the elementary processes to allow assessment of performance potential, and for a determination of the sensitivity of design choices. Fluids and gases are emphasized, since many conversion processes manipulate them. The book attempts to bridge the gap between the theoretical knowledge usually presented to students, and the practical implementation of theory to the performance of engines for propulsion. Most of the numerical calculations have fully developed equations to enable the reader to implement them on a computer and to adapt them to other problems. The problems are specifically focused on the practical application of the underlying principles of energy conversion. Students and professional researchers and engineers will benefit from the book's extensive coverage of basic principles, applied thermodynamics, the economics of power plants, turbomachinery, and lucid discussion of the environmental impact of energy conversion.