THERMOPEDIA
A-to-Z Guide to Thermodynamics, Heat & Mass Transfer, and Fluids Engineering Online is based on an updated version of the famous "International Encyclopedia of Heat and Mass Transfer" which was originally designed to be the "book one would most like to have on one´s shelf".

The idea for the book (International Encyclopedia of Heat and Mass Transfer) from which this THERMOPEDIA evolved arose when Mr. William Begell (Head of Begell House, Inc. and a collaborator of CRC Press, who published the original Encyclopedia in 1997) asked one of the present editors and a colleague, Professor Brian Spalding, what would be the book on heat and mass transfer they would most like to see on their shelves. After some thought the idea for the encyclopedia was born; the concept was for a work which gave sufficient information on any given subject to answer a large fraction of queries but which, equally important, gave the reader an easy route into the most cogent review and tutorial literature sources.

Now, entirely revised online version of THERMOPEDIA links together a number of key Begell House products through eResource in Thermal & Fluids Science and Engineering, eResource GATEWAY.
eResource GATEWAY represents a major advance on the original Encyclopedia not only through its links to other Begell House products but also by the inclusion of new material and by the addition of features uniquely available in a web product (automated cross referencing, 3 D-Max animations, and actual film of phenomena including experimental data, etc). Since eResource GATEWAY directly provides answers to the many of the questions in the area and gives leads to sources of more detailed information, it is a "must" for those in the field! Also, the electronic format allows easy and continuous updating of eResource GATEWAY and Begell House has a commitment to regular revisions and expansion.

Via eResource GATEWAY, the THERMOPEDIA is directly linked to HEDH Online, Annual Reviews of Heat Transfer Online Reference, ten archival journals, and the Digital Library of International Center of Heat and Mass Transfer and provides answers to the majority of questions in the area and gives leads to sources of more detailed information on design fundamentals, references and unique practical results for the professional developers. Full text HTML and PDF files are available to all Begell House products while linking to other online sources are provided.

The editors would like to express their thanks to their publishing colleagues, notable Bill Begell, who initiated the project and the many staff of CRC Press who have helped to bring it to fruition (in particular, Gerry Jaffe, Jennifer Petralia, and Robert Stern). We would also like to thank EDC Electronic Data Center for launging a major new electronic product which brings together vast information and data resources online and the International Centre for Heat and Mass Transfer whose members have taken an interest in the project and made a number of useful suggestions.

We have been most fortunate in persuading a most distinguished collection of authors to contribute to this reference work. The challenge of writing cogently and informatively, yet very concisely, is one of the most difficult in technical writing. We would like to thank our authors for rising to this challenge, despite the many calls on their time.

Finally, we would like to express our appreciation of the contribution of Joy Shires who acted as Editorial Co-ordinator. The task of bringing together the output of around 300 authors into a coherent volume was indeed a formidable one and the fact that it has been achieved is largely a result of Joy's commitment and tenacity.