Energy conversion technology: Difference between revisions
m (1 revision imported) |
energy>Ethan.boechler No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Category:Done 2018-07-20]] | [[Category:Done 2018-07-20]] | ||
[[Category:Translated to French]] | |||
[[fr:Technologie de conversion d'énergie]] | |||
[[File:Coal power plant Datteln 2 Crop1.png|thumb|300px|Figure 1. Coal power plants are energy conversion technologies because they convert chemical energy of their fuel into electricity.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Coal_power_plant_Datteln_2_Crop1.png</ref>]] | [[File:Coal power plant Datteln 2 Crop1.png|thumb|300px|Figure 1. Coal power plants are energy conversion technologies because they convert chemical energy of their fuel into electricity.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Coal_power_plant_Datteln_2_Crop1.png</ref>]] | ||
<onlyinclude>'''Energy conversion technology''' refers to any system that converts [[energy]] from one form to another.</onlyinclude> Energy | <onlyinclude>'''Energy conversion technology''' refers to any system that converts [[energy]] from one form to another.</onlyinclude> Energy comes in different forms, including [[heat]], [[work]] and [[kinetic energy|motion]]. Moreover, [[potential energy]] can be in the form of [[nuclear energy|nuclear]], [[chemical energy|chemical]], [[elastic potential energy|elastic]], [[gravitational potential energy|gravitational]], or [[radiant energy]] (also known as [[light]]). All of these can be converted into useful energy, with the one of the most common and versatile forms being [[electricity]].<ref name=wolf>R. Wolfson, "Electricity" in ''Energy, Environment, and Climate'', 2nd ed., New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012, ch. 11, sec. 1, pp. 292</ref> | ||
The main goal of [[power plant]]s is to take a [[fuel]] like [[coal]], [[natural gas]] or [[uranium]], and transform it into electricity. This makes power plants an energy conversion technology, and they are the largest energy conversion technologies by far. Other conversion technologies include [[motor vehicle|cars]], [[battery|batteries]], [[heater]]s and [[generator]]s. Power plants have to make use of many energy conversions in order to get to the final goal—electricity. A coal plant provides a good example: | The main goal of [[power plant]]s is to take a [[fuel]] like [[coal]], [[natural gas]] or [[uranium]], and transform it into electricity. This makes power plants an energy conversion technology, and they are the largest energy conversion technologies by far. Other conversion technologies include [[motor vehicle|cars]], [[battery|batteries]], [[heater]]s and [[generator]]s. Power plants have to make use of many energy conversions in order to get to the final goal—electricity. A coal plant provides a good example: | ||
| Line 16: | Line 18: | ||
*[[Heat engine]]s (Chemical energy → Heat → Mechanical energy) | *[[Heat engine]]s (Chemical energy → Heat → Mechanical energy) | ||
*[[Fire]] (Chemical energy → Heat and light) | *[[Combustion|Fire]] (Chemical energy → Heat and light) | ||
*[[Electric circuit]] with a [[battery]] (Chemical energy → Electricity → an [[energy service]] like light) | *[[Electric circuit]] with a [[battery]] (Chemical energy → Electricity → an [[energy service]] like light) | ||
*[[Wind turbine]]s (Motion of [[wind]] → Electricity) | *[[Wind turbine]]s (Motion of [[wind]] → Electricity) | ||
Revision as of 20:06, 10 September 2021
Figure 1. Coal power plants are energy conversion technologies because they convert chemical energy of their fuel into electricity.[1]
Energy conversion technology refers to any system that converts energy from one form to another. Energy comes in different forms, including heat, work and motion. Moreover, potential energy can be in the form of nuclear, chemical, elastic, gravitational, or radiant energy (also known as light). All of these can be converted into useful energy, with the one of the most common and versatile forms being electricity.[2]
The main goal of power plants is to take a fuel like coal, natural gas or uranium, and transform it into electricity. This makes power plants an energy conversion technology, and they are the largest energy conversion technologies by far. Other conversion technologies include cars, batteries, heaters and generators. Power plants have to make use of many energy conversions in order to get to the final goal—electricity. A coal plant provides a good example:
- Chemical energy is stored in the hydrocarbon molecules in the coal. When the coal is combusted, this chemical energy is transformed into heat. (Chemical energy → Heat)
- The hot exhaust gases from the combustion reaction is used to heat up water into steam, which travels through pipes at high pressures and speeds.(Heat → Heat)
- The steam then expands through a turbine, producing mechanical energy of motion. (Heat → Motion)
- The motion of the turbine spins an electrical generator, which causes electricity to flow. (Motion → Electricity)
In fact our own bodies are extremely complex conversion technologies. They take chemical energy from food and convert that into different forms of chemical energy that we need in order to operate. Our body can then use this energy to convert into many other forms: Heat, movement, sound, gravitational potential energy, and more.
More examples
- Heat engines (Chemical energy → Heat → Mechanical energy)
- Fire (Chemical energy → Heat and light)
- Electric circuit with a battery (Chemical energy → Electricity → an energy service like light)
- Wind turbines (Motion of wind → Electricity)
- Cell phones (Sound ↔ Electricity ↔ Electromagnetic radiation)
For Further Reading
- Chemical energy
- Potential energy
- Heat
- Engine
- Power plant
- Or explore a random page
References
- ↑ Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Coal_power_plant_Datteln_2_Crop1.png
- ↑ R. Wolfson, "Electricity" in Energy, Environment, and Climate, 2nd ed., New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012, ch. 11, sec. 1, pp. 292
