Basic energy concepts

Forms of energy

Energy can exist in various forms. Examples are:

 Radiation energy: the radiation from the sun contains energy, and also the radiation
from a light or a fire. More solar energy is available when the radiation is more
intense and when it is collected over a larger area. Light is the visible part of
radiation;
 Chemical energy: wood and oil contain energy in a chemical form. The same is true
for all other material that can burn. The content of chemical energy is larger the larger
the heating value (calorific value) of the material is and, of course, the more material
we have.
 Potential energy: this is, for example, the energy of a water reservoir at a certain
height. The water has the potential to fall, and therefore contains a certain amount of
energy. More potential energy is available when there is more water and when it is at
a higher height.
 Kinetic energy: this is energy of movement, as in wind or in a water stream. The
faster the stream flows and the more water it has, the more energy it can deliver.
Similarly, more wind energy is available at higher wind speeds, and more of it can be
tapped by bigger windmill rotors
 Thermal energy or heat: this is indicated by temperature. The higher the temperature,
the more energy is present in the form of heat. Also, a larger body contains more heat.
 Mechanical energy, or rotational energy, also called shaft power: this is the energy of
a rotating shaft. The amount of energy available depends on the flywheel of the shaft,
i.e. on the power which makes the shaft rotate.
 Electrical energy: a dynamo or generator and a battery can deliver electrical energy.
The higher the voltage and the current, the more electrical energy is made available.

Energy conversion

 "Utilising" energy always means converting energy from one form into another. For
instance, in space heating, we utilise energy, that is, we convert chemical energy of
wood into heat. Or, in lift irrigation, a diesel engine converts chemical energy of oil
into mechanical energy for powering the shaft of a pump which, in its turn, converts
shaft power into potential energy of water (i.e. bringing the water to a higher height).
 "Generating" energy also means converting energy from one form into another. We
can say that a diesel engine generates energy, which means that the engine converts
chemical energy of oil into mechanical energy. Also, a wind turbine generates energy,
which means it converts kinetic energy from wind into mechanical energy. And a
solar photovoltaic cell generates energy by converting radiation energy into
electricity.
 The generation of energy, in fact, deals with a source of energy, whereas the
utilisation of energy serves an end-use of energy. In between, the energy can flow
through a number of conversion steps. The words "generation" and "utilisation" are a
little confusing because, in fact, no energy can be created or destroyed. All we can do
is transform or convert energy from one form into another. In generating energy, we
make energy available from a source, by converting it into another form. In utilising
energy, we also convert energy, often from some intermediate form into a useful

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 form. In all conversions, we find that part of the energy is lost. This does not mean
that it is destroyed, but rather that it is lost for our purposes, through dissipation in the
form of heat or otherwise.

Energy and power

 Energy and power are related but totally different concepts. A tank of petrol contains
a certain amount of energy. We can combust this petrol in a certain time period, that
is, we convert the energy of the petrol into mechanical energy, perhaps to power a car.
 The power is the energy produced per unit of time. The combustion process can be
fast or slow. In the case of faster combustion, more power is produced. Obviously, the
tank will be empty sooner in the case of high power production than in the case of low
power production. If power is energy per time unit, then energy is power multiplied
by time period. For Instance, if an oxen delivers a certain amount of power, then after
a certain time period it will have delivered a certain amount of energy, i.e. the power
times the time period.

 The same principle applies to all other energy conversions, whether for energy
generation or for energy utilisation. This implies that we characterise energy resources
in units of energy (the amount of energy they contain), and energy conversion devices
in units of power (the amount of power they can produce or consume).

Energy sources

 Biomass. We distinguish between: woody biomass (stems, branches, shrubs, hedges,

twigs), non-woody biomass (stalks, leaves, grass, etc.), and crop residues (bagasse,
husks, stalks, shells, cobs, etc.). The energy is converted through combustion
(burning), gasification (transformation into gas) or anaerobic digestion (biogas
production). Combustion and gasification ideally require dry biomass, whereas
anaerobic digestion can very well take wet biomass. Fuel preparations can include
chopping, mixing, drying, carbonising (i.e. charcoal making) and briqueting (i.e.
densification of residues of crops and other biomass).
 Solar radiation, i.e. energy from the sun. We distinguish between direct beam
radiation and diffuse (reflected) radiation. Direct radiation is only collected when the
collector faces the sun. Diffuse radiation is less intense, but comes from all directions,
and is also present on a cloudy day. Solar energy can be converted through thermal
solar devices (generating heat) or through photovoltaic cells (generating electricity).
Direct beam solar devices (whether thermal or photovoltaic) would need a tracking
mechanism to have the device continuously facing the sun.
 Hydro resources, i.e. energy from water reservoirs and streams. We distinguish
between: lakes with storage dams, natural heads (waterfalls), weirs, and run-of-river
systems. Hydro energy can be converted by waterwheels or hydro turbines.
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  Wind energy, i.e. energy from wind. Wind machines can be designed either for
electricity generating or for water lifting (for irrigation and drinking water).
 Fossil fuels, like coal, oil and natural gas. Unlike the previous energy sources, the
fossil energy sources are non-renewable.
 Geothermal energy, that is, the energy contained in the form of heat in the earth. A
distinction is made between tectonic plates (in volcanic areas) and geopressed
reservoirs (could be anywhere). Geothermal energy is, strictly speaking, non-
renewable, but the amount of heat in the earth is so large that for practical reasons
geothermal energy is generally ranked with the renewables. Geothermal energy can
only be tapped at places where high earth temperatures come close to the earth's
surface.

Energy flow

 Generating and utilising energy means converting energy from one form into another.
The energy flows through a number of forms, as well as conversion steps, between the
source and the end-use. The costs increase accordingly.
 We distinguish between primary, secondary, final and useful energy. For example,
energy flow which is related to charcoal. Here, the primary energy form is wood. The
wood is converted into charcoal in a charcoal kiln. Charcoal is the secondary form of
energy, and it is transported to the consumer. What the consumer buys at the market
place is charcoal, and this is called final energy. The consumer eventually converts
the charcoal into heat for cooking. The heat is the useful energy.
 Another example of an energy flow is: primary energy in the form of a hydro
resource, secondary energy in the form of electricity at the hydro power station, final
energy in the form of electricity at a saw mill, and useful energy in the form of shaft
power for sawing.

energy technology examples

primary coal, wood, hydro, dung, oil, etc.
conversion power plant, kiln, refinery, digester
secondary refined oil, electricity, biogas
transport/transmission trucks, pipes, wires
final diesel oil, charcoal, electricity, biogas
conversion motors, heaters, stoves
useful shaft power, heat

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Energy flow is represented In the diagram in Figure 2. It refers to the following terminology.

Primary energy is the energy as it is available in the natural environment, i.e. the primary
source of energy.
Secondary energy is the energy ready for transport or transmission.
Final energy is the energy which the consumer buys or receives.
Useful energy is the energy which is an input in an end-use application.
Note that useful energy is almost invariably either in the form of heat or in the form of shaft
power. For a few end-uses (e.g. communication equipment), electricity is the form of useful
energy.
Note that in some cases the primary energy is at the same time the secondary, and even the
final energy.

Energy losses and efficiency

 Energy conversions always imply energy losses. This leads us to the concept of
efficiency, as follows. A quantity of energy in a certain form is put into a machine or
device, for conversion into another form of energy. The output energy in the desired
form is only a part of the Input energy. The balance is the energy loss (usually in the
form of diffused heat). It means the converter has less than 100% efficiency.
 The efficiency of an energy converter is now defined as the quantity of energy in the
desired form (the output energy) divided by the quantity of energy put in for
conversion (the input energy).

Some typical efficiency of energy converters

Converter form of input energy form of output energy efficiency %

petrol engine chemical mechanical 20 - 25
diesel engine chemical mechanical 30 - 45
electric motor electrical mechanical 80 - 95
boiler & turbine thermal mechanical 7-40
hydraulic pump mechanical potential 40 - 80
hydro turbine potential mechanical 70 - 99
hydro turbine kinetic mechanical 30 - 70
generator mechanical electrical 80 - 95
battery chemical electrical 80 - 90
solar cell radiation electrical 8-15
solar collector radiation thermal 25 - 65
electric lamp electrical light ca. 5
Water pump mechanical potential ca. 60

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 water heater electrical thermal 90 - 92
gas stove chemical thermal 24 - 30

 In some of these converters, intermediate forms of energy occur between the form of
the input energy and the form of the output energy. For instance, with diesel engines,
the intermediate form is thermal energy.
 When thermal energy is involved either as the input or as an intermediate form, the
efficiency is generally low.
 The energy converter can be a device, or a process, or a whole system. An example of
the efficiency of an energy conversion system is given in Table 6. The overall
efficiency equals the product of the efficiencies of the various components of the
system. We see that it can be very low indeed.

Efficiency of an energy conversion system:

energy form energy converter efficiency

chemical energy
diesel engine 30%
mechanical energy
generator 80%
electricity
electric motor 80%
mechanical energy
Water pump 60%
potential energy
efficiency of the system = 30% x 80% x 80%x 60% = 12%