Energy Conversion

Back to Energy

Table of Contents

  1. Energy Conversion
  2. Examples
    1. Electric Motor
    2. Electric Generator
    3. Direct Energy Converters
    4. Internal Combustion Engine
    5. Turbines
    6. Turboprop
    7. Steam Locomotive
    8. Diesel-Electric Locomotive
    9. Nuclear Power Plant
Energy Conversion
  • britannica.com/technology/energy-conversion
    • “Energy conversion is the transformation of energy from forms provided by nature to forms that can be used by humans.”
  • Commonly Converted Forms of Energy
    • Kinetic energy
    • Rotational kinetic energy
    • Electrical energy
    • Chemical energy
    • Thermal energy
    • Nuclear energy
Examples
Electric Motor

Electric energy ⇨ rotational kinetic energy

Electric Generator

Rotational kinetic energy ⇨ electric energy

Direct Energy Converters
  • Battery
    • Chemical energy ⇨ electrical energy
  • Fuel Cell
    • Chemical energy ⇨ electrical energy
    • A fuel cell is continuously supplied with fuel and oxygen from an external source, whereas a battery contains only a limited amount of chemical energy.
  • Thermoelectric Generators
    • Thermal energy ⇔ electrical energy
    • A solid-state device that either converts heat directly into electricity or converts electrical energy into thermal energy for heating or cooling. 
  • Solar Cell
    • Radiant energy ⇨ electrical energy
    • A device that directly converts the energy of light into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect
Internal Combustion Engine

Chemical energy of fuel ⇨ thermal energy of gas resulting from combustion ⇨ kinetic energy of expanding gas ⇨ kinetic energy of piston ⇨ rotational kinetic energy of crankshaft

Turbines
  • A turbine converts the kinetic energy of a stream of fluid into rotational kinetic energy.
  • Fluids include water, steam, gas, and wind.
  • Most electrical energy is generated by steam turbines, powered by fossil fuels or nuclear energy, attached to electric generators.
Turboprop

Chemical energy of fuel ⇨ thermal energy of gas resulting from combustion ⇨  kinetic energy of expanding gas ⇨ rotational kinetic energy of core turbine ⇨ kinetic energy of stream of gas ⇨ rotational kinetic energy of power turbine ⇨ rotational kinetic energy of propeller ⇨  kinetic energy of stream of air ⇨ kinetic energy of moving plane

Image Credit britannica.com/technology/turboprop
Steam Locomotive

Chemical energy of fuel (wood, oil, coal) ⇨  thermal energy of water resulting from combustion ⇨ kinetic energy of expanding steam  ⇨ kinetic energy of piston ⇨ rotational kinetic energy of wheels ⇨ kinetic energy of the locomotive moving on the tracks

Image Credit myschoolhouse.com/courses/O/1/142.asp
Diesel-Electric Locomotive
  • Diesel Engine
    • Chemical energy of diesel fuel ⇨ thermal energy of gas resulting from combustion ⇨  kinetic energy of expanding gas ⇨ kinetic energy of piston ⇨ rotational kinetic energy of drive shaft
  • Electric Generator
    • Rotational kinetic energy of drive shaft ⇨ electrical energy
  • Electric Traction Motors
    • Electrical energy ⇨ rotational kinetic energy of wheels ⇨ kinetic energy of the locomotive moving on the tracks
Image Credit railway-technical.com/trains/rolling-stock-index-l/train-equipment/

Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear energy of uranium ⇨ thermal energy of heated water ⇨ kinetic  energy of expanding steam ⇨ rotational kinetic energy of turbine ⇨ electrical energy

Image Credit britannica.com/technology/nuclear-power/images-videos