Energy engineering

UNIT – I

Chapter - 2 (C)

ENERGY ENGINEERING

ENERGY ENGINEERING- AN INTRODUCTION

Energy is defined as the ability to cause changes. Thermodynamics can be defined as the science of Energy.

The term Energy is derived from the Greek word Energia. Energy means capacity for doing work. We use energy practically for everything to do. For example, energy is needed to do all types of work, to operate household gadgets and appliances, to move people as well as goods from one place to the other, to run the machines, etc. Energy is existing in various forms, viz., Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, Mechanical Energy, Heat Energy, Chemical Energy, Nuclear Energy, Electrical Energy, etc. All forms of energy are inter-convertible by appropriate processes.

The term Thermodynamics is derived from the Greek words Therme (heat) and Dynamics (power). This terminology is the proof of the early efforts to convert heat into power. Today, the same name is broadly interpreted to include all aspects of energy and energy transformations, including power generation, refrigeration, etc.