Energy Conversion

Energy has always played a vital role in human life. Any possible device made is driven by energy. From cycles, motorbikes to advanced metros, and aeroplanes everything requires some kind of energy conversion to carry out their work hence it becomes necessary to study energy conversion and efficiently manage energy resources. In this article, we will study different forms of energy. We will also study what is energy conversion and the principle governing energy conversion. Further, we will also discuss various methods of energy conversion. This article will also throw light on the topic of renewable energy and how to use sustainable conversion methods. The energy conversion process faces certain challenges and we will address them in detail. Later we will study the future scope of energy conversion and various methods to Improve efficiency in the methods used.

What is Energy Conversion?

There are an enormous number of natural resources that can be potential energy sources. Energy conversion is the process of harnessing the potential energy in any substance through efficient and viable methods. Let us consider an example fast flowing water has a lot of potential energy stored in it we can not access this energy directly but we can install dams to store this water. The water stored in these dams is later sent to power plants, the power of flowing water is used to rotate turbines which generate some kinetic energy. The rotating turbine is used for driving power plants and for generating electricity which is then supplied to houses. This is an example of energy conversion.

The formal definition of energy conversion is

Energy Conversion is the transformation of energy from forms provided by nature to forms that can be used by humans by efficient methods.

Energy Conversion

Forms of Energy

Before talking about energy conversion it is important to know different forms of energy. These include:

• Kinetic Energy: This is the energy in objects which are in motion. An object at 5m/s has more kinetic energy than an object at rest. This can further be divided into Electrical Energy, Radiant Energy, Thermal Energy, Motion Energy, Sound Energy
• Potential Energy: This is the energy stored in any object due to its position or configuration. A compressed spring has more potential energy than a relaxed spring. This can further be divided into Nuclear Energy, Gravitational Energy, Chemical Energy, Stored Mechanical Energy.
  

  Forms of Energy

Principle of Energy Conversion

Energy conversion is governed by certain principles which we must adhere to. This is also known as “The principle of energy conversion or the law of conservation of energy” and it states that

The energy cannot be created nor destroyed, but only changes from one form to another.

This means that if you had 50J of energy before performing any conversion then you will have 50J of energy even after energy conversion. Many thermodynamic processes use this principle when designing instruments ensuring that there is minimal energy that gets wasted. It also means that if you consumed food that gave you 10J of energy then even when you rode a bicycle the total energy remained 10J it just got converted into mechanical energy and some muscle energy.

Methods of Energy Conversion

These are some methods involved in energy conversion :

• Mechanical to Electrical Energy Conversion : This methods involves converting mechanical energy into electrical energy using some means. This generally involve using generators, where the mechanical energy of rotating turbines is used to induce an electric current turn in a coil by moving it within a magnetic field.
• Thermal to Mechanical Energy Conversion : This methods involves converting thermal or heat energy into mechanical Energy using some means. This conversion is seen in case of heat engines or steam engines. In steam engines, heat is applied to water to produce steam, which then drives a turbine generating mechanical energy.
• Chemical to Electrical Energy Conversion : This methods involves converting energy in chemical bonds into electrical energy using some means. This is seen in-case of batteries and fuel cells. Chemical reactions in battery generates a flow of electrons, creating an electric current.
• Nuclear to Electrical Energy Conversion : This methods involves converting energy in nuclear reactions into electrical energy using some means. Fission or Fusion reactions are performed and heat generated then produces steam, which drives turbines producing electrical energy through generators.
• Electromagnetic to Electrical Energy Conversion : This methods involves converting energy in electromagnetic fields into electrical energy using some means. By using the method of induction ,we can induces an electromotive force (EMF) in a nearby conductor thereby producing electric current in transformers.

Renewable Energy and Sustainable Conversion

It is necessary to talk about renewable energy and sustainable conversion in order to address topics like climate change, finite fossil fuel resources, and environmental sustainability.

Renewable Energy Sources are the resources which are replenished by earth over a period of time. Generally they replenish at a rate higher than the rate of consumption. Some examples of renewable energy include

• Solar Power: This involves utilizing energy of sun using photovoltaic cells to generate electricity.
• Wind Power: It involves using the kinetic energy of the wind to rotate turbines and produce electricity.
• Hydropower: Convert the potential energy of falling water into electricity.
• Geothermal Energy: heat from the Earth’s interior is extracted to generate electricity.
• Biomass: Organic materials like as wood, cow-dung are used to produce energy through combustion or biofuel production.

Even though these resources are renewable, increased consumption can deplete them hence it is necessary to use methods that help sustaining these resources. Sustainable Conversion Technologies are methods which use modern technology to wisely perform energy conversion. This can be done by using energy storage solutions like batteries to store excess energy, using Smart Grids to optimize energy distribution and minimize energy loss. Also try to convert surplus renewable energy into like hydrogen for use in various sectors like transportation and industry.

Challenges faced in Energy Conversion

The energy conversion industry faces certain challenges which are a major topics of various world summits , these problems can be:

• The expanded use of non-renewable resources poses a major challenge. Resources like coal and petroleum are limited in supply. These resources are a major source of power for vehicles like cars and trains but at the same time the shortage of these resources has increased greatly in past decade. Managing them is a huge task.
• Release of emissions during energy conversion process is another matter of concern. The energy conversion process involves installing some plants that can harness energy and convert it to a final form. During these conversions , there are emissions of various other pollutants and gases that can be a threat to environment.
• Energy is not available to all i.e. there is unequal access of energy to all. Due to the high production cost associated with energy generation , the energy is available to citizens at a certain cost. This cost is not affordable to everyone as a result not everyone has an equal access to energy.
• Destruction of balance between human activity and Earth’s carrying capacity. Due to the technological advancement and population increase, there has been a major demand of resources and energy conversion giving earth insufficient time for replenishing its resources and a result destroying the natural balance.
• The increasing social ,economic and political conflicts among countries and leaders is also a cause of concern. Any attack on, a global grid could have very serious consequences threatening the reserves and putting a stop on the supply in many countries. Due to uneven distribution ,many countries can flex their resources and assert their dominance.

Future Scope of Energy Conversion

When talking about scope of energy conversion we need to discuss about its growth, its repercussions and how it benefits the society. When we talk about the future of energy conversion we realize that this field is prone to a lot of change accompanied by rapid expanding mainly due to technology, and periodic reassessments.

Consider the present trends , we can say that no particular energy form will dominate over all others; rather there will be continued effort to work on energy resources so that the overall system requirements are met in the most effective manner. With the growing technology it is not wrong to say that there will be significant developments in powerplants or converters which will avoid much of the process complexity which is now involved thereby maybe eliminating some major pollutants.

Management engineering has become a choice of study for many people . The result of which will lead to a more effective application of the suitability of harnessing methods in power systems .Not only this, proper management methods will help improvising cost -effectiveness methods ,increasing the overall economy.

Efficiency Improvements of Energy Conversion

Every process demands efficiency while performing it. Same principle applies to energy-conversion, we want to develop techniques that yield energy conversion with maximum efficiency. Here are some methods to enhance efficiency in energy conversion:

1. The energy conversion efficiency is defined as the useful energy output divided by input energy ,so in order to improve energy efficiency we can reduce the amount of energy consumed while achieving the same level of energy service.
2. Organizing regular audits can help to eliminate the potential cause of energy wastage. It can also help to analyze the energy consumption patterns and we can make better plans to minimize this wastage of energy.
3. Waste heat method is a way in which the heat released during processing is put to use. Waste heat generated during energy conversion processes can be used for processes such as heating water.
4. Advanced machinery and storage equipments can be used. Installing advanced engines and turbines can largely increase the efficiency, similarly using materials with high thermal conductivity can optimize heat transfer processes in energy conversion systems.
5. Invest in Research and Development to stay updated with new technologies. These methods and experimentation can be later implemented to enhance efficiency.

Conclusion

We have seen how energy conversion is very necessary for driving various appliances. Efficiently channelizing the resources can be a huge benefit to humans. It becomes critical to study the energy conversion and apply it to real-world. In addition to this, it is also important to take special care while processing natural resources due to the limited supply of them. Every conversion should be done keeping in mind the consequences of it. It becomes important to note that we don’t have an infinite supply of natural resources and recklessly using resources can devoid mother earth of some necessary resources. The future generation also needs these resources hence scientists need to develop some efficient methods which can serve the purpose of energy generation at the same time ensuring resources don’t get wasted.

FAQs on Energy Conversion

1. Who coined the idea of energy conversion?

Thomas Young coined the term in 1807 when he mentioned that kinetic energy can be converted to work.

2. What is the Law of energy conversion?

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another. This is known as the law of conservation of energy or the law of energy conversion.

3. What is Energy Conservation Act in India and who passed it?

The Energy Conservation Act, 2001 was stated to ensure efficient use of energy and its conservation and for matters connected therewith. This act provides for the establishment and incorporation of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).