Sankey Diagrams and Efficiency

Energy is defined as an object’s ability to do useful work and is measured in J

oules . For IGCSE
we consider that there are eight types of energy store; kinetic , elastic, nuclear, thermal (heat
), chemical ,electrostatic, m and gravitational.
agnetic
These energy stores can be transferred by three different processes by heating, mechanically
and by radiation (l and sound) electrical
ight
principleofthe
Conservation of Energy
Energy is neither created nor destroyed it is simply transferved from one store to another.

Transfer Diagrams
These show how the energy is transformed in a certain process. E.g A battery operated torch.
Chemical Potential Thermal Energy
Energy (in battery) (from bulb)
Electrically By Radiation

Draw three of the energy transfer diagrams from the energy circus
experiments you have just done.

1.rubbing
IiiÉ tt nayDTHermal
Batteryoperatedfan
2. chemicalaearicany ninetic

SkyDiver kinetic
3. Gravitational
ab

Wasted Energy
In most energy transfers some energy is converted to a form that isn’t useful. We call this wasted
energy and normally it is one of two forms th or s . This is easily added to our
energy transfer diagrams. Complete this diagram for an electric motor.
Electrically
Chemical energy Kinetic Energy + +

Sankey Diagrams
Sankey diagrams not only show the energy transfers but also show the proportion of energy
transferred at each stage enable calculations of efficiency.

Energy Transfers in a power station

30J of Electric
100J Energy (this is
Chemical the useful
Potential output)
Energy from 15J lost as heat
Coal and sound in the So the efficiency
25J lost as heat to the 30J lost as heat
to the generators is 30/100 or 30%
surrounding
surroundings in
atmosphere in the the turbines.
boiler