Energy Science

& Engineering
Er. Pankaj
Mittal
Assistant
Energy
Any physical activity in this world, whether carried out by human beings or by
nature, is cause due to flow of energy in one form or the other. The word
‘energy’ itself is derived from the Greek word ‘en-ergon’, which means ‘in-
work’ or ‘work content’. The work output depends on the energy input.
Energy can be classified into several types based on the following criteria:
 Primary and Secondary energy
 Commercial and Non commercial energy
 Renewable and Non-Renewable energy
 Conventional and Non-conventional energy
 Energy System
An energy system is made up of an energy supply sector and energy end-use
technologies. The object of the energy system is to deliver to consumers the
benefits that energy offers. The transformation from stores of energy in food to
work, and subsequent dissipation of energy is an example of such a system. The
starting point of all energy in this "food chain" or "energy chain" (considering only
the vegetable and cereal part of our food) is the sun.
Each of the arrows shows
transformation or transmission
of energy i.e. the energy
changes form or is moved from
one place to another as shown
in fig of natural energy system.
Plants and humans are the
agents shown that store and/or
transform the energy.
Most of the energy systems
currently in use, both natural
and man-made, originate in
the Earth-Sun relationship.

Natural energy system

 Scientific principles
Energy is the driving force for the universe. Energy is a quantitative property of a

system which may be kinetic, potential, or other in form. There are many

different forms of energy. One form of energy can be transferred to another

form. The laws of thermodynamics govern how and why energy is transferred.

The Three Laws of Thermodynamics are named as –

 The first law of thermodynamics

 The Second law of thermodynamics

 The Third law of thermodynamics

The First Law of Thermodynamics-
It is also called conservation of energy, states that the total amount of energy in
the universe is constant. This means that all of the energy has to end up
somewhere, either in the original form or in a different from. We can use this
knowledge to determine the amount of energy in a system, the amount lost as
waste heat, and the efficiency of the system.
The second law of thermodynamics
It states that the disorder in the universe always increases. After cleaning your
room, it always has a tendency to become messy again. This is a result of the
second law. As the disorder in the universe increases, the energy is transformed
into less usable forms. Thus, the efficiency of any process will always be less
than 100%.
The third law of thermodynamics
It tells us that all molecular movement stops at a temperature we call absolute
zero, or 0 Kelvin (-273⁰C). Since temperature is a measure of molecular
movement, there can be no temperature lower than absolute zero. At this
temperature, a perfect crystal has no disorder.
 Historical Interpretation
Energy is more than universal currency. From shining stars to rotating planets; to
global water, atmospheric, and life cycles; to the evolution, industrialization, and
modernization of civilization, energy is the cause and measure of all that there has
been, is, and will be.
History from the formation of our planet Earth some 4.5 billion years ago-
It is observed that our planet has been changing ever since due to energy exchanges
or “energy flows” in different astrophysical, geological, chemical, biological, and
intellectual processes. Hundreds of millions of years ago, life emerged from the
oceans and transformed the landscape. Just a few million years ago, the first human
species evolved and began its own process of interaction with its environment: the
planet Earth. About 1 million years ago our own species, Homo sapiens, first
appeared, then strived most of the history, and boomed with agricultural and the
Industrial Revolution.
It starts from the prehistoric age, when humans relied on their muscular
power to survive; then they learned how to control and use fire, and how to
domesticate and use animal power, and slowly evolved from hunters and food
gatherers to cultivators of crops and developers of early agriculture. The use of
water and wind power (waterwheels and windmills) enabled humans to expand
their activities and mobility. Further developments included smelting of copper
and iron ores, using wood and charcoal, and developing different tools,
gunpowder, and sailing ships. The use of coal in the mid-1700s and the
development of steam engines set off fast growth of cities, population, and
further inventions, including internal-combustion engines and the discovery and
use of oil, natural gas, and electricity. This accelerated growth period, known as
the Industrial Revolution.
Each and every material system in nature possesses energy
Energy is a fundamental property of material systems and refers to the system’s
potential to influence changes to another system by imparting work (forced directional
displacement) or heat. Energy exists in many forms: electromagnetic, electrical,
magnetic, nuclear, chemical, thermal, and mechanical. Energy is the cause of all
processes across all space and time scales, including global and historical changes.
Actually, energy is “the building block” and fundamental property of matter and
space. Energy is both the cause and the consequence of formation and transformation
within the universe (everything we are capable of observing or comprehending) at the
grand scale, down to the smallest sub nanostructures within an atom nucleus and
electromagnetic radiation.
Energy warms our planet Earth and keeps it alive
It moves cars and trains, and boats and planes. Energy bakes foods and keeps them
frozen for storage. It lights our homes and plays our music. Energy makes our bodies
grow and live and allows our minds to think. Through the centuries people have
learned how to harvest and use energy in different forms to do work more easily and
live more comfortably.
Relation between Energy-climate
Our climate is changing. Observed changes over the 20th century include
increases in global average air and ocean temperature, rising global sea levels,
long-term sustained widespread reduction of snow and ice cover, and changes in
atmospheric and ocean circulation and regional weather patterns, which
influence seasonal rainfall conditions. These changes are caused by extra heat in
the climate system due to the addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
The additional greenhouse gases are primarily input by human activities such as
the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), agriculture, and land
clearing. These activities increase the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere.
Many of the impacts of climate change pose risks to human and natural systems,
in the form of more frequent and severe heat waves, coastal inundation due to
sea level rise, disruptions to rainfall patterns and other effects. Analyses of a
range of climate scenarios indicate the most severe risks of climate change can
largely be mitigated if carbon dioxide emissions are reduced to the point where
carbon dioxide is no longer accumulating in the atmosphere.
 Sustainable Energy
Sustainable energy is the practice of using energy in a way that "meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

When referring to methods of producing energy, the term "sustainable energy" is often used
interchangeably with the term "renewable energy". In general, renewable energy sources such
as solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, and tidal energy, are widely considered to be
sustainable. However, particular renewable energy projects, such as the clearing of forests for
production of biofuels, can lead to similar or even worse environmental damage when compared
with using fossil fuel energy. There is considerable controversy over whether nuclear energy can be
considered sustainable. Sustainable energy sources can be used to generate electricity, to heat and
cool buildings, and to power transportation systems and machines. Costs of sustainable energy
sources have decreased immensely throughout the years, and continue to fall. Increasingly,
effective government policies support investor confidence and these markets are expanding.
Sustainable energy strategies generally involve both the use of sustainable energy sources, and
improvements in energy conservation. The organizing principle for sustainability is sustainable
development, which includes the four interconnected domains: ecology, economics, politics and
culture. Sustainability science is the study of sustainable development and environmental science.
Environment
Environment is everything that is around us. It can be living (biotic) or non-
living (abiotic) things. It includes physical, chemical and other natural forces.
Living things live in their environment. They constantly interact with it and
adapt themselves to conditions in their environment. In the environment
there are different interactions between animals, plants, soil, water, and
other living and non-living things. It includes the living and nonliving things
that an organism interacts with, or has an effect on it. Living elements that
an organism interacts with are known as biotic elements: animals, plants,
etc., abiotic elements are non living things which include air, water, sunlight
etc. Studying the environment means studying the relationships among these
various things. An example of interactions between non-living and living
things is plants getting their minerals from the soil and making food using
sunlight.
Energy, environment & sustainable development
There is an intimate connection between energy, the environment and
sustainable development. A society seeking sustainable development ideally
must utilize only energy resources which cause no environmental impact (e.g.
which release no emissions to the environment). However, since all energy
resources lead to some environmental impact, it is reasonable to suggest that
some (not all) of the concerns regarding the limitations imposed on sustainable
development by environmental emissions and their negative impacts can be in
part overcome through increased energy efficiency. Clearly, a strong relation
exists between energy efficiency and environmental impact since, for the same
services or products, less resource utilization and pollution is normally
associated with increased energy efficiency. Energy resources and their
utilization are intimately related to sustainable development. For societies to
attain or try to attain sustainable development, much effort must be devoted
not only to discovering sustainable energy resources, but also to increasing the
energy efficiency of processes utilizing these resources
 Energy Resource
An energy resource is something that can produce heat, power life, move objects, or
produce electricity. In simple terms we can say that anything out of which usable
energy can be extracted is a source of energy. There is a variety of sources that
provide us energy for different purposes. You must be familiar with coal, petrol,
diesel, kerosene and natural gas. Similarly you must have also heard about
hydroelectric power, wind mills, solar panels, biomass etc. It can be easily seen that
some of the energy sources can be replenished in a short period of time. Such energy
sources are referred to as renewable energy sources, whereas the energy sources that
we are using up and cannot be generated in a short period of time are called non-
renewable energy sources. Thus, all the sources of energy can be divided into two
categories: renewable sources and non-renewable sources of energy.
Conventional/non-renewable Energy Sources
The term "Conventional" means "not unusual or extreme or ordinary."
Conventional energy sources are the traditional sources of energy like coal and
petroleum. Conventional energy sources are finite. They will not last forever.
Advantages
Conventional energy sources are proven technologies which can provide energy
regardless of the weather conditions unlike solar and wind power which may go
for days without being able to produce substantial amounts of power. Currently,
the financial costs are much lower than alternative energy sources.
Disadvantages
Petroleum, gas and coal are non renewable energy sources which means that
they will eventually run out. These energy sources also release greenhouse gases
like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which contribute to global warming.
Other pollutants released include sulfur and nitrogen oxide, which can lead to
acid rain and mercury, which is harmful to humans when ingested.
Non-conventional/Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy is natural energy which does not have a limited supply.
Renewable energy can be used again and again, and will never run out. It is
energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides
and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished.) It is an
alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear
power, and was commonly called alternative energy.
Advantages Disadvantages
Renewable energy won’t run out. Higher upfront cost
Maintenance requirements are Intermittency
lower
Renewables save money Storage capabilities
Renewable energy has numerous Geographic limitations
health and environmental benefits
Examples
Renewable energy Non-renewable
energy
Solar energy Petroleum
Wind energy Coal
Geothermal energy Natural Gas
Biomass Propane
Tidal energy Nuclear
Wave energy Oil
Biodiesel Gasoline

Hydropower energy Diesel fuel