Abstract
An essential design conflict in energy technology is the trade-off between efficiency and cost. The lecture introduces concepts that deal with this trade-off and discusses real world examples. Among the many definitions of efficiency, exergetic efficiency is the most rigorous and often the most adequate for analyzing the efficiency of a process. Exergy is the maximum work obtainable from a system as it comes into equilibrium with its environment. Exergetic efficiency is illustrated here with the heating of buildings. The right concept to analyze the trade-off between efficiency and the initial capital cost of equipment is the net present value analysis. We discuss two examples, overhead power lines and energy storage. Electrothermal energy storage is a new energy storage technology that builds on both concepts, optimization of exergetic efficiency and balancing of initial cost with that efficiency. Finally, non-technical barriers for energy efficiency are mentioned.
Highlights
EPJ Web of ConferencesWhy are these measures not implemented? It is a purpose of this lecture to answer this question, to contribute to the efficiency discussion, to make it more complicated and more rational at the same time
Most people, and even more so scientists and engineers, would readily agree that energy efficiency is a good thing
Electrothermal energy storage is a new energy storage technology that builds on both concepts, optimization of exergetic efficiency and balancing of initial cost with that efficiency
Summary
Why are these measures not implemented? It is a purpose of this lecture to answer this question, to contribute to the efficiency discussion, to make it more complicated and more rational at the same time. It is the base for the most useful of efficiency definitions, exergetic efficiency. The most common efficiency definition in energy technology is the definition of thermal efficiency, the ratio of the useful energy to the total input energy, η = Eused/Einput. This definition does not satisfy the two expectations in some of the relevant situations. Anergy is that part of the energy that is in equilibrium with the environment and that can not be converted into exergy It can not be converted into anything of use at all.
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