Energy conversion

power generated from nuclear reactions

radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of technologies

heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid

nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei combine

electromechanical device

thumb|The three chasing arrows of the universal recycling symbol thumb|Municipal waste recycling rate (%), 2015 Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. This concept often includes the recovery of energy from waste materials. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the properties it had in its original state. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. It can also prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh

device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction

emission of electrons when light hits a material

thumb|upright=1.3|The Three Gorges Dam in China; the hydroelectric dam is the world's largest power station by [[installed capacity.]]

device that converts wind energy into electrical energy

reaction engine which generates thrust by jet propulsion

electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect

system that performs the conversion of heat or thermal energy to mechanical work

electrochemical cell that converts chemical energy into electricity by oxidizing a fuel

facility where heat is converted to electric power

device that transfers thermal energy in the opposite direction of spontaneous heat transfer

thumb|upright=1.1|Piezoelectric balance presented by Pierre Curie to [[Lord Kelvin, Hunterian Museum, Glasgow]]

thumb|The Solar Settlement, a sustainable housing community project in [[Freiburg, Germany|upright=1.2]] thumb|Charging station in France that provides energy for electric cars using solar energy|upright=1.2 thumb|Solar panels on the International Space Station|upright=1.2Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially used for electricity generation and as photosensors.

circuit or device that controls charging of batteries

conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity

transport of energy by wind waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work

ratio between the useful energy output and the input of a machine

thermally induced flow of charge carriers from a surface

direct conversion of temperature differences to electric voltage and vice versa

thumb|400px|Diagram comparing losses from conventional generation vs. cogeneration

thumb|right|200px|Alternators made in 1909 by Ganz Works in the power generating hall of a Russian [[hydroelectric station (photograph by Prokudin-Gorsky, 1911).]]

technology using solar energy to heat something

Soil salinization happens when the salt content in soil increases above normal, naturally occurring levels

A supercapacitor (SC), also called an ultracapacitor, is a high-capacity capacitor, with a capacitance value much higher than solid-state capacitors but with lower voltage limits. It bridges the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries. It typically stores 10 to 100 times more energy per unit mass or energy per unit volume than electrolytic capacitors, can accept and deliver charge much faster than batteries, and tolerates many more charge and discharge cycles than rechargeable batteries.

renewable energy technology

thumb|Internals of a pyroelectric sensor Pyroelectricity (from Greek: pyr (πυρ), "fire" and electricity) is a property of certain crystals which are naturally electrically polarized and as a result contain large electric fields. Pyroelectricity can be described as the ability of certain materials to generate a temporary voltage when they are heated or cooled. The change in temperature modifies the positions of the atoms slightly within the crystal structure, so that the polarization of the material changes. This polarization change gives rise to a voltage across the crystal. If the temperature

electric current generation from light

Gasification is a process that converts biomass- or fossil fuel-based carbonaceous materials into gases, including as the largest fractions: dinitrogen (N2), carbon monoxide (CO), dihydrogen (H2), and carbon dioxide (). This is achieved by reacting the feedstock material at high temperatures (typically >700 °C), without combustion, via controlling the amount of oxygen and/or steam present in the reaction. The resulting gas mixture is called syngas (from synthesis gas) or producer gas and is itself a fuel due to the flammability of the H2 and CO of which the gas is largely composed. Power

energy available from the difference in the salt concentration between seawater and river water

performance measure of a device that uses thermal energy, expressed as the ratio of work done over thermal energy used

device that rotates under influence of light

Waste heat is by necessity produced both by machines that do work and in other processes that use energy, for example in a refrigerator warming the room air or a combustion engine releasing heat into the environment.

magnetohydrodynamic converter that utilizes a Brayton cycle to transform thermal energy and kinetic energy directly into electricity

diagram in thermodynamics, ploting pressure versus volume, typically used for thermodynamic processes

process of changing energy from one of its forms into another

Economizers (US and Oxford spelling), or economisers (UK), are mechanical devices intended to reduce energy consumption, or to perform useful function such as preheating a fluid. The term economizer is used for other purposes as well. Boiler, power plant, heating, refrigeration, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) may all use economizers. In simple terms, an economizer is a heat exchanger.

thermal convection power plant

thermodynamic cycle

technology that enables capturing and wireless sending of solar energy to Earth

intended full-load sustained output of a facility

machinery use to to adjust conditions on the electric power transmission grid

form of internal combustion

thumb|right|upright=1.5|, with its distinct Friedensreich Hundertwasser|Hundertwasser facade, is providing [[combined heat and power in Vienna.]]

methods of energy production from various sources

sources of electricity or hydrogen via electrolysis

Power-to-gas (often abbreviated P2G) is a technology that uses electric power to produce a gaseous fuel.

electronic system that manages a rechargeable battery (cell or battery pack)

methods of heating and cooling a building using underground heat

installment of one or several wave power devices in one place

Thermoacoustics is the interaction between temperature, density and pressure variations of acoustic waves. Thermoacoustic heat engines can readily be driven using solar energy or waste heat and they can be controlled using proportional control. They can use heat available at low temperatures which makes it ideal for heat recovery and low power applications. The components included in thermoacoustic engines are usually very simple compared to conventional engines. The device can easily be controlled and maintained.

technology used in concentrated solar power stations

theoretical limit of solar panels using p–n junctions efficiency

heating and/or cooling system that transfers heat to or from the ground

Electrohydrodynamics (EHD), also known as electro-fluid-dynamics (EFD) or electrokinetics, is the study of the dynamics of electrically charged fluids. Electrohydrodynamics (EHD) is a joint domain of electrodynamics and fluid dynamics mainly focused on the fluid motion induced by electric fields. EHD, in its simplest form, involves the application of an electric field to a fluid medium, resulting in fluid flow, form, or properties manipulation. These mechanisms arise from the interaction between the electric fields and charged particles or polarization effects within the fluid. The generation

technology used to burn solid fuels