Chapter 2
ENERGY CONVERSION AND
GENERAL ENERGY ANALYSIS

W

hether we realize it or not, energy is an important part of most aspects of daily life. The quality of life, and even its sustenance, depends on the availability of energy. Therefore, it is important to have a good understanding of the sources of energy, the conversion of energy from one form to another, and the ramifications of these conversions.
Energy exists in numerous forms such as thermal, mechanical, electric, chemical, and nuclear. Even mass can be considered a form of energy. Energy can be transferred to or from a closed system (a fixed mass) in two distinct forms: heat and work. For control volumes, energy can also be transferred by mass flow. An energy transfer to or from a closed system is heat if it is caused by a temperature difference. Otherwise it is work, and it is caused by a force acting through a distance.
We start this chapter with a discussion of various forms of energy and energy transfer by heat. We then introduce various forms of work and discuss energy transfer by work. We continue with developing a general intuitive expression for the first law of thermodynamics, also known as the conservation of energy principle, which is one of the most fundamental principles in nature, and we then demonstrate its use. Finally, we discuss the efficiencies of some familiar energy conversion processes, and examine the impact on energy conversion on the environment. Detailed treatments of the first law of thermodynamics for closed systems and control volumes are given in Chaps. 4 and 5, respectively.

Objectives
The objectives of Chapter 2 are to:
• Introduce the concept of energy and define its various forms. • Define the nature of internal energy.
• Define the concept of heat and the terminology associated with energy transfer by heat.
• Discuss the three