Power Plant Engineering

2.5 ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY SCIENCES
“Energy Science and Technology” deal with several useful natural and artificial (man-made)
energy systems. The basic objectives are to extract, convert, transform, transport, distribute and recon-
vert different types of energy with least pollution and with highest economy.
Energy technology is a systematized knowledge of various branches of energy flow and their
relationship with human society as viewed from scientific, economic, social, technological, industrial
aspects for benefit of man and environment.
The science of energy is concerned with the natural rules and characteristics of energy, energy
resources, energy conversion processes and various phenomena related directly or indirectly to the ex-
traction conversion and use of energy resources essential to the economy and prosperity.
The science of energy deals with the phenomena related with energy conversion plants and proc-
esses for generating secondary energy (electricity, heat, steam, fuel, gas, etc.) by converting various
kinds of primary energy sources. The energy science deals with aspects of useful energy, (exergy, work,
power, efficiency and worthless energy anergy) losses etc.
Energy technology correlates various sciences and technologies. Energy technology is theoreti-
cally related with a series of physical, engineering and social sciences, which are normally, regarded as
independent departments of study. Each branch of engineering and social science has specific coverage
and objectives, which are rather independent of other branches. For example electrical power engineer-
ing deals with energy in terms of kW, MW, voltage, current etc. and does not deal in detail with various
energy resources, energy cycle and ecological aspects. Thermodynamics deals with heat and work but
does not cover control of electrical energy system obtained from thermal power plants. Social sciences
may not deal with chemical formulae and chemical reactions but are concerned with the pollution and
environment, demand and supply of energy and economy.
Energy science and Technology takes an overview of entire energy perspective and goes into
details of interrelationships between various branches of science and technology, and Management.
National planning and economic strategies are influenced by energy technology. Industrial project
planning and a plant process economy are influenced by energy technology.
The problems of energy technology were totally ignored during the earlier course of history, as
the natural resources were available in plenty. Each branch of science and technology was developed
rather independently and with disregard to energy resources and energy management. Such approach
was partly due to availability of abundant and cheap fossil fuels, fire wood, etc. and very modest demand
for useful energy.
During the twentieth century, the energy consumption increased Steeply.
After the oil price rise in 1973, and with global pollution due to energy conversion processes,
following important aspects have emerged:
1. Increasing cost of energy sources is affecting individual, social and national life and economy.
2. Depleting energy reserves of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum products, oil, gas) has produced
energy crisis.
3. Increasing energy consumption rate and depleting supplies all over the world is resulting in
continuing inflation and energy shortage. This is called energy crisis.

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NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES AND UTILISATION
37
4. Large fossil power plants without emission control devices are emitting flay ash SO
x 
, NO
x 
,
CO etc. in atmosphere resulting in pollution, ecological disasters, global warming, acid rains etc. En-
ergy, Environment and power plants are closely inter-linked.
Though the, nature supplies abundant non-conventional, the technologies for conversion are in
early stage of development and not yet commercially successful as against conventional. However, non-
conventional are on the path of slow rise all over the world.
Independent study of individual branch of science and technology does not give solution to
energy problems facing a man, society, nation and the world.
These limitations of isolated studies have focussed the attention of planners, economists, soci-
ologists, engineers, technologists, environmentalists etc. on the Integrated Energy Technology.
Energy technology integrates the energy aspects of various branches of science, with broad over-
view of various energy problems. Energy technology suggests alternative solutions within the frame-
work of available science and technological base and energy resources.
Each branch of engineering science has certain theories, laws, equations, units and dimensions.
Energy science co-relates the equations and analysis between various different branches of Engineering
Sciences.
Energy technology takes an overview of entire energy conversion process from raw energy input
to final delivery of secondary energy. This involves chemical, thermal, mechanical, electrical, bio, nu-
clear and other engineering sciences.