History of Energy Conversion
The history of energy conversion describes the history of energy conversion techniques and systems.
The use of energy to improve living conditions and to expand the limited possibilities of the human body is closely linked to human history . In principle, living beings, and thus also humans, are energy-converting systems . Plants convert the sun's radiant energy into chemical energy by means of photosynthesis , animals use this energy stored in the plants in turn with their breathing in an exothermic reaction for the vital functions, which, among other things, a. can be perceived as movement and body heat.
The starting point for energy conversion from a technical point of view are primary energy carriers such as solar energy and, derived therefrom, wind energy and hydropower , nuclear fuels or fossil energy carriers such as coal, crude oil and natural gas . In human history, fire is a very original form of energy conversion. Chemically bound energy in the form of plants or biomass is converted into thermal energy and served and serves as a heat source for survival in cold zones and for the preparation of food by cooking .
Using the muscle power of pets is e.g. B. is documented for ancient Egypt , where agricultural areas were irrigated by means of a Schaduff . Later systems are called Göpel . The Egyptians also used in the time around 3,500 BC. Chr. Wind and water power.
While early forms of the heat engine were known since antiquity (such as the “ Heronsball ”), which converted chemical energy into heat and ultimately kinetic energy, the perfected steam engine enabled a significant expansion of technical possibilities from the 18th century.
At the turn of the 20th century, the steam engines were followed by the electric motor , which converts electrical energy into kinetic energy. With the expansion of the power grids as part of electrification , electrical energy became usable in wide areas and created the availability of kinetic energy (for example in machine tools), radiant energy in the form of light and also heat energy (use in ovens).
With the combustion engine , which converts chemical energy up to a maximum efficiency of 43% percent (with diesel engines ) into usable kinetic energy, mobility was given special importance.
From the middle of the 20th century, the civilian use of nuclear energy , in which electrical energy is generated by means of nuclear fission , became more widely available.
Since the realization that the use of primary energy sources will end in the foreseeable future and that it is associated with the emission of climate-damaging gases and that the disposal of waste from the use of nuclear fuels is problematic, further options for energy conversion have been sought. The focus of the further development of energy conversion lies essentially in the use of renewable energies .
Individual evidence
- ↑ A Brief History of Energy ( Memento of the original from April 8, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. - Article on rp-online.de from January 23, 2012; accessed on September 3, 2017
- ↑ Die Automat des Heron ( Memento of the original dated November 7, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on upb.de
- ↑ Wolfram Fischer (Ed.) - The History of Power Supply (PDF)
