Physics – Popular Physics
Scientific paper
2011-11-10
Physics
Popular Physics
12 pages, 15 figures, Presented at International Humboldt Kolleg at Institute for Social & Economic Change, Bengaluru, 19-21 O
Scientific paper
Using the concept of available work or exergy, each human and natural process can be characterized by its contextual efficiency, that is, efficiency with the environment as a reference. Such an efficiency is termed exergy efficiency. Parts of the process which need to be made more efficient & less wasteful stand out in such an analysis, in contrast to an energy analysis. Any new idea for a process can be similarly characterized. This exercise naturally generates paths to newer ideas in given contexts to maximize exergy efficiency. The contextual efficiency is not just output/input, it also naturally includes environmental impact (to be minimized) and any other relevant parameter(s) to be optimized. Natural life processes in different terrestrial environments are already optimized for their environments, and act as guides, for example, in seeking to evolve sustainable energy practices in different contexts. Energy use at lowest possible temperature for each situation is a natural result. Variety of renewable energy resources are now being harnessed around the world. Use of a context dependent method to design the relevant processes should ensure sustainable environmentally friendly technology. The concept of exergy evolved about four decades ago from engineers, who had earlier pioneered thermodynamics. It is now routinely used by them. Physicists & other natural scientists are perhaps less aware of it. This paper is a review of the concept to familiarize it more widely & hence bring it into wider use. Keywords: exergy - energy - work - thermodynamics - heat transfer - natural & life processes
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