Task 1.

1. Read extract from Boyle (1996) pages 4-9 and define “useful energy” and “energy
efficiency” in no more than 50 words each.

2. Choose an example of an energy source and conversion technologies and draw a

simple annotated flow diagram , which shows the relationship between primary energy,
secondary energy, final energy and useful energy.

Ans. 1.a) USEFUL ENERGY: Useful energy may be defined as an energy which is used by man
easily for the purposes of economy activity i.e.indudtrial use, trade use etc or domestic use.
Suppose by the Emerson water heater, electricity as a secondary energy, is converted to heat
energy and thereby produced hot water which is a useful form of energy. In other words the portion
of final energy which is actually available after final conversion to the consumer for the respective
use. In final conversion, electricity becomes for instance light, mechanical energy or heat.

b) ENERGY EFFICIENCY: When we convert energy from one form to another, as per the 2 nd
law of thermodynamics useful output is always less than input. The ratio of useful output energy to
input energy is called Energy Efficiency.

η = Pout ; Where, n=efficiency, Pout= output energy, Pin= input energy.

Pin
Some of the inefficiency can be avoided by good design and also following matching
thermodynamic grade of energy require as closely as possible to the available energy.

2) Before drawing annotated flow diagram we will define some terms to be used in the required
diagram:

Primary Energy: Primary energy is the energy embodied in natural resources prior to undergoing
any human-made conversions or transformations. Examples of primary energy resources include
coal, crude oil, sunlight, wind, running rivers, vegetation, and uranium. Primary energy is energy
contained in raw fuels and any other forms of energy received by a system as input to the system.

Secondary Energy: Primary energies are transformed in energy conversion processes to more
convenient forms of energy, such as electrical energy, refined fuels, or synthetic fuels such as
hydrogen fuel. In energy statistics these forms are called secondary energy. In other words,
Secondary energy is an energy form which has been transformed from another one subjected to
human-made transformation. Electricity is the most common example, being transformed from
such primary sources as coal, oil, natural gas, and wind.
Final Energy: Energy supplied that is available to the consumer to be converted into useful energy
(e.g., electricity at the wall outlet).

Let us take an example of thermal power unit run by Crude Oil as primary energy source. In
this case Crude Oil is used/ burnt to get electricity using generator. Here we can say Crude Oil as
Primary energy and Electricity as secondary energy and after getting Grid loss, Distribution Loss
and Transmission loss etc. supplied Electricity finally comes to the consumer i.e. final energy to
be converted into useful energy (e.g., electricity at the wall outlet).Thereafter, when the consumer
turn the switch on , the bulb gets glow.

Primary Energy Secondary Energy

(Boiler, Generator)
Transformation
Crude Oil Electricity

GRID LOSS
*
FINAL ENERGY
DISTRIBUTION
LOSS
USEFUL ENERGY

**
TRANSMISSION
LOSS

Task 1.3 (Energy) submitted by

Bhaskar Majumder,Student M.A in
Env. & Dev.,Ist Semester