CONTENTS 10 What is energy engineering Working with energy Finding a better way Fossil and nuclear power Engineering renewables The history of energy engineering Today's energy engineer Meeting the challenge Possible solutions Testing testing Sharing solutions Design challenge A clean future 16 18 20 26 28 30 Learning more Glossary Index 31 32
WHAT IS ENERGY ENGINEERING EIGHT STEPS TO SUCCESS Energy engineers power the world They make sure that our demands for energy when engineers take on a new energy generation electricity heat and project they adopt an eight step process to transportation met are successfully design build and test a solution They do this by designing and overseeing large or small scale energy systems Steps in the For example they may work on turning garbage design process into liquid fuels operate power stations to generate Identify the problem heat and electricity or even build mini suns Identify criteria and constraints An engineer checks burning garbage in a power station that converts household waste into electricity Brainstorm ideas Select a solution Build a prototype Energy systems need to be affordable and environmentally friendly so engineers try to make the ways in which we currently work with energy more efficient see page 9 They also carry out research to develop and test new technologies which can convert natural resources such as wind and coal into useful forms of energy As populations grow we need more and more energy This means energy engineers will play a vital role in our future Improve the design Test the prototype Share the solution
Engineers and scientists Science and engineering are closely linked Scientists acquire knowledge about how the world works Engineers apply that knowledge to develop solutions to problems For example a scientist might study a plant to understand how it uses the Sun's energy to grow An energy engineer may focus on ways to convert the energy within a plant into energy such as heat electricity or fuels stored usable for vehicles FORMS OF ENERGY to supply Energy engineers work with different forms of energy our daily needs These forms include Kinetic energy The movement of something such as the wind or waves Potential energy The energy stored in an object due to its position For example raising an object creates graitational potential energy and stretching a rubber band results in elastic potential energy Thermal energy The energy that comes from heat Chemical energy Energy stored in food fuels and batteries Radiant energy For example light from the Sun which is also known as solar energy Nuclear energy The energy stated in the nuclei the central part of atoms caused by Sound enery vibrating objects Electrical energy For example electricity or a bolt of lightning HHHHHHHRA Ener Energy engineers develop systems such as electrical grids to transport energy Electrical grids need to withstand bad weather such as
