The ratio of a photovoltaic cell's actual power to its power if both current and voltage were at their maxima. A key characteristic in evaluating cell performance.

This is an independent regulatory agency within the U.S. DOE that has jurisdiction over interstate electricity sales, wholesale electric rates, natural gas pricing, oil pipeline rates, and gas pipeline certification. It also licenses and inspects private, ...

A type of motor that has a rotor with electrical windings connected through slip rings to the external power circuit. An external resistance controller in the rotor circuit allows the performance of the motor to be tailored to the needs of the system and ...

The transfer of heat through matter or space by means of electromagnetic waves.

A wood or gas burning heating appliance that fits into the opening or protrudes on to the hearth of a conventional fireplace.

A unit of rate of operation. Electrical Hp: a measure of time rate of mechanical energy output; usually applied to electric motors as the maximum output; 1 electrical Hp is equal to 0.746 kilowatts or 2,545 Btu per hour. Shaft Hp: a measure of the actual ...

A statement of the electric rate(s), terms, and conditions for electricity sale or supply.

The rate of flow of the wind undisturbed by obstacles.

A room heat delivery (or exchanger) component of a hydronic (hot water or steam) heating system; hot water or steam is delivered to it by natural convection or by a pump from a boiler.

A furnace/combustion chamber in which finely ground fuel is blown in spirals in the combustion chamber to maximize combustion efficiency.

The amount of heat produced from the complete combustion of a unit of fuel. The higher (or gross) heating value is that when all products of combustion are cooled to the pre-combustion temperature, water vapor formed during combustion is condensed, and ne ...

The structural elements (walls, roof, floor, foundation) of a building that encloses conditioned space; the building shell.

A device that releases pressure within a radiator when the pressure inside exceeds the operating limits of the vent.

To exceed the design capacity of a device.

A type of window glass that contains special tints that cause the window to absorb as much as 45% of incoming solar energy, to reduce heat gain in an interior space. Part of the absorbed heat will continue to be passed through the window by conduction and ...

A solar energy conversion device that uses a trough covered with a highly reflective surface to focus sunlight onto a linear absorber containing a working fluid that can be used for medium temperature space or process heat or to operate a steam turbine fo ...

An electrochemical battery that uses lead and lead oxide for electrodes and sulfuric acid for the electrolyte.

The absolute centimeter-gram-second unit of force; that force that will impart to a free mass of one gram an acceleration of one centimeter per second per second.

The standard method for calculating residential cooling loads developed by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) based largely on the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and A ...

The wheeling of electric power in amounts and at prices that generally have been negotiated in longterm contracts between the generator and a distributor or very large consumer of power.