A type of heating system where water is heated in a boiler and either moves by natural convection or is pumped to heat exchangers or radiators in rooms; radiant floor systems have a grid of tubing laid out in the floor for distributing heat. The temperatu ...

This is another name for an induction motor. The motors consist of a rotor inside a stator. The rotor has laminated, thin flat steel discs, stacked with channels along the length. If the casting composed of bars and attached end rings were viewed without ...

The part of a wind energy conversion device blade, or airfoil, that is the last to contact the wind.

Crops grown specifically for their fuel value. These include food crops such as corn and sugarcane, and nonfood crops such as poplar trees and switchgrass. Currently, two energy crops are under development: short-rotation woody crops, which are fast-growi ...

The ratio of the coincident, maximum demand or two or more loads to the sum of their noncoincident maximum demand for a given period; the reciprocal of the diversity factor, and is always less than or equal to one.

An inverter that operates independent of or is not connected to an electric transmission and distribution network.

A large power plant that generates power for distribution to multiple customers.

Period of time a system or appliance (or component of) is expected to function at its nominal or design capacity without major repair.

An approximate unit of heat produced by a resting person, equal to about 18.5 Btu per square foot per hour.

A federal government agency created in 1977, that is entrusted to contribute to the welfare of the United States by providing technical information, and a scientific and educational foundation for technology, policy and institutional leadership to achieve ...

A furnace grate that moves fuel through the combustion chamber

A geothermal energy resource that consists of high temperature rocks above 300 F (150 C) that may be fractured and have little or no water. To extract the heat, the rock must first be fractured, then water is injected into the rock and pumped out to extra ...

Plant-like organisms with cells with distinct nuclei surrounded by nuclear membranes, incapable of photosynthesis. Fungi are decomposers of waste organisms and exist as yeast, mold, or mildew.

The measure of overall efficiency for a variety of appliances. For water heaters, the energy factor is based on three factors: 1) the recovery efficiency, or how efficiently the heat from the energy source is transferred to the water; 2) standby losses, o ...

The turning or twisting force generated by an electrical motor in order for it to operate.

The process of changing regulatory policies and laws to increase competition among suppliers of commodities and service. The process of deregulating the electric power industry was initiated by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. (See also Restructuring)

The torque at the bottom of a speed (rpm) versus torque curve. The torque developed by the motor is a percentage of the full-load or rated torque. At this torque the speed, the rotational speed of the motor as a percentage of synchronous speed is zero. Th ...

Conventional turbine generators are used with the dry steam resources. The steam is used directly, eliminating the need for boilers and boiler fuel that characterizes other steam-power-generating technologies. This technology is limited because dry-steam ...

A form of solar concentrating collector that does not track the sun.

The interior space of a building that is heated or cooled.