A means to increase the thermal efficiency of a steam electric generating system by increasing temperatures and interposing a device, such as a gas turbine, between the heat source and the conventional steam-turbine generator to convert some of the additi ...

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 measure of the relative flame spread, and smoke development, from a material being tested. The flame spread rating is a single number comparing the flame spread of a material with red oak, arbitrarily given the number 100 and asbestos cement board with ...

The duration and periodicity of the operation of a device.

The ratio of solar radiation captured and transfered to the collector (heat transfer) fluid.

The production of energy by a system or appliance at a level less than its design or nominal capacity.

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 ...

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

An optical device for concentrating light that is made of concentric rings that are faced at different angles so that light falling on any ring is focused to the same point.

The process of forcing, either manually or automatically, a wind turbine's blades out of the direction of the wind in order to stop the blades from turning.

A type of solar thermal collector where the heat transfer fluid flows through tubes formed in the absorber plate.

The duct(s) of a forced air heating/cooling system through which heated or cooled air is supplied to rooms by the action of the fan of the central heating or cooling unit.

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

The liquid resulting when water vapor contacts a cool surface; also the liquid resulting when a vaporized working fluid (such as a refrigerant) is cooled or depressurized.

A type of hydropower turbine that contains a runner that has water passages through it formed by curved vanes or blades. As the water passes through the runner and over the curved surfaces, it causes rotation of the runner. The rotational motion is transm ...

The process of sending or moving electricity from one point to another; usually defines that part of an electric utility's electric power lines from the power plant buss to the last transformer before the customer's connection.

To condition/cool air by dessication.

The actual power rating that is developed by a motor before losses occur.

A masonry or metal stack that creates a draft to bring air to a fire and to carry the gaseous byproducts of combustion safely away.

A byproduct of low-temperature carbonization of a solid fuel.