- Author
- Didion, D. A. | Garvin, D. | Snell, J. E.
- Title
- Report on the Relevance of the Second Law of Thermodynamics to Energy Conservation. Final Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Sponsor
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC
- Report
- NBS TN 1115, August 1980,
- Distribution
- AVAILABLE FROM National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. Telephone: 1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000; Fax: 703-605-6900. Website: http://www.ntis.gov
- Keywords
- analyzing; efficiency; entropy
- Identifiers
- energy conservation; second law of thermodynamics
- Abstract
- This is a study of the relevance to Federal energy conservation programs of the use of the concept of energy efficiency as being the ratio of the minimum available work necessary for accomplishing a given task to the available work in the actual fuel used to accomplish this task. Included within the study is a review of selected elements of thermodynamics and efficiency concepts, and identification of the technology pertinent to energy conservation programs. The study examines the potential benefits, if any, that would accrue from the application of Second Law of Thermodynamics principles to these technologies. Results indicate the positive value of the Second Law analytical techniques in the planning and design stages of system development, and the rather limited value of its use during the performance monitoring stage. Needs for advancing the acceptance and use of the Second Law analytical techniques are identified.