Heat Energy Often Confused With Thermal Transfer
When some form or energy excites the molecules of one material enough to transfer the energy to another it creates heat energy during the exchange. Metal is the best conductor of this type of energy and is use to heat homes and illuminate an incandescent lamp is well documented. However, the use of heat energy to produce power is still misunderstood and is often confused with thermal energy. Heat will transfer from the point of the highest temperature to a point of lower temperature regardless of whether it is the same material, which is the case of thermal energy.
In the science of thermodynamics, the heat is confined in a closed space and since its natural tendency is to move towards a colder environment, any opening in the confinement chamber becomes an outlet for the heat energy. It is the basic concept of gravity furnaces from which hot air created by the furnace rises through directional duct work to colder areas. Cold air, which is heavier, is returned back to the heating chamber where it is reheated and sent back into the colder areas of the structure.
Similar principals are in play with radiant heating systems in a home, for instance, where an electric heating element become hotter than its environment. the heat radiates from the element and into the colder surrounding air, effectively heating an area within close proximity due to the heat energy being produced.
Thermal Energy Used To Produce Electricity
In some environments, heat energy produced underground is used to heat water to create steam. The steam is then used to drive turbine generators to produce electricity. While the process essentially uses the thermal transfer of heat, it is the heat energy from the water that turns the turbines and also causes the confusion between the two different types of energy.
A good example of heat energy can be seen by rapidly rubbing the hand together. The friction will cause the hands to feel warmer and if the warmer hands are touched to other parts of the skin, the thermal energy will transfer the heat from the hands to the skin until they achieve thermal equilibrium, that is the hands and the face reach an equal temperature.
The use of heat energy to heat a metal element or another form such as water and transfer that energy to the air, results in convection of the heat into the air until an equilibrium with the environment is achieved.
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