Energy Savings: Why Should We Be Concerned With Conserving the Quality of the Available Energy.

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Energy is ubiquitous. It is required for everything. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that Energy is a conserved quantity. While the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that you can never decrease the total entropy of the universe, it does not forbid you from changing the form of that energy. Although total energy is a conserved quantity, its quality degrades as it is used. This is why the quality must be conserved. We use and degrade about 500 EJ (ExaJoules) of Energy annually. Improving energy efficiency implies doing better with less energy. The efficient use of energy saves money. Efficient use of energy preserves its quality better than inefficient use. This is an aspect of deep decarbonization.

1 ExaJoule = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 Joules. This amount (of energy used per year) is increasing, so the quality of available energy is decreasing. All of us must do our part to manage energy better. One way is by utilizing SmartThermal™ devices. These new machines and devices considerably reduce the end-use energy required for a defined objective. A few such devices are discussed below.

1 PJ (PetaJoule)= 1,000,000,000,000,000  i.e. 10^15 Joule.

1 EJ (exaJoule) = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000, i.e., 10^18 joules. The Watt (W) is a unit of power, i.e., the rate of energy use (or supply) per unit time. 

1 J/s (Joule per second) = 1 W (Watt)

Power is sometimes expressed in alternate units like BTU/h  or Horsepower (hp)

Power-Units Conversion 1 kW (kilowatt) = 3414 BTU/h  

0.746kW= 1hp

The power rating of steam boilers is in units of BHP (boiler-horsepower)

One BHP (Boiler Power)= 33,500 BTU/h  = 9.803 kilowatts 

(The Boiler-BHP power unit is a bit confusing because BHP could be confused with brake-horsepower (bhp), which is an auto-industry terminology)

Despite all the talk of “green energy,” fossil fuels still supply about 80 percent of the world’s energy in 2022. The use of coal is now falling (from 30 percent in 2015 to 27 percent in 2020), while renewables are increasing (from 2 percent in 2015 and 3 percent in 2016 to 6 percent in 2020).  Natural gas produces about 117 pounds of CO2 per MMBtu equivalent, which is about half the amount produced by coal for the same amount of energy; however, if accounting for H2O and CH4 (methane), the major component of Natural Gas, the GHG emissions from natural gas production are very high.

Smart, efficient, and sustainable electrical and industrial heating are the keys to success. Computers were miniaturized with smart materials, and advances in nanomaterials processing are now miniaturizing thermal devices. We must use smart heating devices for quick decarbonization.

Spurred by advances in modern thermodynamics, good progress has been made in developing smart energy devices. A range of industrial-use innovative products that perform the same objectives as before but with lower energy use (by >90% or more improvement) have now become available. The US manufacturing sector accounts for almost 10% of the GDP and uses nearly 30% of the energy generated. Nearly half of this energy (thousands of trillions of Kilowatt-Hours per year) is used for steam and process heat (per DOE publications). We expect any improvements in this usage to help with common energy issues and save considerable money. When energy is used for an objective, it is often converted into a different form and almost always degrades in quality. Any energy-conversion device for an objective – such as lighting, anti-bacterial steam production, process-heat generation, or transportation- can be considered a machine. Such machines are rated by their power. Power is the measure of the rate of energy conversion. The most commonly used engineering units for power are Kilowatts (i.e., Kilo-Joules per second) or BTU/hr. 2 kW = 6,829 BTU/hr. The 2 kW number is an approximate average value for daily-use devices for cooking, lighting, drying, ironing, transportation, and other devices commonly used in a US household. As suggested in one of the articles in the Journal “Nature,” Oct. 2017 issue, the use of high-temperature energy transfer can lead to some of the best efficiencies and productivity enhancements for many processes employed for materials and energy conversions. This is the MHI specialty.   MHI manufactures devices that significantly reduce the energy required downstream, either by processing with superheated steam (compared to standard steam) or by producing friction-free surfaces using cascade e-ion plasma (compared to normal plasma).

Energy Conservation allows us to benefit from the Mechanical And Thermal Advantages that Levers to Heat Pumps provide.

For most individual users, a good energy-efficiency profile and related cost savings are achieved by using less power to meet the same process objective in a shorter time.  Most often, this is best enabled by high-quality, high-grade energy delivered by a modern smart-power device. Great scientists, mathematicians, and technologists – several mentioned below- have influenced the development of smart devices. Such devices are now used in both the commercial and industrial sectors. Electric high-temperature devices are an essential group of smart power devices. MHI specializes in high-temperature materials, devices, and controls.

The brilliant Emmy Noether (1882-1935) provided the fundamental reason for energy conservation in our local universe: continuous time symmetry. However, this also helped us understand that we can think about Energy in more ways than just ‘work’.  The understanding of energy all began with -thermodynamics –   the principles of energy conservation (The First Law of Thermodynamics) with “heat” and “work” equally included in the balance arguably that began with Nicolas Sadi Carnot (1796–1832), Julius Robert Mayer (1814–1878) Rudolf Julius Emanuel Clausius (1822– 1888) James Clerk Maxwell (1831 –1879) and James Joule (1818–1889). The primary laws of thermodynamics are (i)  the quantity of energy in the universe is conserved  – confirmed by a remarkable analysis made by Emmy Noether (1882-1935) and (ii) energy possesses both quantity and quality-type properties – firmly established in the 20th century. Simultaneously, the energy principles of chemical reactions, light, and ionic species were brought into the fold of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics by great scientists like Théophile Ernest de Donder (1872 –1957), Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz (1821–1894), Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck (1858–1947) Albert Einstein (1879–1955) Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839 –1903) Alan Mathison Turing (1912 –1954) Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann (1844–1906) Boris Pavlovich Belousov (1893–1970) Lars Onsager (1903 –1976) Richard Phillips Feynman (1918–1988) and several others. The mathematical results on the organization of numbers and their related patterns, advanced by Srinivasa Iyengar Ramanujan (1887–1920), are now playing a growing role in modern thermodynamic analysis by relating to ideas about physical patterns observed throughout nature. A deep understanding of physical patterns is the basis for many optimizations and the evolution/manufacture of smart devices.

Entropy, unlike energy, is not conserved.  Entropy generation degrades and causes a loss of exergy, as per the Gouy-Stodola law, which recent studies show can lead to new patterns.   However, the degree of energy degradation need not be the same for the same amount of entropy generation. The latest progress in thermodynamics concerns the maximum entropy production density rate in describing processes and patterns, as well as quantum entanglement. Some concepts, such as dark energy and the quantized states in nucleons, remain somewhat unknown. Energy is commonly measured in Joules (J). In physics, natural units are used for energy reporting, namely, the Planck energy unit (E_p), which equals 1.956 x 10^9 J (about 2 Billion Joules). We estimate that we use more than a billion Planck units of energy every year.

About Energy:

• The word “energy” originates from the Greek word Enárgeia. Developed by Aristotle, Enárgeia has no direct English translation except when referring to activity.
• Thomas Young coined the word “energy” in its modern physics sense, referring to kinetic energy around 1807. Soon afterward, other forms of energy were described, including potential energy, chemical energy, and electric energy. The SI unit of energy is the joule (J). Today, we strive to conserve the quality of energy.
• Did you know that the units of pressure are J per unit volume?  More Units.
• The earliest recorded use of electric energy was probably in ancient times when Egyptians and Greeks used electric fish to produce shocks for medical purposes. They used an “electric fish” for its numbing effects to treat ailments like headaches, gout, and epilepsy.
• Centuries later, scientists like Benjamin Franklin conducted experiments on electricity—his famous kite experiment in the 1750s proved that lightning was a form of electricity. In 1800, Alessandro Volta invented the first electric battery, the “voltaic pile,” which provided a steady flow of electrical current.
• Michael Faraday, with his work on electromagnetism and the invention of the dynamo generator, paved the way for the industrial use of electricity.

How do we think about ENERGY today?  Is it still Joules?

In everyday life, we define energy in terms of work: energy is the capacity to push or pull a physical object across a distance. Emmy Noether flipped this entire concept on its head. Noether’s Theorem proved that energy does not require an object, a push, or a distance to exist. Instead, energy is a mathematical consequence of continuous time symmetry, meaning the laws of physics are the same today as they were yesterday and as they will be tomorrow. Noether showed that if a system’s behavior doesn’t change when you shift it forward or backward in time, a number emerges from the equations that remains perfectly constant forever. We label that constant “Energy.” Similarly, Momentum is the constant that emerges from the equations because space is symmetric (the laws of physics are the same here as they are there). By shifting our perspective from “work” to “symmetry,” energy ceases to be a property of an object and becomes a property of smooth, unbroken shifts in time and space.  Of course, time symmetry exists only in a local sense, as space and time may have evolved and the universe is expanding.  But when we say energy is constant, we mean that only in a local sense.

Let’s delve further into this.  If space and time are just patterns of symmetry, where do the actual dimensions (up/down, left/right, forward/backward) come from? This is where ideas about information fit in.  In modern physics, “information” has a very specific definition: it is the measure of correlation or entanglement between quantum systems. When two quantum fields are “entangled,” they share information, meaning you cannot describe one without the other.  Theoretical physicists have discovered that space and dimensions are not a pre-existing container; they are woven from quantum information. The word entanglement refers to a lot of information jumbled together.  The dimensions we walk through are just our macroscopic perception of a giant quantum information web.   Energy and particles are just localized ripples where the information network concentrates its packets to interact with a detector.

What’s next:  We will post more here.  Particularly about entropy generation, and taking you across small worlds and large worlds.  Yes, the de Broglie divide and patterns.

But for now, let’s think of energy in terms of Joules.

The table below estimates potential savings from using a more energy-efficient product.   The assumptions for the calculations below include continuous use for a year and an energy price of 1 kWh = 10¢ (US cents). This is the approximate energy price when obtained from a reservoir like the electric grid, ample gasoline supply, or a continuous gas supply; if energy is obtained from a drainable battery, the price per watt could be even four times higher.

What is Energy? What is the Quality of Energy? The latent ability to carry out an objective. Energy has at least two characteristics associated with it: (a) the amount (of Energy in SI units of Joules, J) and  (b) the quality of energy, a more relative measure inferred by calculating the loss of potential following an energy-use process (units of Joules per Kelvin per mol/m^3, i.e., J/K.molar density).   Units: Electricity (more correctly, Electric Energy) is priced by the kWh of energy used, whereas Gas Energy (Fuel Energy) is priced by the number of Therms generated during use.   Note that 1 kJ (Kilojoule) = 0.9485 BTU = 0.0002778 kWhr (kilowatt-hour).  One Million BTU (MBTU) = 10.002 Therm [US].   And 10 Therm [U.S.] = 293.0 kilowatt hour.   More.…..

What happens when we combust fuels for energy production? The following table shows the pounds of CO2 emitted per million BTU (~1.05 Million KJ) of energy from various fuels when combusted. Assuming that a US household consumes energy at the average rate of about 2 KW (~7000 BTU/hr) across a day, a million BTU or KJ number is the approximate equivalent of about 100 lbs. of CO2 emission per week per US household if the energy was produced by combustion (e.g., from natural gas, gasoline, or oil). We have not considered the use of automobiles in daily energy use.

How much CO2 do humans produce when breathing? The average human exhales about 2-3 pounds of carbon dioxide (human activity averages at about 100 Watts or 0.36 BTU/h). on an average day (about 15- 20 lbs a week). The exact quantity depends on activity level (higher activity means more CO2 exhaled). The amount of carbon a human breathes out is almost equal to the amount of carbon a human takes in (from food) minus the amount of carbon that is part of the person’s body mass. Thus, the amount of CO2 humans exhale is roughly balanced by the amount absorbed by plants and other photosynthesis-type reactions. However, note that the human population is approximately 7.5 billion people. Thus, preserving forests, using renewable energy sources, and avoiding combustion during use are essential. What is the greenhouse effect?

Is Momentum Conserved? Why? This relates to Noether’s Theorem described above. (Noether’s Theorem – Wikipedia) Noether’s Theorem is a mathematical statement with several critical applications in physics. It says that if the equations of some system obey symmetry (continuous symmetry), then some conserved quantity is associated with that symmetry. The fact that the laws of physics are the same at any point in space implies that some conserved quantity is associated with this spatial symmetry. It turns out mathematically that this conserved quantity corresponds to what we already defined as “momentum.” The fact that the laws of physics do not change over time (at least in our local universe) implies that some conserved quantity is associated with this temporal symmetry. It turns out mathematically that this conserved quantity corresponds to what we already defined as “energy.” The fact that the laws of physics are the same in every direction in space implies that some conserved quantity is associated with this directional symmetry. It turns out mathematically that this conserved quantity corresponds to what we already defined as “angular momentum.” So by Noether’s Theorem, the quantity we call angular momentum must be conserved in any universe where the laws of physics are “isotropic” or direction-independent.

Why Use Electric Energy? It is the Genesis of SmartPower Devices and provides a platform for non-toxic energy conversion to valuable objectives. Electric heating devices do not produce Methane or CO2 during use unless specifically intended for a process.

What is Sustainable or Renewable Energy? Energy can be stored/available in various forms, e.g., electric, gasoline-burning, or from water or wind velocity. We use this energy directly to power a device or convert it (e.g., electricity to heat or vice versa) to carry out a specific objective. The energy we receive and convert for an objective can be reused or available from an infinite reservoir. Almost all the energy we use is recycled, thanks to energy previously or currently received from our solar system.   Some exceptions are the energy received from deep space, primarily as neutrinos, gravitational, and electromagnetic waves. Note that converting solar, nuclear, or wind energy generally does not produce CO2. It is equally important not to generate CO2 at the point of use. Note that the OAB® or other MHI devices do not produce CO2 when used. Where possible, electric-only or hybrid solutions should be employed for energy use to avoid a net increase in CO2 production.

Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, and Thermal Energy: When we use energy, it is the energy that is stored either in bonds, both nuclear or chemical bonds (nuclear or chemical energy potential), or in the gravitational force fields that make water flow from reservoirs (potential energy/kinetic) or as concentrated charge carriers stored in a battery (as electric potential/field). The use of kinetic energy is related to the momentum of wind or sea waves. Thermal energy (measured as temperature) is stored in the vibration of molecules or smaller particles. Thermal energy is transferred as heat. Energy can be converted between forms, though sometimes it incurs a penalty. We often transfer or convert energy from heat or work into a different type of energy. Energy is always conserved.

Sustainable energy is commonly defined as energy that does not exhaust a source of its energy or mass content shortly. Or at least it will not run out for future generations, e.g., direct solar radiation. More on chemical bonds, radiation, thermodynamics… solar efficiency…  A clean energy device does not produce harmful emissions (like methane or CO2) when energy is used/converted by the device. Sustainable energy leads to responsible engineering.

How much does energy cost? Very approximately ~10¢ per kWh or ~9¢ per 0.0341 Therms [US] to most users. The price paid per unit amount of energy is very similar (to small-scale users) whether the energy is used in electricity, natural gas, or even gasoline (a bit more variation in price is noted in gasoline). Of course, some energy sources are expensive for now but are expected to become cheaper over time, e.g., volcanic energy.

If the price is not that different, what does Energy efficiency mean to a user? To most individual energy users, improved energy efficiency means using less energy to achieve the same objective. Using less energy means paying less for that energy. The price of energy varies slightly across energy providers or distributors; e.g., click here. When checking for the best prices, you could note (depending on the country and location) that the energy delivered to you, whether electric or gas, costs almost the same per unit! So the gains from better production methods could be marginal, albeit significant, when offering a lower price of the delivered energy.

Regardless, although the two laws of thermodynamics always set theoretical limits, the use of energy may sometimes be cleverly reduced by transformative new technologies within these limits. More on a new postulate for pathways and self-organization…... More on Efficiencies…

Quality is often a comparative concept that relates to the fitness of use!   High-temperature energy is one form of high-quality energy. The quality of energy is also often measured by the available work potential.

Are there examples of devices that improve Energy efficiency substantially? Yes, particularly those that use smart power.   These include Efficient Photonic Devices, Efficient Cars, OAB® Steam,   Cascade e-Ion Technologies for Surface Enhancement Engineering, and many more.    A photograph of a modern OAB® efficient steam generator and a Cascade e-Ion producing plasma from the air are shown below. These are new transformative technologies for improving energy consumption using smart power.

What is smart power? The choice of technologies that enable improved energy efficiency and a better working environment. For example, high temperatures often reduce energy waste by speeding up most processes. This has led to lower energy use in lighting, surface treatment, process air heating, and steam from textiles to packaging. Using high-grade energy (smart power devices) is essential to all of us. A high-grade energy example.….

New Concepts in Energy Use: Developing a new law of thermodynamics to predict how the shapes of things evolve… link here for an update. It is a current topic, not yet fully understood!

High temperature equals higher productivity. Use high-temperature SmartSteam instead of high amounts of low-grade energy. This is smart power usage.

Does Energy Efficiency also imply less pollution? Yes. When energy is used (i.e., spontaneously transformed from one state to another), it is degraded.   Degraded energy is lower-quality energy, often also directly or indirectly enhancing pollutants.

When using electric energy (an ordered form of energy) rather than gas combustion (a disordered form of energy) for a process, additional energy efficiency arises from improved control, lower-harm emissions, and other process-related factors. Combustion of carbon-containing gases (directly or indirectly) produces CO2, which, along with any leaks of Methane (Natural Gas), contributes to erratic atmospheric patterns. See spectra…

Improving the heat transfer rate (speed) of industrial processes becomes more critical as production demands increase. They are improving the speed with less power. MHI offers competitive rates for power machines, with energy efficiency and financing options to support your success. Financing solutions include enabling monthly payments. Approximate payment calculator (click to open). Please compare the Return on Investment (ROI) for an estimate of daily net earnings. Broad examples are given below; however, please get in touch with MHI for accuracy and applicability to your specific use.

ROI Scenarios. Please contact or call MHI sales for details for your use. Some returns on investment can be very large. For OAB® products for certain CPG or hydronic heating applications, power savings can range from 30% to a whopping 90% in specific scenarios. For some of the Nanostructured GAXP® heating-element configurations, a good scenario,  based on a four-year amortization schedule, shows that a $13K monthly investment can lead to a $1M return when adequately installed – i.e., considerable monthly net savings for specific Cascade e-Ion™ applications. A 2K monthly investment may yield $100K in net savings per month (four-year amortization). A relatively light $312 investment in a modern Airtorch® system for enhanced, environmentally friendly die heating can lead to $14K in monthly net savings (four-year amortization scenario). ROI scenarios vary by client and installation, and the best estimates are listed above. Please get in touch with MHI to discuss your specific use cases and assumptions for the scenarios above. MHI has invested in developing and patenting energy-efficient technologies and has gone further by commercializing devices and building a large group of satisfied customers.

We look forward to adding your name to the hundreds of satisfied MHI customers.

In today’s manufacturing world, you can save money by reducing energy use, improving environmental performance, and achieving better outcomes in a new, enlightened plant. MHI devices are fundamentally structured to provide these three benefits. The technology for heat energy production has dramatically improved over the past ten years, with nanostructured GAXP®, Airtorch, Cascade e-Ion, and One Atmosphere Boilers (OAB) leading the way. In the table below, an approximate calculation shows savings from using a more energy-efficient machine. The assumptions are one year of continuous use and 10¢/kWhr. Modern thermal energy devices can provide good value. MHI is a choice that many users have made to help save energy and the environment. Please review the testimonials.

Small Print! and Disclaimer: 

This return on investment (ROI) analysis is very approximate.   Savings and benefits to the user may be higher or lower than those presented above. The calculations shown are intended to be indicative and will vary with specific applications, equipment, and operating conditions. This is an approximate guide, and the template should be modified for the customer’s specific use. Interest rates, energy, equipment, and other costs used in the analysis are always subject to change. MHI does not guarantee or warrant any specific ROI analysis that a purchaser may use in their decision-making process. The responsibility for an accurate ROI calculation rests solely with the buyer/user. Financing is not guaranteed and depends on several factors that MHI does not control.

Information and Tutorial Resources

To understand the basics of energy and power, please click on the MHI 101 Power and Energy tutorial + calculator.    Public-private partnerships exist worldwide to improve energy efficiency. Some are briefly discussed below. The following external links are provided as a public service and are not intended to create relationships.

Energy Efficiency Help:  Please use the DOE link below to search the State Incentives and Resource Database.   The State Incentives and Resource Database is designed to help those seeking to make energy-efficiency upgrades to their facilities. It is a repository of energy incentive programs, tools, and other resources for commercial and industrial energy managers.   Incentives and resources are available at the national, state, county, and local levels.   Power utilities, private companies, and non-profits also offer incentives for energy efficiency measures, including rebates, waived fees, tax credits, and loans.   Resources include analysis tools, education and training programs, and energy audits.

Environment Help:  The generation, conversion, and use of energy can affect the environment. The United States EPA’s regulatory and voluntary programs foster more responsible production and use of energy resources. The link below lets you learn about important energy topics and locate information about EPA energy programs. EPA Clean Energy contact:  State Utility Commission Assistance  (202) 343-9631. http://epa.gov/energy.  Today, you may be able to quickly capture the value of energy savings through many programs offered by various governments and utility companies.   MHI can help you establish energy efficiency with our products and technologies.   Below are US-based links to online resources and programs that offer incentives and rebates for energy efficiency and emissions compliance. There are similar energy programs in almost all countries. You could use some of these programs to secure low-cost loans, grants, and energy rebates to purchase MHI energy-efficient products. For many typical configurations and uses, the GAXP and Airtorch® efficiencies could allow about 10kW savings; Cascade e-Ion and OAB solutions may allow over 100kW, and more. MHI furnaces also offer Fiberfree™ insulation and special nanostructured roof hangers. Please get in touch with MHI and join the SAVINGS newsletter.

Regulations and Green Offerings: Pressure certificates, ASME, and local government regulations vary and may change. Please confirm with local authorities. Steam generators operating at One Atmosphere (such as OABs, HGAs, and others) may not require certification. Please click here to review some of the codes posted online.

* Based on 2015-2016 Estimates

Additional Useful Links Basics of Surface Smoothing, Peening, and Deburring Basics of Energy and Power Basics of Radiation Power Transfer Engineering Units Conversion Calculator Page Important Concepts in Thermodynamics Melting Points and Processes Properties of Gases and Moist Air as a Function of Temperature Review of Equilibrium Constant and Production Speed Calculator Steam Calculator

OAB Electric Steam Generators. Decarbonized.