Energy Transformation
Energy is often converted from one type to another to make it more useful. For instance:
Power Plant
- Chemical energy stored within a fuel such as coal is released as thermal energy when it is burned at a power plant.
- This thermal energy is used to heat water within a boiler to create steam, which expands to rotate a turbine, generating electricity.
- The electrical energy is then distributed along power lines to businesses where the electricity can be used to power commercial and residential users.
Hazardous Energy
Air Compressor
- An air compressor's electric motor forces ambient air into a pressure vessel, confining large amounts of air into a small space for future use.
- This stored air is pneumatic potential energy that can be used at a later time. During an electrical power failure, you can still use an air-powered tool, as long as sufficient potential pneumatic energy (compressed air) remains within the air compressor's pressure vessel to operate the tool.
Kinetic and Potential Energy
When Energy Becomes Hazardous
Energy becomes hazardous when it builds to a dangerous level or is released in a quantity that could injure a worker. Hazardous energy is never far from those who need to service or maintain equipment. Simply turning the power off does not make the equipment safe! It is critical that those who service or repair equipment know how hazardous energy could harm them and how to control it.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-4. When does energy become hazardous to workers?
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