INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY
CONVERSION
ENERGY CONVERSION - SPRING 2025
Dr. Thiana Sedrez
Adjunct Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
The University of Tulsa
WHAT IS ENERGY?
 Energy is the ability to do work.
 There are many forms of energy:
• Heat
• Light
• Motion
• Electrical
• Chemical
• Gravitational
 Many energy transformations are relatively inefficient.
Machine
The human body is less than 5%
efficient most of the time.
Fuel
Work
Food
Move
Breathe
Think
The rest of the energy is converted
to heat, which may or may not be
useful, depending on how cool or
warm a person wants to be.
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SOURCES
Ref: Halkos, G.E.; Gkampoura, E.-C. Reviewing Usage,
Potentials, and Limitations of Renewable Energy Sources.
Energies 2020, 13, 2906.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en13112906
GIVE YOUR OPINION
 What is the average efficiency for a coal electricity-only power plant?
 37%
 52%
 65%
GIVE YOUR OPINION
 What is the average efficiency for a coal electricity-only power plant?
 37%
 52%
 65%
GIVE YOUR OPINION
 What is the largest energy-consuming sector in the world?
 Residential
 Transport
 Industry
GIVE YOUR OPINION
 What is the largest energy-consuming sector in the world?
 Residential
 Transport
 Industry
WORLD
OKLAHOMA
Source: eia
Source: eia
Source: eia