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Energy Terms

A generator producing alternating current by the rotation of its rotor, and which is powered by a primary mover.

The air external to a building or device.

The temperature of a medium, such as gas or liquid, which comes into contact with or surrounds an apparatus or building element.

A colorless, pungent, gas (NH3) that is extremely soluble in water, may be used as a refrigerant; a fixed nitrogen form suitable as fertilizer.

A non-crystalline semiconductor material that has no long-range order.

A measure of the flow of current (in amperes) over one hour.

A unit of measure for an electrical current; the amount of current that flows in a circuit at an electromotive force of one Volt and at a resistance of one Ohm. Abbreviated as amp.

Microorganisms that live in oxygen deprived environments.

The complex process by which organic matter is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria. The decomposition process produces a gaseous byproduct often called "biogas" primarily composed of methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.

A device for optimizing the anaerobic digestion of biomass and/or animal manure, and possibly to recover biogas for energy production. Digester types include batch, complete mix, continuous flow (horizontal or plug-flow, multiple-tank, and vertical tank), ...

A holding pond for livestock manure that is designed to anaerobically stabilize manure, and may be designed to capture biogas, with the use of an impermeable, floating cover.

One hundred percent alcohol; neat ethanol.

An instrument for measuring the force or velocity of wind; a wind guage.

In reference to solar energy systems, the angle at which direct sunlight strikes a surface; the angle between the direction of the sun and the perpindicular to the surface. Sunlight with an incident angle of 90 degrees tends to be absorbed, while lower an ...

In reference to solar energy systems, the angle that a solar collector is positioned above horizontal.

A unit of length named for A.J. Angstome, a Swedish spectoscopist, used in measuring electromagnetic radiation equal to 0.000,000,01 centimeters.

The measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a residential heating furnace or boiler. It takes into account the cyclic on/off operation and associated energy losses of the heating unit as it responds to changes in the load, which in turn is affected by ...

That fraction of annual energy demand supplied by a solar system.

The annual solar savings of a solar building is the energy savings attributable to a solar feature relative to the energy requirements of a non-solar building.

The positive pole or electrode of an electrolytic cell, vacuum tube, etc. (see also sacrificial anode).