Electrical efficiency

Electrical efficiency

The efficiency of an entity (a device, component, or system) in electronics and electrical engineering is defined as useful power output divided by the total electrical power consumed (a fractional expression), typically denoted by the Greek letter small Eta (η).

:

mathrm{Efficiency}=frac{mathrm{Useful power output{mathrm{Total power input

Efficiency of typical electrical devices

"Efficiency" should not be confused with "effectiveness": a system that wastes most of its input power but produces exactly what it is meant to is effective but not efficient. The term "efficiency" only makes sense in reference to the wanted effect. So a light bulb might have 2% efficiency at emitting light yet still be 98% efficient at heating a room. (In practice it is nearly 100% efficient at heating a room because the light energy will also be converted to heat eventually, apart from the small fraction that leaves through the windows). An electronic amplifier that delivers 10 watts of power to its load (for example a loudspeaker), while drawing 20 watts of power from a power source is 50% efficient. (10/20 × 100% = 50%)

* Electric kettle: over 90% (comparatively little heat energy is lost during the 2 to 3 minutes a kettle takes to boil water).
* A four-quadrant gate is highly effective, yet it has an electrical efficiency close to 0%.

Efficiency of devices at point of Maximum Power Transfer

As a result of the Maximum Power Theorem, devices transfer maximum power to a load when running at 50% electrical efficiency. This occurs when the load resistance (of the device in question) is equal to the internal Thevenin equivalent resistance of the power source.

Efficiency of light bulbs

* Incandescent light bulb: about 2%.
* Compact fluorescent lamp: about 7% to 9%.
* White Light-emitting diode (LED) about 4% to 10%.

Discussion

High efficiency is obviously desirable when we wish to design systems that can operate from batteries. Inefficiency has a cost (either paid to the power company or the cost of the required power supply) to be weighed against the cost of attaining greater efficiency (choosing different components or redesigning the system). Also, any difference in the input and output power probably produces heat within the system (though noise and other mechanical vibrations involve at least theoretically separate inefficiencies), and that heat must be removed from the system if it is to remain within its operating temperature range.If the system is in a climate controlled environment (e.g. a home or office), heat generated may affect heating, ventilation and air conditioning costs.

See also

* Battery
* Electronic amplifier
* List of electronics topics
* Maximum Power Theorem
* Negawatt power
* Standby power
* Other measures of efficiency:
* Thermal efficiency
* Mechanical efficiency
* Performance per watt
* Efficiency improvement initiatives:
* 80 plus
* One watt initiative
* Energy star

External links

* [http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-efficiency.htm Conversion: Energy efficiency in percent of passive loudspeakers to sensitivity in dB per watt and meter]
* [http://www.iea-4e.org 4E - International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement to promote energy efficiency and standards for electrical products worldwide]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Efficiency — as a technical term may refer to: * Algorithmic efficiency, optimizing the speed and memory requirements of a computer program * Efficient energy use, useful work per quantity of energy ** Energy conversion efficiency, desired energy output per… …   Wikipedia

  • Electrical engineering — Electrical engineering, sometimes referred to as electrical and electronic engineering, is a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable… …   Wikipedia

  • Electrical wiring — in general refers to insulated conductors used to carry electricity, and associated devices. This article describes general aspects of electrical wiring as used to provide power in buildings and structures, commonly referred to as building wiring …   Wikipedia

  • Electrical generator — In electricity generation, an electrical generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, generally using electromagnetic induction. The reverse conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy is done by a motor …   Wikipedia

  • efficiency — [1] The accomplishment of something with the least amount of effort, energy, or fuel. [2] Output of a device, system, or activity, divided by the input necessary to create the output. In a compressor the efficiency would be the work output, as… …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • Electrical steel — Surface of grain oriented electrical steel with removed coating, with visible grains of crystallites Electrical steel, also called lamination steel, silicon electrical steel, silicon steel or transformer steel, is specialty steel tailored to… …   Wikipedia

  • Electrical ballast — Choke ballast (inductor) used in older lighting. This example is from a tanning bed. Requires a lamp starter (below) and capacitor …   Wikipedia

  • Thermal efficiency — In thermodynamics, the thermal efficiency (eta {th} ,) is a dimensionless performance measure of a thermal device such as an internal combustion engine, a boiler, or a furnace, for example. The input, Q {in} ,, to the device is heat, or the heat… …   Wikipedia

  • Energy conversion efficiency — Output energy is always lower than input energy …   Wikipedia

  • Quantum efficiency — (QE) is a quantity defined for a photosensitive device such as photographic film or a charge coupled device (CCD) as the percentage of photons hitting the photoreactive surface that will produce an electron–hole pair [… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”