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Quantifying the Flow of Exergy and Carbon through the Natural and Human Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Richard E Sassoon ,
Weston A Hermann ,
I-Chun Hsiao ,
Ljuba Milkovic ,
Aaron J Simon  and
Sally M Benson
Richard E Sassoon
Affiliation:
rsassoon@stanford.edu, Stanford University, Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP), The Jerry Yang & Akiko Yamazaki Environment and Energy Building – 4230, 473 Via Ortega, Suite 324, Stanford, California, 94305, United States
Weston A Hermann
Affiliation:
weshermann@gmail.com, Tesla Motors, San Carlos, California, United States
I-Chun Hsiao
Affiliation:
ichunh@stanford.edu, Stanford University, GCEP, Stanford, California, United States
Ljuba Milkovic
Affiliation:
Ljuba@exergydesign.com, Stanford University, GCEP, Stanford, California, United States
Aaron J Simon
Affiliation:
simon19@llnl.gov, LLNL, Livermore, California, United States
Sally M Benson
Affiliation:
smbenson@stanford.edu, Stanford University, GCEP, Stanford, California, United States
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Abstract

Exergy is the useful portion of energy that allows us to do work and perform energy services. While energy is conserved, exergy is not; some exergy is destroyed whenever energy undergoes a conversion. We gather exergy from distinct, energy-carrying resources that are found in the natural world. These resources are converted into energy carriers that are convenient to use in our factories, vehicles, and buildings for heating, lighting and mechanical services. While there is no shortage of exergy resources, there are considerable environmental, economic, and other constraints associated with the manner and magnitude of their use. This article describes an approach to examining and presenting data on energy use at a global scale. It provides insights into the efficiencies and carbon emissions of many energy pathways, and can provide a basis for an examination of future energy options. In this study, we trace the flow of exergy and carbon through the natural and human systems, revealing the major destructions of exergy, the exergy efficiency of engineered energy processes, and the processes with the highest associated atmospheric carbon emissions. These data have been collected in a relational database available online at http://gcep.stanford.edu/research/exergy/data.html and are presented here in a set of exergy and carbon flow charts.

Keywords

energy generationenergy storageenvironmentally protective
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1170: Symposium R – Materials for Renewable Energy at the Society and Technology Nexus , 2009 , 1170-R01-03
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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