Energy & Environment · Storage and grids / Principles and inquiry
Energy conversion chain and overall efficiency experiment guide
Vary three stage efficiencies to track final energy and losses at each stage.
How does it work?
Overall efficiency is the product of stage efficiencies. Energy lost at one stage is absent from the next input.
Key relationship
Eout = Ein η₁η₂η₃ · ηtotal = η₁η₂η₃
Try this investigation
- Vary three stage efficiencies to track final energy and losses at each stage.
- Run and record each of the three reference settings.
- Change one variable in each comparison and compare its energy results with the baseline.
Interpreting your results
How do you calculate efficiency across three stages?
Multiply the three efficiencies as fractions · Overall efficiency is the product of stage efficiencies. Energy lost at one stage is absent from the next input.
Assumptions and limitations
Assumes three independent stages with constant efficiencies. Recovered heat, standby power, time variation and environmental impacts are omitted. Efficiency alone does not establish sustainability.