An invited presentation 
SPEAKING Enquiry
Energy Is Everything - Literally: Fundamentals and Future Challenges
New Ideas in Science - Alternative Energy Conference
Northern Illinois University, March 16, 2009 (PPT Handout & Feedback)
by Professor M. Kostic, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIU
Abstract (more at: www.kostic.niu.edu/energy):
If all energy is literally expelled from a confined space, then nothing, empty space will be left. As long as any matter is left it will contain the energy - even at zero absolute temperature the electrons will be orbiting around very energetic nucleus. Matter is and must be energetic, E=mc^2, thus literally, "energy is everything," no energy, nothing in the space. Energy is a fundamental property of a physical system and refers to its potential to maintain a material system identity or structure (forced field in space) and to influence changes (via forced-displacement interactions, i.e. systems' re-structuring) with other systems by imparting work (forced directional displacement) or heat (forced chaotic displacement/motion of a system molecular or related structures). Energy exists in many forms: electromagnetic (including light), electrical, magnetic, nuclear, chemical, thermal, and mechanical (including kinetic, elastic, gravitational, and sound). Energy is the ‘‘building block’’ and fundamental property of matter and space and, thus, the fundamental property of existence. Energy exchanges or transfers are associated with all processes (or changes) and, thus, are indivisible from time.
Energy conservation “with existing technology” has real immediate potential to substantially reduce energy dependence on fossil fuels until new, yet-to-be-invented technology is available long-run. For example, at present, the Toyota Prius, commercial hybrid car makes double mileage than classical comparable car (double efficiency, 46 mpg vs. 23 mpg), and commercial Combined-Cycle-Power-Plant (CCPP), combining gas-steam turbines cycles, is about two times more efficient than classical comparable power-plant (about 60% vs. 30%), all commercial products with existing technology - thus it could be done for any car and any power plant – energy consumption could be halved on global scale – two times less energy and pollution than current. With energy conservation measures (insulation and regeneration with energy storage, cogeneration and optimization) it is even more straightforward to substantially reduce energy use in buildings and industry. We just have to make it a priority: invest resources in existing and new infrastructures and businesses and create new jobs to substantially improve equipment/product/process efficiencies in energy production and consumption sectors, while investing strategically in research and development.
At present, most of the World energy consumption is supplied by the fossil fuels (about 85%). However, the proven fossil fuel reserves are limited, and if continued to be used at the present rates, they will be depleted in relatively short period of time. At present, a substantial amount of World electricity is obtained from nuclear and hydro energy (close to 20% each), respectively, and use of other renewable energy resources is increasing, namely geothermal, wind, biomass and solar, as well as development of alternative synthetic fuels, including hydrogen, etc. It is worth noting that some countries produce almost all or most of their electricity from hydro energy (like Norway, Brazil, New Zealand, Austria and Switzerland), and France produces most of its electricity from nuclear fuel (close to 80%). The nuclear fuel reserves are orders of magnitude higher than fossil fuels, and nuclear plants do not contribute to CO2 green-house pollution. Furthermore, advances in energy conversion and utilization technologies and increase in efficiency, including computerized control and management, contribute to energy conservation, increase in safety, and reduction of related environmental pollution. Actually, per capita energy use in the U.S. and other developed countries is being reduced in recent years. However, the increase of World’s population and continuous growth of many fast developing and very populated countries, like China, India and others, will influence continuous increase of the World energy consumption.
The two things are certain in not distant future: (1) the world population and their living-standard expectations will substantially increase, and (2) fossil fuels’ economical reserves, particularly oil and natural gas, will substantially decrease. The difficulties that will face every nation and the world in meeting energy needs over the next several decades will be more challenging than what we anticipate now. The traditional solutions and approaches will not solve the global energy problem. New knowledge, new technology, and new living habits and expectations must be developed to address both the quantity of energy needed to increase the standard of living world-wide and to preserve and enhance the quality of our environment.
A probable scenario … in the wake of a short history of fossil fuels’ abundance and use (a bleep on a human history radar screen), the following energy future activities, in order of practical urgency but all (diversity) are critically important:
1. Creative adaptation and innovations, with change of societal and human habits and expectations (life could be happier after fossil fuels’ era).
2. Intelligent hi-tech, local and global energy management in wide sense (to reduce waste, improve efficiency and quality of environment and life).
3. Energy conservation and regeneration have unforeseen (higher order of magnitude) and large potentials, in industry, transportation, commercial and residential sectors.
4. Nuclear energy and re-electrification for most of stationary energy needs.
5. Cogeneration and integration of power generation and new industry on global scale
(to close the cycles at sources thus protecting environment and increasing efficiency).
6. Renewable biomass and synthetic hydro-carbons for fossil fuel replacement (mobile energy, transportation, and chemicals).
7. Advanced energy storage (synthetic fuels, advanced batteries, hydrogen…).
8. Redistributed solar-related and other renewable energies (to fill in the gap…).
However, regardless of imminent shortages of fossil fuels, the outlook for future energy needs is encouraging. There are many diverse and abundant energy sources with promising future potentials, so that mankind should be able to enhance its activities, standard and quality of living, by diversifying energy sources, and by improving energy conversion and utilization efficiencies, while at the same time increasing safety and reducing environmental pollution. After all, the life may be happier after the fossil fuel era!
See the Energy Pyramid: www.kostic.niu.edu/energy/energy_pyramid.htm
Brief Biography of the Speaker (more at: www.kostic.niu.edu):
Professor Kostic's teaching and research interests are in Thermodynamics (a science of energy, the Mother of All Sciences), Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer and related fluid-thermal-energy sciences; with emphases on physical comprehension and creative design, experimental methods with computerized data acquisition, and CFD simulation; including nanotechnology and development of new-hybrid, POLY-nanofluids with enhanced properties, as well as design, analysis and optimization of fluids-thermal-energy components and systems in power-conversion, utilizations, manufacturing and material processing. Dr. Kostic came to Northern Illinois University from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he supervised and conducted a two-year research program in heat transfer and viscoelastic fluid flows, after working for some time in industry.
Kostic received his B.S. degree with the University of Belgrade Award as the best graduated student in 1975. Then he worked as a researcher in thermal engineering and combustion at The Vinca Institute for Nuclear Sciences, which then hosted the headquarters of the International Center for Heat and Mass Transfer, and later taught at the University of Belgrade in ex-Yugoslavia, Serbia now (MFB). He came to the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1981 as a Fulbright grantee, where he received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 1984. Subsequently, Dr. Kostic worked several years in industry. In addition, he spent three summers as an exchange visitor in England, West Germany, and the former Soviet Union.
Dr. Kostic has received recognized professional fellowships and awards, including multiple citations in Marquis' "Who's Who in the World" and "Who's Who in Science and Engineering."; the Fulbright Grant; NASA Faculty Fellowship; Sabbatical Semester at Fermilab as a Guest Scientist; and the summer Faculty Research Participation Program at Argonne National Laboratory. He is a frequent reviewer of professional works and books in Thermodynamics and Experimental Methods. Dr. Kostic is a licensed professional engineer (PE) in Illinois and a member of the ASME, ASEE, and AIP's Society of Rheology. He has a number of publications in refereed journals, including invited state-of-the-art chapters in the Academic Press series Advances in Heat Transfer, Volume 19, and "Viscosity" in CRC Press' Measurement, Instrumentation and Sensors Handbook; as well as invited reference articles: Work, Power, and Energy in Academic Press/Elsevier's Encyclopedia of Energy; Extrusion Die Design in Dekker's Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing; and Energy: Global and Historical Background, and Physics of Energy, both in Taylor & Francis/CRC Press Encyclopedia of Energy Engineering and Technology. Professor Kostic is a member of the Graduate Faculty at Northern Illinois University.