USCG Exam PracticeThermodynamics and heat exchangers
According to the first law of thermodynamics, what happens to energy that appears to 'disappear' in a real plant process?
- A. It is destroyed by friction and is permanently lost from the system.
- B. It is stored as increased entropy within the working fluid.
- ✓ It is converted to a less useful form, most often low-temperature heat rejected to the environment.Correct
- D. It is converted entirely into increased internal energy of the working fluid.
Why C is correct
DOE-HDBK-1012 §1-3 states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed, and that energy that seems to disappear has been converted to a less useful form, most often low-temperature heat rejected to the environment.
Cited:DOE-HDBK-1012 §1-3