ABSTRACT
There is a close relationship between energy consumption and disposable income. Energy conversion can take place in a simple process as well as in a complicated system comprised of several processes. All energy conversion processes are governed by the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The first law involves the conservation of energy. The second law of thermodynamics plays an important role in the design and analysis of energy conversion systems. The concept of availability is embodied in the second law of thermodynamics. The availability method is developed on the basis of the work potential concept. The method is a systematic approach to apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics to conversion processes or conversion systems. This chapter presents the availability method and its application to energy conversion. It discusses some concepts engineers feel comfortable with, such as the conservation of energy, reversibility and irreversibility of processes and the work produced under these conditions, and reviews some basic thermodynamics.
