Thread: Heat vs. electricity

Is heat by combustion a more efficient and/or cheaper source of energy? For example in high temprature electrolysis energy is provided through electricity as well as heat. Does that make it more efficient than regular electrolysis with just electricity?
I would think so because heat by combustion is a rawer form of energy. In producing electricity, much energy would be wasted beause of resistance. By using heat we can eliminate these points of resistance.(i am assuming that combustion is carried out in perfect conditions)
Am i thinking correctly?

heat is a high entropy energy so you cant get much energy from it, even thou electricity isnt a form of energy but a mere way of transporting it the energy source from wich it comes is lower entropy and you can extract more work from it

heat is not a concentrated source of energy. electricity can easily be transported anywhere and easy to handle.

Originally Posted by ketanof92

Is heat by combustion a more efficient and/or cheaper source of energy? For example in high temprature electrolysis energy is provided through electricity as well as heat. Does that make it more efficient than regular electrolysis with just electricity?
I would think so because heat by combustion is a rawer form of energy. In producing electricity, much energy would be wasted beause of resistance. By using heat we can eliminate these points of resistance.(i am assuming that combustion is carried out in perfect conditions)
Am i thinking correctly?

I am not too sure what you are trying to get at. Heat cannot be stored efficiently because of radiation. Where do you get that in producing electricity the energy is wasted because of resistance ? Are you talking about electrical resistance ? Youq idea makes about as much sense to me as a Japanese VCR instruction manual. Maybe if you were to explain your idea more clearly we would be able to teat it apart, (more clearly).