thermal energy

[ thur-muhl en-er-jee ]

noun

, Physics.

1. the energy of a body or system that is directly related to its temperature:

   In a steam turbine, the thermal energy of the water vapor transforms into the mechanical power of the turbine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of thermal energy¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

The research, which was financed by the Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office, arose out of funding priorities established by the office in 2019 regarding thermal energy storage.

From Science Daily

Buildings require considerable energy to heat and cool, so thermal energy storage offers an opportunity to shift and shape the electrical load.

From Science Daily

The team says their tool can also be expanded to meet other applications in aerogel design -- such as green technologies used in oil spill cleanup, sustainable energy storage, and thermal energy products like insulating windows.

From Science Daily

It “means that the people who can least afford it are stuck paying for this gas system, this very leaky gas system,” said Ania Camargo, thermal energy networks manager at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, a nonprofit working to eliminate fossil fuels from buildings.

From Seattle Times

While most microreactors can output up to 20 megawatts in order to reach that number, NANO’s models emphasize the micro — with output capped at about 5 megawatts of thermal energy for conversion to electric.

From Salon