Thermal energy production??

Question

Can someone please explain what is meant by thermal energy production and how this relates to the use of coal?

Answer 1

Thermal energy is heat (therms).   Coal is burnt to produce heat.   The heat is then often turned to electricity by boiling water which turns a turbine.

Answer 2

Thermal energy is a form of microscopic energy.

It is linked with heat, temperature and also the phase (liquid/solid/gas) of a mass.

Thermal energy can be created using several ways:

- electrical resisitivity (e.g. electrical heaters)

- friction

- change of state and pressure

- from chemical potentials (combustions)

- nuclear reaction

Heat can also be converted into other forms of energy but unlike its production, most of the conversions from the heat into another form of energy have a low efficiency (e.g. coal power plants).

Burning coal transforms the potential energy between carbon and oxygen into CO2 and heat.

Answer 3

Thermal energy comes from combustion (burning) of fuel.  Coal is one possible fuel.

Answer 4

It doesn't relate to coal. Thermal energy is heat derived from deep in the earth and sometimes closer to the surface in areas like Yellowstone. The heat is used to heat building s and turn water into steam to drive generators which produce electricity.

I hope this helps but Google it also in case I'm not completely correct

PS- I know it also has yo do with two different temps like in cold and hot water