The caloric energy It is a type of energy that bodies possess when they are exposed to the effect of heat. It is also called thermal or calorific energy, and it is precisely what causes the atoms that make up the molecules to be in constant motion, either moving or vibrating. For instance: solar panels, gas oven, microwave.
Every time a body receives heat, the molecules that are part of the object acquire this energy, which generates more movement. This is one relationship between thermal energy and temperature, which in any case does not go both ways: if the temperature of an element is increased, its thermal energy increases, but not always when the thermal energy of a body is increased, its temperature increases since in phase changes the temperature is maintained .
The production of heat energy is given in natural form by the sun, and also in artificial shape for any fuel, among which electricity, gas, coal, oil and bio-diesel stand out. In any case, it is not efficient to generate thermal energy from these fuels.
Uses of caloric energy
There are many applications of this type of energy, which are usually divided between domestic and industrial.
- Domestic application. It is mainly limited to the heating of water by means of thermal solar panels, or to the heating of rooms with underfloor heating.
- Industrial application. It is mainly associated with the washing and drying of different types of products: the process of cleaning industrial laundries or parts, cars or other types of industrial product.
Transmission: Radiation, Conduction and Convection
One of the most important issues regarding heat energy is its transmission, which follows the laws of thermodynamics in three different ways: by radiation, transmitted through electromagnetic waves; by conduction when a hot body is in physical contact with another colder body; and by convection when hot molecules move from one side to the other.
Examples of heat energy transmission
- Solar energy panels.
- Microwave.
- Ice in a bowl of hot water, which melts through heat conduction.
- The convective heat transfer generated by the human body when a person is barefoot.
- Solar ultraviolet radiation, the process that determines the earth’s temperature.
- The stove.
- The gas oven.
- The heat emitted by a radiator.
- Generating sets, which with a fossil fuel engine replace the electrical power supply.
- Most heating systems.
Other types of energy
| Potential energy | Mechanical energy | Kinetic energy |
| Hydroelectric power | Internal energy | Caloric energy |
| Electric power | Thermal energy | Geothermal energy |
| Chemical energy | Solar energy | Sound energy |
| Wind power | Nuclear energy | Hydraulic energy |