Question

Which type/types of power generation involve maximum number of steps of energy conversion? In which power generation is the number minimum?

Answer 1

The types of power generation involving maximum number of steps of energy conversion are:
(i) Thermal energy based power generation: It involves 5 steps of energy conversion.
$\mathrm{Chemical}\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{coal}\to \mathrm{thermal}\mathrm{energy}\to \mathrm{kinetic}\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{steam}\to \mathrm{kinetic}\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{turbine}\to \mathrm{electrical}\mathrm{energy}$
(ii) Nuclear energy based power generation: It also involves 5 steps of energy conversion.
$\mathrm{Nuclear}\mathrm{energy}\to \mathrm{thermal}\mathrm{energy}\to \mathrm{kinetic}\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{steam}\to \mathrm{kinetic}\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{turbine}\to \mathrm{electrical}\mathrm{energy}$

The power generation using solar photovoltaic cell involves least number of steps of energy conversion. It involves only two steps of energy conversion.
$\mathrm{Energy}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{sunlight}\to \mathrm{electric}\mathrm{energy}$