In this blog post, we’ll explore why recycling waste heat from crematoriums evokes emotional resistance despite its environmental benefits, and examine its importance from a thermodynamic perspective.
I recall reading an unusual article a long time ago. It described how a small town in the UK was using waste heat from a crematorium to heat a nearby swimming pool, among other things. While the case discussed in that article is merely one example of energy recovery, this approach plays a crucial role in pursuing sustainability in modern society. At a time when environmental issues and resource depletion are intensifying, these small efforts can collectively drive significant change.
Similarly, Seoul Memorial Park, located near Seoul, South Korea, utilizes waste heat from its crematorium for heating and cooling the crematorium building. This is a method of resource recycling and can be viewed as a practical example of heat recovery. However, there were also news reports indicating that this practice was causing emotional resistance among nearby residents. In fact, when I first read the article, I, too, felt somewhat averse to the idea of using hot water heated by waste heat from a crematorium. However, I soon came to admire these efforts to recycle energy in this way.
These efforts to reduce energy waste are called “heat recovery.” While heat recovery falls under the broader concept of energy recycling, it is also part of the extensive academic field of thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is the study of energy conservation and conversion, and it plays a very important role in our daily lives. While most people may be unfamiliar with the term “thermodynamics,” it is actually a crucial science underlying many phenomena we experience every day.
Simply put, thermodynamics is the study of the relationship between heat and work. From a physical standpoint, “work” and “heat” have different meanings than what people generally think, so understanding these concepts can be confusing. For example, if we apply a force to an object and it moves, we say that, in physics, we have done work. If we push a wall but the wall does not move, this means that, in physics, no work has been done. Similarly, the concept of heat cannot be equated simply with temperature; it is more accurate to understand it as a form of energy transfer.
In this way, thermodynamics is the study of the flow and transformation of energy. There are four fundamental laws in this field. First, the Zeroth Law concerns thermodynamic equilibrium. Simply put, if two objects are in thermal equilibrium, and one of them is in equilibrium with a third object, then the remaining two objects are also in thermal equilibrium. Although the Zeroth Law emerged after the other laws had already been established, it was named the Zeroth Law due to its importance.
The First Law is the law of conservation of energy, which states that the total amount of energy remains constant even as it changes form or is transferred. This law provides a fundamental understanding of how we use and convert energy. The Second Law concerns entropy; it states that energy flows in a specific direction and that in every process, a portion of the energy is irreversibly lost. The process of hot coffee cooling down is a good example that illustrates the Second Law.
The Third Law relates to absolute zero, stating that entropy converges to a constant value at absolute zero. This law plays a crucial role in understanding the properties of matter under extreme conditions.
Based on these laws, thermodynamics is applied in a wide range of fields. From everyday appliances like refrigerators to high-performance engines and electronic components such as CPUs, thermodynamic principles are essential for improving efficiency and performance. Even the heating systems we use and the stovetops we cook on apply thermodynamic principles. Furthermore, thermodynamics is applied to important contemporary challenges, such as the development of renewable energy. For example, utilizing waste heat from crematoriums for heating is a prime example of how thermodynamic knowledge can be used to maximize energy efficiency.
So far, we have examined the basic definitions and laws of thermodynamics, as well as its fields of application. The laws of thermodynamics help us make better decisions regarding environmental issues and energy efficiency. Through the study of thermodynamics, we will be able to solve current problems and build a more sustainable future. It is an important tool that goes beyond mere scientific knowledge to improve our lives and contribute to creating a better world.
