Chemical, electrical, mechanical and nuclear heat energy.
Heat is a form of energy that may be described as a condition of matter in motion caused by the movement of molecules. All matter contains some heat regardless of how low the temperature is because molecules are constantly moving all the time. When a body of matter is heated, the speed of the molecules increases, thus the temperature increases. Anything that sets the molecules of a material in motion produces heat in that material. There are four general categories of heat energy: chemical, electrical, mechanical and nuclear.
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Chemical Heat Energy
Heat of Combustion
The amount of heat generated by the combustion (oxidation) process.
Spontaneous Heating
The heating of an organic substance without the addition of external heat. Spontaneous heating occurs most frequently where sufficient air is not present to dissipate the heat produced. The speed of a heating reaction doubles with each 18°F (10°C) temperature increase.
Heat of Decomposition
The release of heat from decomposing compounds. These compounds may be unstable and release their heat very quickly or they may detonate.
Heat of Solution
The heat released by the mixture of matter in a liquid. Some acids, when dissolved, give off sufficient heat to pose exposure problems to nearby combustibles.
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Electrical Heat Energy
Resistance Heating
The heat generated by passing an electrical force through a conductor such as a wire or an appliance.
Dielectric Heating
The heating that results from the action of either pulsating direct current, or alternating current at high frequency on a non-conductive material.
Induction Heating
The heating of materials resulting from an alternating current flow causing a magnetic field influence.
Leakage Current Heating
The heat resulting from imperfect or improperly insulated electrical materials. This is particularly evident where the insulation is required to handle high voltage or loads near maximum capacity.
Heat from Arcing
Heat released either as a high-temperature arc or as molten material from the conductor.
Static Electricity Heating
Heat released as an arc between oppositely charged surfaces. Static electricity can be generated by the contact and separation of charged surfaces or by fluids flowing through pipes.
Heat Generated by Lightning
The heat generated by the discharge of thousands of volts from either earth to cloud, cloud to cloud or from cloud to ground.
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Mechanical Heat Energy
Frictional Heat
The heat generated by the movement between two objects in contact with each other.
Friction Sparks
The heat generated in the form of sparks from solid objects striking each other. Most often at least one of the objects is metal.
Heat of Compression
The heat generated by the forced reduction of a gaseous volume. Diesel engines ignite fuel vapor without a spark plug by the use of this principle.
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Nuclear Heat Energy
Nuclear Fission and Fusion
The heat generated by either the splitting or combining of atoms.
Source: Adapted from LBFD Training Division documentation.
