Glossary of Power Engineering Terms
All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ASME CODE |
Codes developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for use in design and construction in industry. |
| ASPIRATING PSYCHROMETER |
A device consisting of two thermometers mounted side-by-side, one having a bare bulb and the other having a bulb covered with fabric. A fan is used to draw air over the thermometers. |
| ASTM |
American Standard for Testing of Materials |
| ATHEROSCLEROSIS |
A cardiovascular condition in which there is an accumulation of cholesterol and fatty acids inside the arteries, which leads to a narrowing or hardening of the arteries. |
| ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE |
Air pressure at sea level. Taken as 101.3 kPa. |
| ATOM |
The smallest part of an element that can exist and still retain the properties of the element; i.e. a nucleus and surrounding electrons. |
| ATOMIC NUMBER |
A number that indicates both the number of the protons and number electrons in the atom. |
| ATOMIC SYMBOL |
An abbreviated means of identifying an element. i.e. C is the chemical symbol for the element carbon. |
| ATOMIC WEIGHT (MASS) |
The sum of the protons and neutrons in the atom. |
| AUSTENITE |
A high temperature crystalline phase in steel in which the crystal structure is face centred cubic. |
| AUTOMATIC EXPANSION VALVE |
An expansion valve actuated by changes in pressure in the evaporator to maintain a constant pressure in the evaporator. |
| AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION |
Devices that automatically monitor for and sense the occurrence of a fire and, in some instances, will be used to extinguish the fire. |
| AUTOTRANSFORMER |
A transformer that contains only one winding that serves as both the primary and the secondary winding. |
| AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT |
All the equipment required, such as pumps, fans, fuel supply, and others, required for the efficient and safe operation of a system. |
| AWS |
American Welding Society. |
| AXIAL |
Refers to alignment with the axis of a machine. An axial force acting on a pump shaft would be acting along the shaft. |
| AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSOR |
A compressor that uses rotor blades shaped like airfoils that give the air a high velocity and push it into subsequent stationary blade passages that convert the velocity energy into pressure. This process is repeated through several stages. The airflow movement is axial. |
| AXIAL FLOW PUMP |
A type of vertical turbine pump that uses a propeller instead of an impeller. The water flow is axial. |
| BABBITT |
Bearing metal of non-ferrous material, containing several tin-based alloys, mainly copper, antimony, tin and lead. |
| BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE |
A device that is installed to prevent the backwards flow of potentially contaminated water, gas, or other substance into any potable water supply or distribution piping. |
| BACKWASH |
A flow through a vessel in the opposite direction of normal flow employed to clean the bed material. |
| BAFFLE |
A wall or wall section located in the gas passage used to change the direction of the flue gas flow so maximum heat will be absorbed. |
| BALANCED DRAFT |
The use of forced and induced draft fans to create a furnace draft at or just below atmospheric pressure. |
| BALANCING RESERVOIR |
A holding basin in which variation in flow and composition of a liquid are averaged. Such basins are used to provide a flow of reasonably uniform volume and composition to a treatment unit. |
| BALL BEARINGS |
Anti-friction bearings containing races and spherical rolling elements designed to support and locate rotating shafts or parts in machines. |
| BALLAST |
An electromagnetic device used with a gas discharge lamp to control starting and operating conditions. |
| BALLAST GAS |
The non-flammable portion of gas, such as carbon dioxide. |
| BARKING DRUM |
A vessel used to remove the bark from incoming logs in a pulp mill. |
| BARRING GEAR |
Refer to Turning Gear. |
| BASE |
A substance, that when dissolved in water, produces hydroxide (OH-) ions. |