Howard T. Odum energy circuit language
Howard T. Odum energy circuit language
This is a part of the Howard T. Odum Collection
 | Energy circuit: A pathway whose flow is proportional to the quantity in the storage or source upstream. |
 | Source: Outside source of energy delivering forces according to a program controlled from outside; a forcing function. |
 | Tank: A compartment of energy storage within the system storing a quantity as the balance of inflows and outflows; a state variable. |
 | Heat sink: Dispersion of potential energy into heat that accompanies all real transformation processes and storages; loss of potential energy from further use by the system. |
 | Interaction: Interactive intersection of two pathways coupled to produce an outflow in proportion to a function of both;control action of one flow on another; limiting factor action; work gate. |
 | Consumer: Unit that transforms energy quality, stores it, and feeds it back autocatalytically to improve inflow. |
 | Switching action: A symbol that indicates one or more switching actions. |
 | Producer: Unit that collects and transforms low-quality energy under control interactions of high-quality flows. |
 | Self-limiting energy receiver: A unit that has a self-limiting output when input drives are high because there is a limiting constant quality of material reacting on a circular pathway within. |
 | Box: Miscellaneous symbol to use for whatever unit or function is labeled. |
 | Constant-gain amplifier: A unit that delivers an output in proportion to the input I but is changed by a constant factor as long as the energy source S is sufficient. |
 | Transaction: A unit that indicates a sale of goods or services (solid line) in exchange for payment of money (dashed line). Price is shown as an external source. |
Citation
Ida Kubiszewski (Lead Author);Cutler Cleveland (Topic Editor) "Howard T. Odum energy circuit language". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth June 12, 2007; Last revised Date June 12, 2007; Retrieved February 9, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Howard_T._Odum_energy_circuit_language>
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Dr. Ida Kubiszewski is a co-founder and former-Managing Editor the Encyclopedia of Earth. She is currently working as the Managing Editor for a new magazine/journal hybrid called Solutions. Solutions is an outlet for discussions focusing on solutions to the complex problems we are now facing in the context of whole systems design for a sustainable and desirable future. Dr. Kubiszewski is also the managing editor of Ecological E ... (Full Bio)
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