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.
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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 May 26, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Howard_T._Odum_energy_circuit_language>
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The Encyclopedia of Earth
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)
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.
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
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