Mike Moore, Chief Mechanical Engineer of John Brown Hydrocarbons Limited is this year's President of the Heat Transfer Society joining a list of well respected past presidents. John Brown Hydrocarbons Limited hosted this year's event in Paddington and for this Mike chose to expand on the theme of his inaugural speech entitled "A Brief History of Heat."
Mike gave an overview of heat transfer from the first taming of fire (half a million years ago) including baking (Circa 20,000BC), Pottery (~6,500 BC), metalworking (~2,000BC) and distillation of rice beer to make sake (~800BC). Into the modern era, the first steam machine was Hero's Aeolipile in the first century AD), distillation of alcohol in Europe (~AD 1,000), steam power (17th century onwards) and oil distillation (19th century) and so through to the present day.
"We can feel heat, see its effects and use its properties - but what is it? As a form of energy, it has helped to shape our world, our environment and our civilisation. Man has harnessed heat for both good and evil, but can he compete with nature in the awesome effects of heat?"
The talk included descriptions of the nature of heat itself in scientific terms and the main sources of heat that effect us (the Earth and the Sun). Mike gave an expanded version of the history of the use of heat as an energy source. In describing the development of technologies to utilise this energy, a general theme emerged that the developments and the applications of technology have always been built on existing technology and that no successful development is produced in isolation. Finally, Mike considered our current use of heat and the possible effects on our environment
The presentation was very well received and prompted a wide ranging discussion with particular emphasis on environmental issues that had been raised both directly and indirectly from the talk.
George Bowes, the Chairman of the Heat transfer Society, concluded the evening with thanks to John Brown Hydrocarbons Limited for the hospitality, and to Mike for a talk that was topical, thought provoking and which was of interest to all those present.
This article is an edited version of one written by Dave Richardson which appeared in the John Brown House Magazine, The Bear
