Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
English to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Energy / Power Generation
English term or phrase:grid vs. network
Is there an engineer or equivalent in this crowd who could explain a consistent rule when to use "grid" and "network" in the gas (energy) sector? The question just pops up and I can't give any further context, except that my readings seem to indicate that "networks" are private and "grids" are more like supra-networks.
Explanation: To draw a picture, grid refers to the interconnected system for distribution of electricity over a wide area -- i.e., it is almost like the virtual, software side of the business as masterminded by planners in the energy sector; network, on the other hand, is the array of cables and power stations designed and put into work by engineers -- i.e., the latter is the physical portion, the hardware.
As far as I know, the term grid is never applicable to gas distribution, because that energy source is delivered straight through a pipeline. In one's eyes, that system does not resemble a mesh, a grid, as in the case of electricity, where a number of power stations and cables crisscross over a large expanse for its effective distribution.
Thanks to everybody, not a single contribution has gone off the mark, but sadly one must take the points for the others... 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
I don't think that private of public domain has nothing to do with it.
This is just a terminology. Grid comprised of several networks (distribution, transmission) and might also include the production unit, and other units
we talk about the "power grid" once the fuel or energy source (electric, wind, solar, etc.) has been transmuted into energy and uploaded? (Jonas' answer leads me to think so). Shai, in my source language (Spanish), the equivalent word (red, only in the power context) refers to public domain.
My context involves the auctioning of the storage space needed for the (let's call it) basic distribution network. Naturally, after the auction, this would imply the use of private facilities for public purposes.
But national electric supply lines, which may be composed of several providers, are always referred to as "the grid" (or there is a point at which they all connect to the grid). My question is, does this also happen with natural gas?
TV or wireless networks, not grids, so the public/private distinction doesn't work.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
grid vs. network
Explanation: To draw a picture, grid refers to the interconnected system for distribution of electricity over a wide area -- i.e., it is almost like the virtual, software side of the business as masterminded by planners in the energy sector; network, on the other hand, is the array of cables and power stations designed and put into work by engineers -- i.e., the latter is the physical portion, the hardware.
As far as I know, the term grid is never applicable to gas distribution, because that energy source is delivered straight through a pipeline. In one's eyes, that system does not resemble a mesh, a grid, as in the case of electricity, where a number of power stations and cables crisscross over a large expanse for its effective distribution.
Jonas Teixeira Brazil Local time: 16:58 Works in field Native speaker of: Portuguese PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks to everybody, not a single contribution has gone off the mark, but sadly one must take the points for the others...
Explanation: As far as I know Grid refers to the more bigger structure - not in size - but in functionality. The grid of a certain organization may include many sub-networks, may include some other components (for example in the electricity context the Grid may include production unit as well as transmission unit, and other sub networks).
Network on the other hand, by that logic, refers to the more small components - a single distribution network for example - that might be part of the "bigger" Grid.
Again if we relate to the electricity context, Grid is the entire infrastructure of a certain utility, including plants, transmission, sub station, etc. whereas network refers mostly to the transmission network,
Than said, I must admit that I am not sure about that, and I also don't really know the gas industry too well. However, this may point you in the right direction.
Shai Nave Israel Local time: 22:58 Works in field Native speaker of: Hebrew, English
A grid has starting points where you input, and all the rest are outputs, outputs are never inputs.
A network,
In a network all points are inputs and outputs
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 day22 mins (2009-02-27 10:54:47 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
another way to think of it is you plug into a grid (to take something out of it) and you hook up to a network (to allow a flow of information etc in and out)
This is where the term "Networking" comes from, Meeting people to share information and business prospects. (you could never call it gridworking)
Gary D Local time: 05:58 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
The translation workplace 
