Energy conversion theorems for some linear steady states.

One of the main issues that real energy converters present, when they produce effective work, is the inevitable entropy production. Within the context of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, entropy production tends to energetically degrade human-made or living systems. On the other hand, it is not useful to think about designing an energy converter that works in the so-called minimum entropy production regime since the effective power output and efficiency are zero. In this paper we establish some energy conversion theorems similar to Prigogine's theorem with constrained forces. The purpose of these theorems is to reveal trade-offs between design and the so-called operation modes for (2×2)-linear isothermal energy converters. The objective functions that give rise to those thermodynamic constraints show stability. A two-mesh electric circuit was built as an example to demonstrate the theorems' validity. Likewise, we reveal a type of energetic hierarchy for power output, efficiency, and dissipation function when the circuit is tuned to any of the operating regimes studied here. These are maximum power output (MPO), maximum efficient power (MPη), maximum omega function (MΩ), maximum ecological function (MEF), maximum efficiency (Mη), and minimum dissipation function (mdf).

Restrictions on linear heat capacities from Joule-Brayton maximum-work cycle efficiency.

This paper discusses the possibility of using the Joule-Brayton cycle to determine the accessible value range for the coefficients a and b of the heat capacity at constant pressure C(p), expressed as C(p) = a + bT (with T the absolute temperature) by using the Carnot theorem. This is made for several gases which operate as the working fluids. Moreover, the landmark role of the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency for this type of cycle is established.

Connection between maximum-work and maximum-power thermal cycles.

A new connection between maximum-power Curzon-Ahlborn thermal cycles and maximum-work reversible cycles is proposed. This linkage is built through a mapping between the exponents of a class of heat transfer laws and the exponents of a family of heat capacities depending on temperature. This connection leads to the recovery of known results and to a wide and interesting set of results for a class of thermal cycles. Among other results it was found that it is possible to use analytically closed expressions for maximum-work efficiencies to calculate good approaches to maximum-power efficiencies. Behind the proposed connection is an interpretation of endoreversibility hypothesis. Additionally, we suggest that certain reversible maximum-work cycles depending on working substance can be used as reversible landmarks for FTT maximum-power cycles, which also depend on working substance properties.

First-order irreversible thermodynamic approach to a simple energy converter.

Several authors have shown that dissipative thermal cycle models based on finite-time thermodynamics exhibit loop-shaped curves of power output versus efficiency, such as it occurs with actual dissipative thermal engines. Within the context of first-order irreversible thermodynamics (FOIT), in this work we show that for an energy converter consisting of two coupled fluxes it is also possible to find loop-shaped curves of both power output and the so-called ecological function versus efficiency. In a previous work Stucki [J. W. Stucki, Eur. J. Biochem. 109, 269 (1980)] used a FOIT approach to describe the modes of thermodynamic performance of oxidative phosphorylation involved in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis within mithochondrias. In that work the author did not use the mentioned loop-shaped curves and he proposed that oxidative phosphorylation operates in a steady state at both minimum entropy production and maximum efficiency simultaneously, by means of a conductance matching condition between extreme states of zero and infinite conductances, respectively. In the present work we show that all Stucki's results about the oxidative phosphorylation energetics can be obtained without the so-called conductance matching condition. On the other hand, we also show that the minimum entropy production state implies both null power output and efficiency and therefore this state is not fulfilled by the oxidative phosphorylation performance. Our results suggest that actual efficiency values of oxidative phosphorylation performance are better described by a mode of operation consisting of the simultaneous maximization of both the so-called ecological function and the efficiency.

Linear irreversible thermodynamics and coefficient of performance.

Following the recent proposal by Van den Broeck for a heat engine [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 190602 (2005)], we analyze the coefficient of performance of a refrigerator in two working regimes using the tools of linear irreversible thermodynamics. In particular, one of the analyzed regimes gives a coefficient of performance which could be considered as the equivalent to the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency. Also we consider the relation with the Clausius inequality, and some results for the relevant thermodynamic magnitudes in this formalism are confronted with those obtained using the finite-time thermodynamics framework.