Engines with ideal efficiency and nonzero power for sublinear transport laws

Jesper Koning () and Joseph O. Indekeu
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Jesper Koning: KU Leuven, Instituut voor Theoretische Fysica – Celestijnenlaan 200D
Joseph O. Indekeu: KU Leuven, Instituut voor Theoretische Fysica – Celestijnenlaan 200D

The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, 2016, vol. 89, issue 11, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract It is known that an engine with ideal efficiency (η = 1 for a chemical engine and e = e Carnot for a thermal one) has zero power because a reversible cycle takes an infinite time. However, at least from a theoretical point of view, it is possible to conceive (irreversible) engines with nonzero power that can reach ideal efficiency. Here this is achieved by replacing the usual linear transport law by a sublinear one and taking the step-function limit for the particle current (chemical engine) or heat current (thermal engine) versus the applied force. It is shown that in taking this limit exact thermodynamic inequalities relating the currents to the entropy production are not violated.

Keywords: Statistical; and; Nonlinear; Physics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1140/epjb/e2016-70297-9

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