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Optimization and Stability of Heat Engines: The Role of Entropy Evolution
Julian Gonzalez-Ayala1,2, Moises Santillán3, Maria Jesus Santos1,2
1Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 3, 2020
Summary
This study analyzes the dynamic evolution of heat engine operation regimes. We found that stability and optimization are interconnected, with trade-offs affecting efficiency and power output.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Non-equilibrium systems
- Heat engine optimization
Background:
- Analyzing the stability of heat engine operation is crucial for understanding their performance limits.
- Previous studies have explored trade-offs between efficiency, power, and stability, but dynamic evolution requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the local stability of maximum power and maximum compromise (Omega) operation regimes in a low-dissipation heat engine.
- To investigate the dynamic evolution of thermodynamic trajectories towards a stationary state after perturbations.
Main Methods:
- Perturbation analysis of operation regimes.
- Examination of dynamic trajectories to the stationary state.
- Analysis of stability, entropy production, efficiency, and power output trade-offs.
Main Results:
- A trade-off exists between stability, entropy production, efficiency, and power output.
- Trajectories within the basin of attraction exhibit minimal entropy drops.
- Time constraints associated with irreversible and endoreversible processes influence relaxation dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Stability and optimization in heat engines are intrinsically linked phenomena.
- Understanding dynamic evolution and time constraints is key to improving heat engine performance.
- The study provides insights into the thermodynamic behavior influenced by model symmetries and thermal gradients.
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