Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 12, 2025
07:18
Experimental System of Solar Adsorption Refrigeration with Concentrated Collector
Published on: October 18, 2017
14.8K
Efficiency estimation for an equilibrium version of the Maxwell refrigerator
1Department of Physics, BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, Zuarinagar 403726, Goa, India.
Physical Review. E
|March 19, 2021
Summary
This study simplifies the Maxwell refrigerator model, showing its maximum efficiency matches Carnot limits. Performance metrics like the coefficient of performance (COP) and efficiency (η) were calculated for this information-driven heat transfer device.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Statistical Mechanics
- Information Theory
Background:
- The Maxwell refrigerator, utilizing information reservoirs, transfers heat from cold to hot reservoirs.
- Previous models involved simultaneous interactions between a two-state demon, bit stream, and thermal reservoirs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze a simplified Maxwell refrigerator model with sequential interactions.
- To calculate the efficiency (η) when operating as an engine and the coefficient of performance (COP) when operating as a refrigerator.
Main Methods:
- A simplified Maxwell refrigerator model was developed where the demon and bit system interact sequentially with reservoirs.
- The system was allowed to reach equilibrium before interactions.
- Efficiency and COP were calculated based on reservoir temperatures and demon energy levels.
Main Results:
- Maximum efficiency matches the Carnot efficiency for the given temperatures.
- The COP, at maximum cooling, decreases proportionally to 1/T_h for T_h > T_c >> ΔE.
- Maximum work efficiency is described by η = T_h / (0.779 + T_h) under specific temperature conditions (T_c << ΔE and T_h >> ΔE).
Conclusions:
- The simplified Maxwell refrigerator model demonstrates fundamental thermodynamic principles.
- The derived performance metrics provide insights into the operational limits and behavior of information-driven heat engines and refrigerators.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Maxwell's Thermodynamic Relations
3.8K
Maxwell's thermodynamic relations are very useful in solving problems in thermodynamics. Each of Maxwell's relations relates a partial differential between quantities that can be hard to measure experimentally to a partial differential between quantities that can be easily measured. These relations are a set of equations derivable from the symmetry of the second derivatives and the thermodynamic potentials.
All thermodynamic potentials are exact differentials. Therefore, their second-order...
All thermodynamic potentials are exact differentials. Therefore, their second-order...
3.8K
01:20Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution: Problem Solving
2.0K
Individual molecules in a gas move in random directions, but a gas containing numerous molecules has a predictable distribution of molecular speeds, which is known as the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, f(v).
This distribution function f(v) is defined by saying that the expected number N (v1,v2) of particles with speeds between v1 and v2 is given by
This distribution function f(v) is defined by saying that the expected number N (v1,v2) of particles with speeds between v1 and v2 is given by
2.0K
01:07Refrigerators and Heat Pumps
2.6K
Refrigerators or heat pumps are heat engines operating in a reverse direction. For a refrigerator, the focus is on removing heat from a specific area, whereas, for a heat pump, the focus is on dumping heat into one particular area. A refrigerator (or heat pump) absorbs heat Qc from the cold reservoir at Kelvin temperature Tc and discards heat Qh to the hot reservoir at Kelvin temperature Th, while work W is done on the engine’s working substance.
A household refrigerator removes heat from...
A household refrigerator removes heat from...
2.6K
01:16Efficiency of The Carnot Cycle
3.1K
The hypothetical Carnot cycle consists of an ideal gas subjected to two isothermal and two adiabatic processes. Since the internal energy of an ideal gas depends only on its temperature, which is the same before and after the completion of the Carnot cycle, there is no change in its internal energy. Hence, using the first law of thermodynamics, the total heat exchanged by the ideal gas equals the total work done. Thus, we can quantify the efficiency of the Carnot cycle via the heat exchanged...
3.1K
01:20The Carnot Cycle and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
3.2K
The Carnot engine works between two heat reservoirs of fixed temperatures. The Carnot cycle begs the following question: Is it possible to devise a heat engine that is more efficient than a Carnot engine between two fixed temperatures? The answer lies in designing a Carnot refrigerator.
Since the individual steps in a Carnot cycle can be reversed, the entire cycle is, thus, reversible. If a Carnot cycle is reversed, it becomes a Carnot refrigerator. It extracts heat Qc from a cold reservoir at...
Since the individual steps in a Carnot cycle can be reversed, the entire cycle is, thus, reversible. If a Carnot cycle is reversed, it becomes a Carnot refrigerator. It extracts heat Qc from a cold reservoir at...
3.2K
01:17Ampere-Maxwell's Law: Problem-Solving
898
A parallel-plate capacitor with capacitance C, whose plates have area A and separation distance d, is connected to a resistor R and a battery of voltage V. The current starts to flow at t = 0. What is the displacement current between the capacitor plates at time t? From the properties of the capacitor, what is the corresponding real current?
To solve the problem, we can use the equations from the analysis of an RC circuit and Maxwell's version of Ampère's law.
For the first part of the...
To solve the problem, we can use the equations from the analysis of an RC circuit and Maxwell's version of Ampère's law.
For the first part of the...
898