Comparative performance analysis of a Brownian Carnot cycle from the perspective of a stochastic model against the Linear Irreversible Thermodynamics theory

Abstract

In this paper we present a Brownian Carnot cycle, which has already been studied by Schmield et al. (2007) as well as by Izumida and Okuda (2010); but now considering two different working regimes, namely the Maximum Ecological Function (MEC) and the Maximum Efficient Power (MEP). For the MEC and MEP working regimes, the thermodynamic properties of the cycle are obtained, in particular, it is showed that the maximum efficiency now depends on two parameters α and β, instead of only one parameter obtained previously by Schmiled et al. in the maximum power regime. It is worthwhile to notice that for characteristic values of α and β the original results obtained by Schmield are recovered.From the previous observations, the authors consider that the results obtained represent a more general case that includes other working regimes.