Entransy concept and controversies: A critical perspective within elusive thermal landscape

Abstract

The concept of ‘entransy’, a product of heat and temperature, originally called ‘heat transport potential capacity’, was introduced in 2003, as analogy to product of electrical charge and voltage, as well as other similar quantities. The concept has been extended to entransy property, as integral product of ‘stored heat’ and temperature, MCvT2/2, thus representing quantity and quality of stored heat, or thermal energy in isochoric processes without work interactions. The entransy has been used for analysis and optimization of many heat transfer processes as described in many publications since its introduction, and is under further development. Later, the entransy concept has been criticized and denounced by a group of researchers, thus creating controversies that need to be put in a broader, historical and contemporary perspective, which is the main goal of this paper. Despite the need for further clarifications and development of the new concept, it would be premature and unjust to discredit entransy, based on limited and subjective claims, as if the ‘already established’ concepts and methodologies are perfect, and do not need alternatives and innovations, as if further progress is not needed.