Abstract
Finite Time Thermodynamics is generally associated with the Curzon–Ahlborn approach to the Carnot cycle. Recently, previous publications on the subject were discovered, which prove that the history of Finite Time Thermodynamics started more than sixty years before even the work of Chambadal and Novikov (1957). The paper proposes a careful examination of the similarities and differences between these pioneering works and the consequences they had on the works that followed. The modelling of the Carnot engine was carried out in three steps, namely (1) modelling with time durations of the isothermal processes, as done by Curzon and Ahlborn; (2) modelling at a steady-state operation regime for which the time does not appear explicitly; and (3) modelling of transient conditions which requires the time to appear explicitly. Whatever the method of modelling used, the subsequent optimization appears to be related to specific physical dimensions. The main goal of the methodology is to choose the objective function, which here is the power, and to define the associated constraints. We propose a specific approach, focusing on the main functions that respond to engineering requirements. The study of the Carnot engine illustrates the synthesis carried out and proves that the primary interest for an engineer is mainly connected to what we called Finite (physical) Dimensions Optimal Thermodynamics, including time in the case of transient modelling.
Highlights
The development of Finite Time Thermodynamics is generally associated with Curzon and Ahlborn’s paper [1], and concerns the efficiency of a Carnot engine at Maximum Power output
This is why we prefer to refer to Finite physical Dimensions Optimal Thermodynamics (FDOT, and not Finite Time Thermodynamics (FTT)) which is more correct, and corresponds to reality
A complete examination of steady-state modelling was proposed in Section 3, and the results were illustrated in the Carnot engine case
Summary
The development of Finite Time Thermodynamics is generally associated with Curzon and Ahlborn’s paper [1], and concerns the efficiency of a Carnot engine at Maximum Power output. This is the core subject of the present paper. The originality of Curzon and Ahlborn’s paper was that it related efficiency to the maximum power output W of an endoreversible Carnot engine, as will be detailed and discussed below. It is remarkable to see that the problem of conversion (today called valorization) of heat to mechanical energy had already been effectively developed more than a century and a half ago, with the main objective being maximum work or power allied with efficiency [11].
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