Upper bound efficiency for several configurations of work extractors receiving and releasing statistically deformed heat and radiation fluxes

Abstract

A unified work extractor model is proposed, covering the four possible combinations of heat and radiation reservoirs. In case of heat driven work extractors the upper bounds of the conversion efficiency derived here have the Chambadal-Novikov-Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency as special case and the Carnot efficiency as a particular, ultimate upper bound limit. In case of radiation driven work extractors the upper bounds efficiency covers as a particular case the Petela-Landsberg-Press efficiency, which only applies to fully concentrated radiation. Depending on the value of the geometric factor of the radiation source, the upper bound efficiency ranges between the Petela-Landsberg-Press efficiency and the Carnot efficiency. The upper bound efficiency obtained for the four combinations of heat and radiation reservoirs correctly estimate that work is not generated in some particular cases when both Petela-Landsberg-Press efficiency and Carnot efficiency wrongly estimate that work is generated.