2nd Law Research Articles

Life is Programmed Computation

All known life is: Multi-dimensionally programmed Instructed by Functional Informational Representationally symbol-system prescribed Coded Transcribed and translated Successfully cybernetically processed (“halts”) Is literally computed Algorithmically orchestrated Processed by ingeniously integrated circuits These are all formal concepts, not mere mass/energy interactions. Thus, life is fundamentally abstract, conceptual and formal. Its formalisms are instantiated into mass/energy physicality using physicodynamically-inert configurable switch-settings. Representational Material Symbol Systems (MSS) are also used to prescribe logical functions instructed by Prescriptive Information (PI). Physical symbol vehicles (tokens) are sequenced according to rules, not laws. These rules are shared by source and destination governed only by arbitrary pre-agreements, not by laws or physical constraints. Most of life’s instructions are prescribed by coded programming which is often superimposed and multi-dimensional. This programming must be cybernetically processed by nanocomputers. Formal functional work, not just the work of physics, is done by ingenious molecular machines. Life exists in the form of Sustained Functional Systems (SFS) that continually compute interdependent, highly cooperative haltings. Integrated circuits orchestrate into physicality homeostatic metabolism. Active selections alone achieve sustained far from equilibrium defiance of 2nd Law thermodynamic propensities. Life is not a thermodynamic state. Life consists of prescribed computational processes.

Measurement of gas exchange surface area from DLNO and DLCO.

Measurement of gas exchange surface area from DLNO and DLCO.

Comprehensible dynamics of quanta: from the quantum of action to the 2nd law of thermodynamics

The 2nd law of thermodynamics is derived from the principle of least action, positing that the quantum of action is the indivisible and indestructible basic building block of everything. On their least-time paths to balance, the quanta move from the system to its surroundings, or vice versa, so that the kinetic, potential, and dissipated energy tally. When re-expressed in logarithmic terms, this current toward more probable states with decreasing free energy equates to the principle of increasing entropy, the 2nd law of thermodynamics, including path-independent dynamic and path dependent geometric phase shifts. Despite being exact, the equation of evolution to entropy maximum, equivalent to free energy minimum, cannot be solved because evolution, consuming its own driving forces, becomes path dependent. Thus, the future remains open within free energy bounds. As discussed, the entropy derived from the statistical physics of open quantum systems sums states distinguishable in energy; whereas, Boltzmann’s entropy enumerates microstates indistinguishable in energy. Consequently, the statistical physics of open systems differs from that of closed systems: The irreversible evolution in the state space toward thermodynamic balance contrasts with the steady-state revolution in phase space between conceivable configurations. This concrete comprehension explains, among other things, that increasing disorder is not a law of nature itself but a consequence of the law to attain balance with incoherent surroundings in the least time.

Leonard Euler in the “Scientific Revolution” Concept of Thomas Kuhn

This study seeks to clarify T. Kuhn’s “theory of scientific revolution” in the application of the laws of I. Newton to the theory of the Moon’s motion. It argues that I. Newton’s formulae produced at least three approaches. L. Euler provided one by gearing the formula to the needs of practical astronomy and developed calculation techniques that could answer all practical needs, using the apparatus of differentials and derivatives developed by G. W. Leibniz. J. L. Lagrange took Newton’s concept of ‘force’ and developed it into the formalism of ‘impulse’ and ‘energy’. Later G. Plana returned to the point where L. Euler had started, but he used the law of universal gravitation instead of the 2nd law of Newton in his equations. Thus I. Newton’s laws and ideas were developed in totally different directions, none of which seemed enough in the 19th century.

Thermodynamic integration in combined fuel and power plants producing low carbon hydrogen and power with CCUS

Demand for low-carbon sources of hydrogen and power is expected to rise dramatically in the coming years. Individually, steam methane reformers (SMRs) and combined cycle gas power plants (CCGTs), when combined with carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), can produce large quantities of on-demand decarbonised hydrogen and power respectively. The ongoing trend towards the development of CCUS clusters means that both processes may operate in close proximity, taking advantage of a common infrastructure for natural gas supply, electricity grid connection and the CO2 transport and storage network. This work improves on a previously described novel integration process, which utilizes flue gas sequential combustion to incorporate the SMR process into the CCGT cycle in a single “combined fuel and power” (CFP) plant, by increasing the level of thermodynamic integration through the merger of the steam cycles and a redesign of the heat recovery system. This increases the 2nd law thermal efficiency by 2.6% points over un-integrated processes and 1.9% points the previous integration design. Using a conventional 35% wt. monoethanolamine (MEA) CO2 capture process designed to achieve two distinct and previously unexplored CO2 capture fractions; 95% gross and, 100% fossil (CO2 generated is equal to the quantity of CO2 captured). The CFP configuration reduces the overall quantity of flue gas to be processed by 36%–37% and increases the average CO2 concentration of the flue gas to be treated from 9.9% to 14.4% (wet). This decreases the absorber packing volume requirements by 41%–56% and decreases the specific reboiler duty by 5.5% from 3.46–3.67 GJ/tCO2 to 3.27–3.46 GJ/tCO2, further increasing the 2nd law thermal efficiency gains to 3.8%–4.4% points over the un-integrated case. A first of a kind techno economic analysis concludes that the improvements present in a CO2 abated CFP plant results in a 15.1%–17.3% and 7.6%–8.0% decrease in capital and operational expenditure respectively for the CO2 capture cases. This translates to an increase in the internal rate of return over the base hurdle rate of 7.5%–7.8%, highlighting the potential for substantial cost reductions presented by the CFP configuration.

Analysis of Possible Negative Values for 2nd Law Efficiencies in an Extractive Distillation System

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the occurrence of negative values for the second law efficiencies in distillation columns, in order to evaluate the relationship between these efficiencies, energy consumption and remixing effect. Theoretical Framework: This topic presents the main concepts and theories that underpin the research. The thermodynamic concepts related to the first and second laws of thermodynamics are highlighted, providing a solid basis for understanding the context of the investigation. Method: The methodology adopted for this research involves the simulation of the acetone/methanol system, in Aspen Plus, using two solvents, DMSO and water. The efficiencies of the second law, energy consumption and remixing effect were evaluated for different operational conditions. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that not all operational conditions that present greater thermodynamic efficiency result in lower energy consumption. In addition, heat demand is directly related to lost work. In the discussion section, these results are contextualized in light of the theoretical framework, highlighting the implications and relationships identified. Possible discrepancies and limitations of the study are also considered in this section. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of thermodynamic evaluation of distillation columns. These implications may include improving the sustainability of distillation processes by identifying and minimizing sources of irreversibilities. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by conceptually addressing the interpretation of thermodynamic efficiencies of distillation columns, in addition to providing a detailed analysis of the relationship between efficiency, energy consumption and remixing effect. The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by perspectives for the thermodynamic optimization of distillation processes.

Performance Analysis of Secondary Side of HPR-1000 Nuclear Power Plant

Performance Analysis of Secondary Side of HPR-1000 Nuclear Power Plant

Extraction of Anacardium occidentale: A kinetic, thermodynamic, phytochemical identification, and antibacterial study

Extraction of Anacardium occidentale: A kinetic, thermodynamic, phytochemical identification, and antibacterial study

Sustainable operation of large scale heat pumps in cogeneration dominated district heating networks

Large scale heat pumps (LSHP) have seen a rapid proliferation in recent years, with projects and initiatives aimed at integrating electrically driven LSHP into existing district heating networks (DHN). The financial advantages have driven most LSHP installations to be powered by electricity generated by on-site cogeneration (CHP), given CHP’s dominant role in DHN. This LSHP + CHP combination poses the question, to what extent ecological improvements, measured as a reduction in specific CO2 emissions through LSHP operation can be achieved, contingent on the source of electricity and heat source employed. In this paper, the LSHP + CHP combination was generally analysed under usage of exergy analysis and a 2nd law derived method is presented. This method allows to evaluate the magnitude of CO2 reduction through LSHP operation across all common heat sources in 1st to 4th generation DHNs in conjunction with CHP. Results show, that in LSHP + CHP combination, heat from LSHP using either of the 2 heat sources ambient air or surfaced water, inevitably comes with higher specific CO2 emissions over the CHP heat. Only when using a sufficiently hot and emissions-free heat source, the LSHP heat from a LSHP + CHP combination can yield to an annual best case of half the CO2 emissions of the CHP. Importantly, the choice of power source has a far more significant impact, as LSHP powered by electricity from renewable energy sources achieve more than an eight-fold reduction in emissions compared to the LSHP + CHP combination. Therefore, power consumption with sufficiently low specific CO2 emissions out of external source is imperative to fully realize the ecological benefit of LSHP in DHN, underlining that the successful heat transition through LSHP relies heavily on the transformation of the electricity supply.Graphical

Bouncing bones-ancient wisdom meets modern science in a new take on locomotion.

Recognizing that conventional understanding of animal and human locomotion is based on a dated and reductionist machine modeling of organisms, we set out to create a theory of locomotion by reasoning from first principles. We center on the constraints necessitated by 1) the 2nd law of thermodynamics, 2) the theory of evolution, 3) a systems science view of organisms, and 4) the laws of motion, but we also look for compatibility these constraints might find in emerging areas of scientific inquiry (ecological psychology, processual biology, soft matter, biotensegrity), and in the wisdom embedded in various movement traditions and ancient philosophy. Applying and synthesizing these, we propose an updated "bouncing bones" (BB) model for walking and running, which corresponds with maximum efficiency and conservation of energy.

Experimental and modeling approaches to determine drug diffusion coefficients in artificial mucus

Experimental and modeling approaches to determine drug diffusion coefficients in artificial mucus

Numerical study of fluid flow and entropy optimization subject to second order slip condition across a permeable curved surface

Numerical study of fluid flow and entropy optimization subject to second order slip condition across a permeable curved surface

Genetic algorithm-based optimization of combined supercritical CO2 power and flash-tank enhanced transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle for shipboard waste heat recuperation

Genetic algorithm-based optimization of combined supercritical CO2 power and flash-tank enhanced transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle for shipboard waste heat recuperation

Inertia from radiation: A semiclassical approach

Starting from a thought experiment based on an accelerated reflecting cavity containing a radiation bath, the cavity-radiation dynamical interaction is evaluated. The radiation is considered as a monochromatic flux of photons that bounces forwards and backwards in the direction of acceleration. In this case, in each reflection, the delay originating from the time of flight of photons causes a difference in velocity between the receiving and emitting reflecting faces at the opposite ends of the cavity, and consequently, a Doppler shift. Despite the ends of the cavity being at rest relative to each other, this phenomenon generates a difference of radiation pressure between both ends, which acts as the inertia of the radiation bath and verifies Newton’s 2nd Law for non-relativistic conditions. This result has interesting implications for the current theoretical pictures of dynamical properties of photons.

Performance Evaluation of Novel Advanced Recompression Absorption Refrigeration Systems Equipped with Ejector and Vapor Injection Technology

Performance Evaluation of Novel Advanced Recompression Absorption Refrigeration Systems Equipped with Ejector and Vapor Injection Technology

Exergetic performance evaluation of louvered finned solar air heater: an experimental investigation

Solar energy is a promising source of renewable energy, and solar air heaters are an important application for utilizing this energy source. This study investigates the exergetic performance of a louvered fin solar air heater (LFSAH) through experimental analysis conducted during day time from 9 am to 3 pm under identical operating and metrological parameters. Exergy analysis based on the 2nd law of thermodynamics is used to assess the quality of exergy losses and useful energy output and is deemed suitable for LFSAH design. The study experimentally examines the exergetic performance of LFSAH with various fin spacings and compares the results with those of a plane solar air heater (PSAH). The exergy efficiency is optimized by considering the fin spacing (ranging from 2 to 5 cm) and mass flow rate (MFR) (ranging from 0.007 to 0.0158 kg/s) through an exergy analysis of internal and exterior exergy losses. Based on the result analysis, the LFSAH’s maximum exergy efficiency was achieved at 3.31% for a fin spacing of 2 cm and a MFR of 0.007 kg/s. The study found that incorporating louvered fins into the SAH substantially improves its exergetic performance compared to the PSAH.

Diesel/biodiesel/biogas mixtures driven compression ignition internal combustion engines constructal design

Diesel/biodiesel/biogas mixtures driven compression ignition internal combustion engines constructal design

The role of greenhouse gases in radiative equilibrium – Thermodynamic evaluation

Abstract The significance of greenhouse gases for climate change is assessed in the case of carbon dioxide on the basis of thermodynamic data. According to the values of the molar heat capacity, no increased heat-storing property of this greenhouse gas can be determined. The absorption and desorption of infrared radiation by the greenhouse gases is seen as a reversible dynamic process, which on the one hand reduces the IR radiation from the Sun, and on the other hand, delays the re-radiation from the Earth. As converters of heat into IR photons and vice versa, the greenhouse gases play an important role in balancing the radiation. The direction of heat transport in the atmosphere is determined by the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. The range of IR radiation is determined according to the gradation of air pressure in the atmosphere.

Effect of process parameters on the extraction kinetics of Leptocarpha rivularis DC. in a packed bed extractor using supercritical carbon dioxide

Effect of process parameters on the extraction kinetics of Leptocarpha rivularis DC. in a packed bed extractor using supercritical carbon dioxide

Pilot testing of water utilization for integrated solar energy storage and power production using linear Fresnel collector and organic Rankine cycle

Pilot testing of water utilization for integrated solar energy storage and power production using linear Fresnel collector and organic Rankine cycle