Advisor

Erik Bodegom

Date of Award

1991

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Physics

Department

Physics

Physical Description

1 online resource (47 p.)

Subjects

Refrigeration and refrigerating machinery -- Thermodynamics -- Computer programs

Abstract

Since the need of energy conservation has become more and more urgent in the past decades, there has been an increased interest in the study and development of more efficient energy conversion systems. One of the fields that have arisen from that endeavor is a branch of physics called Finite Time Thermodynamics (FIT). It may be said that FIT was initiated through the famous paper by Curzon and Ahlborn (1975) that established new bounds on the efficiency of a finite time Carnot heat engine. Before, the traditional treatments gave a fundamental upper limit on the efficiency of any heat engine. However, this figure, the well-known Carnot efficiency, is far too optimistic in comparison to real heat engines. The reason lies in the fact that the traditional Carnot engine is operating infinitely slowly, thus having zero power output. Curzon and Ahlborn were able to improve upon this treatment and to set an upper limit on engines producing finite power.

Description

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Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/24668

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