Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Physics
First Advisor
Erik Bodegom
Date of Publication
1991
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.) in Physics
Department
Physics
Subjects
Refrigeration and refrigerating machinery -- Thermodynamics -- Computer programs
DOI
10.15760/etd.6145
Physical Description
1 online resource (47 p.)
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.
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/24668
Recommended Citation
Schneider, Thomas, "An experimental investigation of the finite time efficiency of a Peltier refrigeration device" (1991). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 4261.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.6145
Comments
If you are the rightful copyright holder of this dissertation or thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to pdxscholar@pdx.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL