1. Finite-Time Thermodynamics.
- Author
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Berry, R. Stephen, Andresen, Bjarne, Berry, R. Stephen, and Salamon, Peter
- Subjects
Economics, finance, business & management ,Landauer's principle ,Otto cycle ,Pareto front ,SO2 yield ,Silicon-Germanium alloys ,a-thermal cycle ,averaged ,binary fluids ,biochemistry ,biological communities ,biophysics ,calorimetry ,carnot cycle ,complexity ,conservatively perturbed equilibrium ,contact temperature ,cooling ,critical phenomena ,cyclic mode ,diversity ,dynamical systems ,economics ,efficiency ,efficiency of thermoelectric systems ,elimination method ,endoreversible engine ,endoreversible thermodynamics ,energy flux density ,entropy behavior ,entropy flow ,entropy flux density ,entropy generation rate ,entropy production ,extreme value ,finite time thermodynamics ,finite-time thermodynamics ,generalized radiative heat transfer law ,generalized winds ,heat engines ,heat transfer ,hydrogen atom ,ideal gas law ,information geometry of thermodynamics ,irreversibility ,macroentropy ,maximum power ,maximum power regime ,maximum work output ,microentropy ,minimal energy dissipation ,minimum of thermal conductivity ,modeling ,momentary equilibrium ,multi-objective optimization ,multiobjective optimization ,n/a ,nano-size engines ,new and modified variables ,nonequilibrium thermodynamics ,optimal control ,optimal motion path ,optimal processes ,optimization ,otto cycle ,path information ,piston motion optimization ,power ,quantum engine ,quantum friction ,quantum heat engine ,quantum refrigerator ,quantum thermodynamics ,radiative energy transfer ,radiative entropy transfer ,reacting systems ,reconstruction ,reversible computing ,shortcut to adiabaticity ,simulation ,slow time ,stability ,stirling engine ,sulfuric acid decomposition ,thermodynamic curvature ,thermodynamic cycles ,thermodynamic length ,thermodynamics ,tubular plug-flow reactor ,two-stream grey atmosphere ,van der Waals equation ,very long timescales - Abstract
Summary: The theory around the concept of finite time describes how processes of any nature can be optimized in situations when their rate is required to be non-negligible, i.e., they must come to completion in a finite time. What the theory makes explicit is "the cost of haste". Intuitively, it is quite obvious that you drive your car differently if you want to reach your destination as quickly as possible as opposed to the case when you are running out of gas. Finite-time thermodynamics quantifies such opposing requirements and may provide the optimal control to achieve the best compromise. The theory was initially developed for heat engines (steam, Otto, Stirling, a.o.) and for refrigerators, but it has by now evolved into essentially all areas of dynamic systems from the most abstract ones to the most practical ones. The present collection shows some fascinating current examples.