The thermodynamics governing 'endoreversible' engines

Abstract

The thermodynamics of the Curzon-Ahlborn engine, which is a prototype of endoreversible engines, is elucidated. In particular, their criterion for adiabatic equilibration is revised. The so-called irreversibility of endoreversible engines arises from the selection of the coldest reservoir for heat rejection. Rather, if the reservoirs are allowed to come into thermal and mechanical contact, a mean value results which optimizes the work output and heat uptake, and is entirely reversible. The Carnot efficiency cannot be beaten because nothing is as cold as the coldest reservoir.

5 pages

References in corpus (1)

• Thermodynamics of an ideal generalized gas: I Thermodynamic laws

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