Models of power plants that generate minimum entropy while operating at maximum power

Chambadal, Novikov, Curzon and Ahlborn have shown that the efficiency of an irreversible heat engine at maximum power output is 1-(TL/TH)1/2. This article describes several heat engine models in which the same efficiency formula can be derived by minimizing the rate of entropy generation. Included in the entropy generation is the usually overlooked contribution made by the components that provide a freely varying heat input to the power cycle. © 1996 American Association of Physics Teachers.

Duke Scholars

Author Adrian Bejan Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...