Minimizing the generation of entropy: which sequence of reservoirs to choose?

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2010

Autores

J. Anacleto (Autor) FCUP; J.M. Ferreira (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: European Journal of Physics

Vol. 31 Nº 1

Páginas: L1-L4

ISSN: 0143-0807

Editora: Institute of Physics Publishing

Indexação

ISI Web of Science

Classificação Científica

FOS: Ciências exactas e naturais > Física

CORDIS: Ciências Físicas > Física

Outras Informações

Abstract (EN): This letter deals with irreversible processes described by abrupt changes in temperature or in pressure, in which the system is placed into contact with a finite number N of heat or work reservoirs, respectively. Two previous papers have shown that when N goes to infinity the entropy generation goes to zero, i.e. the process becomes reversible. Here we look for the sequence in temperature or in pressure of such reservoirs that leads to a minimum in entropy generation and find that in both cases such a sequence is the geometric progression. This work also highlights the close relation between mathematical and physical concepts and is therefore quite interesting from an instructive standpoint.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica