The Application of Thermomechanical Dynamics (TMD) to Thermoelectric Energy Generation by Employing a Low Temperature Stirling Engine

A thermoelectric generation Stirling engine (TEG-Stirling engine) is discussed by employing a low temperature Stirling engine and the dissipative equation of motion derived from the method of thermomechanical dynamics (TMD). The results and mechanism of axial flux electromagnetic induction (AF-EMI) are applied to a low temperature Stirling engine, resulting in a TEG-Stirling engine. The method of TMD produced thermodynamically consistent and time-dependent physical quantities for the first time, such as internal energy ℰ(t), thermodynamic work Wth(t), the total entropy (heat dissipation) Qd(t)and measure or temperature of a nonequilibrium state T˜(t). The TMD analysis produced a lightweight mechanical system of TEG-Stirling engine which derives electric power from waste heat of temperature (40˚CT100˚C) by a thermoelectric conversion method. An optimal low rotational speed about 30θ′(t)/(2π)60(rpm) is found, applicable to devices for sustainable, clean energy technologies. The stability of a thermal state and angular rotations of TEG-Stirling engine are specifically shown by employing properties of nonequilibrium temperature T˜(t), which is also applied to study optimal fuel-injection and combustion timings of heat engines.

Thermomechanical Dynamics (TMD) and Bifurcation-Integration Solutions in Nonlinear Differential Equations with Time-Dependent Coefficients

The new independent solutions of the nonlinear differential equation with time-dependent coefficients (NDE-TC) are discussed, for the first time, by employing experimental device called a drinking bird whose simple back-and-forth motion develops into water drinking motion. The solution to a drinking bird equation of motion manifests itself the transition from thermodynamic equilibrium to nonequilibrium irreversible states. The independent solution signifying a nonequilibrium thermal state seems to be constructed as if two independent bifurcation solutions are synthesized, and so, the solution is tentatively termed as the bifurcation-integration solution. The bifurcation-integration solution expresses the transition from mechanical and thermodynamic equilibrium to a nonequilibrium irreversible state, which is explicitly shown by the nonlinear differential equation with time-dependent coefficients (NDE-TC). The analysis established a new theoretical approach to nonequilibrium irreversible states, thermomechanical dynamics (TMD). The TMD method enables one to obtain thermodynamically consistent and time-dependent progresses of thermodynamic quantities, by employing the bifurcation-integration solutions of NDE-TC. We hope that the basic properties of bifurcation-integration solutions will be studied and investigated further in mathematics, physics, chemistry and nonlinear sciences in general.

Thermoelectric Stirling Engine (TEG-Stirling Engine) Based on the Analysis of Thermomechanical Dynamics (TMD)

The thermoelectric energy conversion technique by employing the Disk-Magnet Electromagnetic Induction (DM-EMI) is examined in detail, and possible applications to heat engines as one of the energy-harvesting technologies are discussed. The idea is induced by the analysis of thermomechanical dynamics (TMD) for a nonequilibrium irreversible thermodynamic system of heat engines, such as a drinking bird and a low temperature Stirling engine, resulting in thermoelectric energy generation different from conventional heat engines. The current thermoelectric energy conversion with DM-EMI can be applied to wide ranges of machines and temperature differences. The mechanism of DM-EMI energy converter is categorized as the axial flux generator (AFG), which is the reason why the technology is applicable to sensitive thermoelectric conversions. On the other hand, almost all the conventional turbines use the radius flux generator to extract huge electric power, which uses the radial flux generator (RFG). The axial flux generator is helpful for a low mechanoelectric energy conversion and activations of waste heat from macroscopic energy generators such as wind, geothermal, thermal, nuclear power plants and heat-dissipation lines. The technique of DM-EMI will contribute to solving environmental problems to maintain clean and sustainable energy as one of the energy harvesting technologies.

The Method of Thermoelectric Energy Generations Based on the Axial and Radial Flux Electromagnetic Inductions*

The traditional thermoelectric energy conversion techniques are explained in detail in terms of the axial flux electromagnetic (AFE) and the radial flux electromagnetic (RFE) inductions, and applications to heat engines for the energy-harvesting technologies are discussed. The idea is induced by the analysis of thermomechanical dynamics (TMD) for a nonequilibrium irreversible thermodynamic system of heat engines (a drinking bird, a low temperature Stirling engine), resulting in thermoelectric energy generation different from conventional heat engines. The mechanism of thermoelectric energy conversion can be categorized as the axial flux generator (AFG) and the radial flux generator (RFG). The axial flux generator is helpful for low mechanoelectric energy conversion and activations of waste heat from macroscopic energy generators, such as wind, geothermal, thermal, nuclear power plants and heat-dissipation lines, and the device contributes to solving environmental problems to maintain clean and sustainable energy as one of the energy harvesting technologies.

Thermodynamic Consistency and Thermomechanical Dynamics (TMD) for Nonequilibrium Irreversible Mechanism of Heat Engines

The irreversible mechanism of heat engines is studied in terms of thermodynamic consistency and thermomechanical dynamics (TMD) which is proposed for a method to study nonequilibrium irreversible thermodynamic systems. As an example, a water drinking bird (DB) known as one of the heat engines is specifically examined. The DB system suffices a rigorous experimental device for the theory of nonequilibrium irreversible thermodynamics. The DB nonlinear equation of motion proves explicitly that nonlinear differential equations with time-dependent coefficients must be classified as independent equations different from those of constant coefficients. The solutions of nonlinear differential equations with time-dependent coefficients can express emergent phenomena: nonequilibrium irreversible states. The couplings among mechanics, thermodynamics and time-evolution to nonequilibrium irreversible state are defined when the internal energy, thermodynamic work, temperature and entropy are integrated as a spontaneous thermodynamic process in the DB system. The physical meanings of the time-dependent entropy, T(t)dS(t), , internal energy, dƐ(t), and thermodynamic work, dW(t), are defined by the progress of time-dependent Gibbs relation to thermodynamic equilibrium. The thermomechanical dynamics (TMD) approach constitutes a method for the nonequilibrium irreversible thermodynamics and transport processes.

The Disk-Magnet Electromagnetic Induction Applied to Thermoelectric Energy Conversions

The thermoelectric energy conversion technique by employing the Disk-Magnet Electromagnetic Induction (DM-EMI) and improved DM-EMIs is shown, and possible applications to heat engines as one of the energy harvesting technologies are also discussed. The idea is induced by integrating irreversible thermodynamical mechanism of a water drinking bird with that of a Stirling engine, resulting in thermoelectric energy generation different from conventional heat engines. The current thermoelectric energy conversion with DM-EMI can be applied to wide ranges of temperature differences. The mechanism of DM-EMI energy converter is examined in terms of axial flux magnetic lines and categorized as the axial flux generator. It is useful for practical applications to macroscopic heat engines such as wind, geothermal, thermal and nuclear power turbines and heat-dissipation lines, for supporting thermoelectric energy conversions. The technique of DM-EMI will contribute to environmental problems to maintain clean and susceptible energy as one of the energy harvesting technologies.

The Application of Thermomechanical Dynamics (TMD) to the Analysis of Nonequilibrium Irreversible Motion and a Low-Temperature Stirling Engine

We applied the method of Thermomechanical Dynamics (TMD) to a low-temperature Stirling engine, and the dissipative equation of motion and time-evolving physical quantities are self-consistently calculated for the first time in this field. The thermomechanical states of the heat engine are in Nonequilibrium Irreversible States (NISs), and time-dependent thermodynamic work W(t), internal energy E(t), energy dissipation or entropy Qd(t), and temperature T(t), are precisely studied and computed in TMD. We also introduced the new formalism, Q(t)-picture of thermodynamic heat-energy flows, for consistent analyses of NISs. Thermal flows in a long-time uniform heat flow and in a short-time heat flow are numerically studied as examples. In addition to the analysis of time-dependent physical quantities, the TMD analysis suggests that the concept of force and acceleration in Newtonian mechanics should be modified. The acceleration is defined as a continuously differentiable function of Class C2 in Newtonian mechanics, but the thermomechanical dynamics demands piecewise continuity for acceleration and thermal force, required from physical reasons caused by frictional variations and thermal fluctuations. The acceleration has no direct physical meaning associated with force in TMD. The physical implications are fundamental for the concept of the macroscopic phenomena in NISs composed of systems in thermal and mechanical motion.

The Lynx and Hare Data of 200 Years as the Nonlinear Conserving Interaction Based on Noether’s Conservation Laws and Stability

We applied n-variable conserving nonlinear differential equations (n-CNDEs) to the population data of the 10-year cycles of Canadian lynx (1821-2016) and the snowshoe hare (1845-1921). Modeling external effects as perturbations to population dynamics, recovering and restorations from disintegrations (or extinctions), stability and survival strategies are discussed in terms of the conservation law inherent to dynamical interactions among species. The 2-variable conserving nonlinear interaction (2CNIs) is extended to 3, 4, ... n-variable conserving nonlinear interactions (n-CNIs) of species by adjusting minimum unknown parameters. The population cycle of species is a manifestation of conservation laws existing in complicated ecosystems, which is suggested from the CNDE analysis as a standard rhythm of interactions. The ecosystem is a consequence of the long history of nonlinear interactions and evolutions among life-beings and the natural environment, and the population dynamics of an ecosystem are observed as approximate CNIs. Physical analyses of the conserving quantity in nonlinear interactions would help us understand why and how they have developed. The standard rhythm found in nonlinear interactions should be considered as a manifestation of the survival strategy and the survival of the fittest to the balance of biological systems. The CNDEs and nonlinear differential equations with time-dependent coefficients would help find useful physical information on the survival of the fittest and symbiosis in an ecosystem.

Thermoelectric Energy Conversion of a Drinking Bird by Disk-Magnet Electromagnetic Induction

We discuss a thermoelectric energy generation (TEG) technique by employing a thermomechanical model of a drinking bird (DB). The motion of a drinking bird is produced by the entropy-flow explained by the second law of thermodynamics, which is one of the fundamental laws of heat engines. We propose a disk-magnet electromagnetic induction (DM-EMI) employed to the motion of a drinking bird. The generalization of DM-EMI to heat engines for?mechanoelectric?energy conversions and properties of extracted electric powers are specifically discussed. The electric power of DM-EMI has a limited power generation characteristic to a mechanical rotation produced by heat engines, but it will be very useful for practical applications to wind turbines, coal-fired and nuclear power plant for?mechanoelectric?energy conversions. The DM-EMI will contribute to environmental problems to maintain clean and susceptible energy as one of?energy?harvesting technologies.

The Profiling of International Roughness Index (IRI) Based on Lagrangian Method

The phenomenological equations of motion for the international roughness index (IRI) have been reviewed and discussed in terms of Lagrangian method in physics. The current paper proposes a practical, two-dimensional model for studying essentially three-dimensional, vibrating,?and?mechanical systems (vehicles). The purpose is to provide a new profiling method for IRI, which is practical in computations and compatible with traditional profiling for roughness of a road-surface. The modern technology employs elaborated sensors such as gyro sensor, Global Positioning System (GPS), magnetometer sensor,?and?accelerometer to measure high-speed longitudinal motions, resulting in time series of big-data expressed as compressed longitudinal spikes. The time series of longitudinal spikes obtained from high-speed longitudinal motions are traditionally considered as a background noise for constructing a profile. The conventional IRI is calculated from big-data of the road profile by employing statistical method, but the Lagrangian model dynamically determines the road profile. The useful concept and relation among the road-roughness function?, associated roughness index (ARI), acceleration and position are introduced and examined in the present paper. The associated roughness index (ARI) defined by the current dynamical approach is examined by applying virtual simulations which represent roughness of a road-surface. The current theoretical model supports and compensates information of interpreting a profile of IRI and elucidates physical meanings for the roughness index of a road-surface.

The Analysis of Thermomechanical Periodic Motions of a Drinking Bird

A water drinking bird or simply drinking bird (DB) is discussed in terms of a thermomechanical model. A mathematical expression of motion derived from the thermomechanical model of a drinking bird and numerical solutions are explicitly shown, which?is?helpful in understanding physical meanings and fundamental difference between mechanical and thermomechanical periodic motion. The mathematical and physical differences between mechanical and thermomechanical motions are clearly examined, resulting in time-independent and time-dependent coupling constants of equations of motion and continuous transitions between bifurcation solutions. The thermodynamical and irreversible process of a drinking bird motion could be theoretically examined and practically applied to energy harvesting technologies by way of the current modeling. As an example of irreversible thermodynamics, the thermomechanical model of DB will help understand heat engines manifested from microscopic to macroscopic systems.

The Effective Chiral Model of Quantum Hadrodynamics Applied to Nuclear Matter and Neutron Stars

We review theoretical relations between macroscopic properties of neutron stars and microscopic quantities of nuclear matter, such as consistency of hadronic nuclear models and observed masses of neutron stars. The relativistic hadronic field theory, quantum hadrodynamics (QHD), and mean-field approximations of the theory are applied to saturation properties of symmetric nuclear and neutron matter. The equivalence between mean-field approximations and Hartree approximation is emphasized in terms of renormalized effective masses and effective coupling constants of hadrons. This is important to prove that the direct application of mean-field (Hartree) approximation to nuclear and neutron matter is inadequate to examine physical observables. The equations of state (EOS), binding energies of nuclear matter, self-consistency of nuclear matter, are reviewed, and the result of chiral Hartree-Fock ?approximation is shown. Neutron stars and history of nuclear astrophysics, nuclear model and nuclear matter, possibility of hadron and hadron-quark neutron stars are briefly reviewed. The hadronic models are very useful and practical for understanding astrophysical phenomena, nuclear matter and radiation phenomena of nuclei.