Performance Analysis of an Irreversible Refrigerator with Finite Thermal Capacity Reservoirs

To explore the influence of heat reservoirs of total thermal capacity at high and low temperature side heat exchanger of an irreversible refrigeration cycle on the coefficient of performance,the cycle model is established. By using the irreversible thermodynamics,much progress had been made in the studies of thermal resistance,heat leak and irreversible factors on the cycle of the coefficient of performance. The analytical formula of coefficient of performance and the distribution ratio of total thermal capacity are derived when the total thermal capacity at high and low temperature side heat exchanger is a constant. The influences of cycle parameters and different kinds of irreversible factors on the coefficient of performance and the optimal distribution ratio are analyzed by numerical computation. The results indicate that the coefficient of performance increases with the increase of the total heat capacity,and decreases with heat leak and internal irreversible factors. Furthermore,the optimal distribution ratio of total thermal capacity,when coefficient of performance reaches the maximum value,only has a connection with the internal dissipation.

Entransy analyses of heat–work conversion systems with inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles

In this paper, we try to use the entransy theory to analyze the heat–work conversion systems with inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles. First, the inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles are analyzed. The influences of different inner irreversible factors on entransy loss are discussed. We find that the concept of entransy loss can be used to analyze the inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles. Then, we analyze the common heat–work conversion systems with inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles. As an example, the heat–work conversion system in which the working fluid of the thermodynamic cycles is heated and cooled by streams is analyzed. Our analyses show that larger entransy loss leads to larger output work when the total heat flow from the high temperature heat source and the corresponding equivalent temperature are fixed.Some numerical cases are presented, and the results verify the theoretical analyses. On the other hand, it is also found that larger entransy loss does not always lead to larger output work when the preconditions are not satisfied.

SOLUTIONS FOR CYLINDRICAL CAVITY IN SATURATED THERMOPOROELASTIC MEDIUM

Based on the thermodynamics of irreversible processes, the mass conservation equation and heat energy balance equation are established. The governing equations of thermal consolidation for homogeneous isotropic materials are presented, accounting for the coupling effects of the temperature, stress and displacement fields. The case of a saturated medium with a long cylindrical cavity subjected to a variable thermal loading and a variable hydrostatic pressure （or a variable radial water flux） with time is considered. The analytical solutions are derived in the Laplace transform space. Then, the time domain solutions are obtained by a numerical inversion scheme. The results of a typical example indicate that thermodynamically coupled effects have considerable influences on thermal responses.

GENERAL EXPRESSIONS OF CONSTITUTIVE EQUATIONS FOR ISOTROPIC ELASTIC DAMAGED MATERIALS

The general expressions of constitutive equations for isotropic elastic damaged materials were derived directly from the basic law of irreversible thermodynamics. The limitations of the classical damage constitutive equation based on the well-known strain equivalence hypothesis were overcome. The relationships between the two elastic isotropic damage models (i.e. single and double scalar damage models) were revealed. When a single scalar damage variable defined according to the microscopic geometry of a damaged material is used to describle the isotropic damage state, the constitutive equations contain two 'damage effect functions', which describe the different influences of damage on the two independent elastic, constants. The classical damage constitutive equation based on the strain equivalence hypothesis is only the first-order approximation of the general expression. It may be unduly simplified and may fail to describe satisfactorily the damage phenomena of practical materials.

Paraelectric-ferroelectric interface dynamics induced by latent heat transfer and irreversibility of ferroelectric phase transitions

The temperature gradients that arise in the paraelectric-ferroelectric interface dynamics induced by the latent heat transfer are studied from the point of view that a ferroelectric phase transition is a stationary, thermal-electric coupled transport process. The local entropy production is derived for a ferroelectric phase transition system from the Gibbs equation. Three types of regions in the system are described well by using the Onsager relations and the principle of minimum entropy production. The theoretical results coincides with the experimental ones.

An Elastoplastic Damage Constitutive Model for Concrete

An elastoplastic damage constitutive model to simulate nonlinear behavior of concrete is presented. Similar to traditional plastic theory, the irreversible deformation is modeled in effective stress space. In order to better describe different stiffness degradation mechanisms of concrete under tensile and compressive loading conditions, two damage variables, i.e., tension and compression are introduced, to quantitatively evaluate the degree of deterioration of concrete structure. The rate dependent behavior is taken into account, and this model is derived firmly in the framework of irreversible thermodynamics. Fully implicit backward-Euler algorithm is suggested to perform constitutive integration. Numerical results of the model accord well with the test results for specimens under uniaxial tension and compression, biaxial loading and triaxial loading. Failure processes of double-edge-notched （DEN） specimen are also simulated to further validate the proposed model.

Weak Wavefront Solutions of Maxwell’s Equations in Conducting Media

We analyze the propagation of electromagnetic fronts in unbounded electric conductors. Our analysis is based on the Maxwell model of electromagnetism that includes the displacement current and Ohm’s law in its simplest forms. A weak electromagnetic front is a propagating interface at which the electromagnetic field remains continuous while its first- and higher-order derivatives experience finite jump discontinuities. Remarkably, analysis of such fronts can be performed autonomously, i.e. strictly in terms of the quantities defined on the front. This property opens the possibility of establishing exact analytical solutions of the exact Maxwell system along with the evolution of the front.

Mixed ion and electron transport theory and application in solid oxide conductors

Mixed ions and electron conductors(MIECs)are an important family of electrocatalysts for electrochemical devices,such as reversible solid oxide cells,rechargeable metal-air batteries,and oxygen transport membranes.Concurrent ionic and electronic transports in these materials play a key role in electrocatalytic activity.An in-depth fundamental understanding of the transport phenomena is critically needed to develop better MIECs.In this brief review,we introduced generic ionic and electronic transport theory based on irreversible thermodynamics and applied it to practical oxide-based materials with oxygen vacancies and electrons/holes as the predominant defects.Two oxide systems,namely CeO_(2)-based and La CrO_(3)-based materials,are selected as case studies to illustrate the utility of the transport theory in predicting oxygen partial pressure distribution across MIECs,electrochemical electronic/ionic leakage currents,and the effects of external load current on the leakage currents.

Coupled viscoplasticity damage constitutive model for concrete materials

A coupled viscoplasticity damage constitutive model for concrete materials is developed within the framework of irreversible thermodynamics. Simultaneously the Hehnholtz free energy function and a non-associated flow potential function are given, which include the internal variables of kinematic hardening, isotropic hardening and damage. Results from the numerical simulation show that the model presented can describe the deformatioa properties of the concrete without the formal hypotheses of yield criterion and failure criteria, such as the volume dilatancy under the compression, strain-rate sensitivity, stiffness degradation and stress-softening behavior beyond the peak stress which are brought by damages and fractures. Moreover, we could benefit from the application of the finite element method based oi1 this model under complex loading because of not having to choose different constitutive models based on the deformation level.

Impact of counter-rotating-wave term on quantum heat transfer and phonon statistics in nonequilibrium qubit–phonon hybrid system

Counter-rotating-wave terms(CRWTs)are traditionally viewed to be crucial in open small quantum systems with strong system–bath dissipation.Here by exemplifying in a nonequilibrium qubit–phonon hybrid model,we show that CRWTs can play the significant role in quantum heat transfer even with weak system–bath dissipation.By using extended coherent phonon states,we obtain the quantum master equation with heat exchange rates contributed by rotating-waveterms(RWTs)and CRWTs,respectively.We find that including only RWTs,the steady state heat current and current fluctuations will be significantly suppressed at large temperature bias,whereas they are strongly enhanced by considering CRWTs in addition.Furthermore,for the phonon statistics,the average phonon number and two-phonon correlation are nearly insensitive to strong qubit–phonon hybridization with only RWTs,whereas they will be dramatically cooled down via the cooperative transitions based on CRWTs in addition.Therefore,CRWTs in quantum heat transfer system should be treated carefully.

A polaron theory of quantum thermal transistor in nonequilibrium three-level systems

We investigate the quantum thermal transistor effect in nonequilibrium three-level systems by applying the polarontransformed Redfield equation combined with full counting statistics.The steady state heat currents are obtained via this unified approach over a wide region of system–bath coupling,and can be analytically reduced to the Redfield and nonequilibrium noninteracting blip approximation results in the weak and strong coupling limits,respectively.A giant heat amplification phenomenon emerges in the strong system–bath coupling limit,where transitions mediated by the middle thermal bath are found to be crucial to unravel the underlying mechanism.Moreover,the heat amplification is also exhibited with moderate coupling strength,which can be properly explained within the polaron framework.

CRITERION FOR JUDGING SATISFACTION OF CONSISTENCY CONDITIONS IN RATE-DEPENDENT CONSTITUTIVE RELATIONS

Based on irreversible thermodynamics, the criterion for judging the satisfaction of consistency conditions in rate-dependent constitutive relationship is deduced by introducing four basic hypotheses. Formulas for solving internal variables are given. It makes the rate-dependent model applicable no matter whether the consistency conditions can be satisfied or not.

Oscillatory Shannon entropy in the process of equilibration of nonequilibrium crystalline systems

We present a study of the equilibration process of some nonequilibrium crystalline systems by means of molecular dynamics simulation technique. The nonequilibrium conditions are achieved in the systems by randomly defining velocity components of the constituent atoms. The calculated Shannon entropy from the probability distribution of the kinetic energy among the atoms at different instants during the process of equilibration shows oscillation as the system relaxes towards equilibrium. Fourier transformations of these oscillating Shannon entropies reveal the existence of Debye frequency of the concerned system.

Power-optimization of multistage non-isothermal chemical engine system via Onsager equations,Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman theory and dynamic programming

The research on the output rate performance limit of the multi-stage energy conversion system based on modern optimal control theory is one of the hot spots of finite time thermodynamics.The existing research mainly focuses on the multi-stage heat engine system with pure heat transfer and the multi-stage isothermal chemical engine(ICE)system with pure mass transfer,while the multi-stage non ICE system with heat and mass transfer coupling is less involved.A multistage endoreversible non-isothermal chemical engine(ENICE)system with a finite high-chemical-potential(HCP)source(driving fluid)and an infinite low-chemical-potential sink(environment)is researched.The multistage continuous system is treated as infinitesimal ENICEs located continuously.Each infinitesimal ENICE is assumed to be a single-stage ENICE with stationary reservoirs.Extending single-stage results,the maximum power output(MPO)of the multistage system is obtained.Heat and mass transfer processes between the reservoir and working fluid are assumed to obey Onsager equations.For the fixed initial time,fixed initial fluid temperature,and fixed initial concentration of key component(CKC)in the HCP source,continuous and discrete models of the multistage system are optimized.With given initial reservoir temperature,initial CKC,and total process time,the MPO of the multistage ENICE system is optimized with fixed and free final temperature and final concentration.If the final concentration and final temperature are free,there are optimal final temperature and optimal final concentration for the multistage ENICE system to achieve MPO;meanwhile,there are low limit values for final fluid temperature and final concentration.Special cases for multistage endoreversible Carnot heat engines and ICE systems are further obtained.For the model in this paper,the minimum entropy generation objective is not equivalent to MPO objective.

Corrected stress field intensity approach based on averaging superior limit of intrinsic damage dissipation work

Corrected stress field intensity obtained by averaging the superior limit of intrinsic damage dissipation work in critical domain, which considers thoroughly thermodynamic consistency within irreversible thermodynamic framework, was proposed for predictions of high-cycle fatigue endurance limits. Simultaneously, the effects of mean stress, additional hardening behavior related to non-proportional loading paths and stress gradients on multiaxial high-cycle fatigue are taken into account in the proposed approach. The approach is an extension of the general stress field intensity. For a better comparison, existing multiaxial high-cycle fatigue criteria were employed to predict the endurance limits of different metallic materials subjected to different multiaxial loading paths, and it is shown that present proposal performs better from statistical value of error indexes, which make the proposed approach of corrected stress field intensity and its associated concepts provide a new conception to predict endurance limits of multiaxial high-cycle fatigue with high accuracy.

Microstructure investigation of dynamic recrystallization in hard machining:From thermodynamic irreversibility perspective

The drastically changed thermal,mechanical,and chemical energies within the machined surface layer during hard machining tend to initiate microstructural alteration.In this paper,attention is paid to the introduction of thermodynamic potential to unravel the mechanism of microstructure evolution.First,the thermodynamic potential-based model expressed by the Helmholtz free energy was proposed for predicting the microstructure changes of serrated chip and the machined surface layer.Second,the proposed model was implemented into a validated finite element simulation model for cutting operation as a user-defined subroutine.In addition,the predicted irreversible thermodynamic state change in the deformation zones associated with grain size,which was reduced to less than 1 mm from the initial size of 1.5 mm on the machined surface,was provided for an in-depth explanation.The good consistency between the simulated results and experimental data validated the efficacy of the developed model.This research helps to provide further insight into the microstructure alteration during metal cutting.