Heat engines and the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency

Antonio Calvo Hernández ^[1] ; J. M. M. Roco ^[1] ; Alejandro Medina Domínguez ^[1] ; N. Sánchez Salas ^[2]
1. [1] Universidad de Salamanca
  
  Universidad de Salamanca
  
  Salamanca, España
2. [2] Instituto Politécnico Nacional
  
  Instituto Politécnico Nacional
  
  México
Localización: Revista Mexicana de Física, ISSN-e 0035-001X, Vol. 60, Nº. 5, 2014, págs. 384-389
Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
- The so-called Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency is becoming a paradigmatic resut with regards to thermodynamic optimization of power cycles. Its wide applicability and sole dependence on the external heat bath temperatures (as the Carnot efficiency does) allows for an easy and fairly comparison with experimental efficiencies of striking validity. Different analytical derivations are presented in order to assess its validity and limitations for a broad variety of thermal cycles and steady state systems based on Finite-Time, Linear-Irreversible and Equilibrium Thermodynamic frameworks. Some conclusions and future perspectives are also outlined.