Quantum point contacts as heat engines

The efficiency of macroscopic heat engines is restricted by the second law of thermodynamics. They can reach at most the efficiency of a Carnot engine. In contrast, heat currents in mesoscopic heat engines show fluctuations. Thus, there is a small probability that a mesoscopic heat engine exceeds Carnot's maximum value during a short measurement time. We illustrate this effect using a quantum point contact as a heat engine. When a temperature difference is applied to a quantum point contact, the system may be utilized as a source of electrical power under steady state conditions. We first discuss the optimal working point of such a heat engine that maximizes the generated electrical power and subsequently calculate the statistics for deviations of the efficiency from its most likely value. We find that deviations surpassing the Carnot limit are possible, but unlikely.     

Reprint of : Quantum point contacts as heat engines

The efficiency of macroscopic heat engines is restricted by the second law of thermodynamics. They can reach at most the efficiency of a Carnot engine. In contrast, heat currents in mesoscopic heat engines show fluctuations. Thus, there is a small probability that a mesoscopic heat engine exceeds Carnot's maximum value during a short measurement time. We illustrate this effect using a quantum point contact as a heat engine. When a temperature difference is applied to a quantum point contact, the system may be utilized as a source of electrical power under steady state conditions. We first discuss the optimal working point of such a heat engine that maximizes the generated electrical power and subsequently calculate the statistics for deviations of the efficiency from its most likely value. We find that deviations surpassing the Carnot limit are possible, but unlikely.     

Performance characteristics of low-dissipative generalized Carnot cycles with external leakage losses

Under the assumption of low-dissipation, a unified model of generalized Carnot cycles with external leakage losses is established. Analytical expressions for the power output and efficiency are derived. The general performance characteristics between the power output and the efficiency are revealed. The maximum power output and efficiency are calculated. The lower and upper bounds of the efficiency at the maximum power output are determined. The results obtained here are universal and can be directly used to reveal the performance characteristics of different Carnot cycles, such as Carnot heat engines, Carnot-like heat engines, flux flow engines, gravitational engines, chemical engines, two-level quantum engines,etc.     

The performance analysis of a micro-/nanoscaled quantum heat engine

A new model of micro-/nanoscaled heat engines consisting of two thin long tubes with the same length but different sizes of cross section, which are filled up with ideal quantum gases and operated between two heat reservoirs, is put forward. The working fluid of the heat engine cycle goes through four processes, which include two isothermal processes and two isobaric processes with constant longitudinal pressure. General expressions for the power output and efficiency of the cycle are derived, based on the thermodynamic properties of confined ideal quantum gases. The influence of the size effect on the power output and efficiency is discussed. The differences between the heat engines working with the ideal Bose gas and Fermi gas are revealed. The performance of the heat engines operating at weak gas degeneracy and high temperatures is further analyzed. The results obtained are more general and significant than those in the current literature.     

Modeling and Performance Optimization of an Irreversible Two-Stage Combined Thermal Brownian Heat Engine

Based on finite time thermodynamics, an irreversible combined thermal Brownian heat engine model is established in this paper. The model consists of two thermal Brownian heat engines which are operating in tandem with thermal contact with three heat reservoirs. The rates of heat transfer are finite between the heat engine and the reservoir. Considering the heat leakage and the losses caused by kinetic energy change of particles, the formulas of steady current, power output and efficiency are derived. The power output and efficiency of combined heat engine are smaller than that of single heat engine operating between reservoirs with same temperatures. When the potential filed is free from external load, the effects of asymmetry of the potential, barrier height and heat leakage on the performance of the combined heat engine are analyzed. When the potential field is free from external load, the effects of basic design parameters on the performance of the combined heat engine are analyzed. The optimal power and efficiency are obtained by optimizing the barrier heights of two heat engines. The optimal working regions are obtained. There is optimal temperature ratio which maximize the overall power output or efficiency. When the potential filed is subjected to external load, effect of external load is analyzed. The steady current decreases versus external load; the power output and efficiency are monotonically increasing versus external load.     

Performance characteristics of an irreversible thermally driven Brownian microscopic heat engine

Brownian particles moving in a spatially asymmetric but periodic potential (ratchet), with an external load force and connected to an alternating hot and cold reservoir, are modeled as a microscopic heat engine, referred to as the Brownian heat engine. The heat flow via both the potential energy and the kinetic energy of the particles are considered simultaneously. The forward and backward particle currents are determined using an Arrhenius' factor. Expressions for the power output and efficiency are derived analytically. The maximum power output and efficiency are calculated. It is expounded that the Brownian heat engine is always irreversible and its efficiency cannot approach the efficiency η_C of the Carnot heat engine even in quasistatic limit. The influence of the main parameters such as the load, the barrier height of the potential, the asymmetry of the potential and the temperature ratio of the heat reservoirs on the performance of the Brownian heat engine is discussed in detail. It is found that the Brownian heat engines may be controlled to operate in different regions through variation of some parameters.     

带有Dzyaloshinski-Mariya相互作用的两比特纠缠量子Otto热机和量子Stirling热机

研究了以带有Dzyaloshinski-Mariya(DM)相互作用的两比特自旋体系为工质的量子纠缠Otto热机和量子Stirling热机.两种不同热机在各自的循环过程中,通过保持其他参量不变,只有DM相互作用发生改变,从而分析热机循环中DM相互作用与热传递、做功以及效率等热力学量之间的关系.研究结果表明:DM相互作用对两种热机的基本量子热力学量都具有重要的影响,但量子Stirling热机由于回热器的使用,其循环效率会大于量子Otto纠缠热机的效率,甚至会超过Carnot效率;得到了量子Otto纠缠热机和量子Stirling热机做正功的条件.因此,在这两个纠缠体系中,热力学第二定律都依然成立.     

Efficiency at Maximum Power Output of a Quantum-Mechanical Brayton Cycle

The performance in finite time of a quantum-mechanical Brayton engine cycle is discussed, without intro- duction of temperature. The engine model consists of two quantum isoenergetic and two quantum isobaric processes, and works with a single particle in a harmonic trap. Directly employing the finite-time thermodynamics, the efficiency at maximum power output is determined. Extending the harmonic trap to a power-law trap, we find that the efficiency at max/mum power is independent of any parameter involved in the model, but depends on the confinement of the trapping potential.     

Optimization criteria of a Bose Brayton heat engine

An irreversible cycle model of the quantum Bose Brayton engine is established, in which finite-time processes and irreversibilities in two adiabatic processes are taken into account. Based on the model, expressions for the power output and the efficiency are derived. By using a numerical computation, the optimal relationship between the power output and the efficiency of an irreversible Bose Brayton engine is obtained. The optimal regions of the power output and the efficiency are determined. It is found that the influences of the irreversibility and the quantum degeneracy on the main performance parameters of the Bose Brayton engine are remarkable. The results obtained in the present paper can provide some new theoretical information for the optimal design and the performance improvement of a real Brayton engine.     

Bound on Efficiency of Heat Engine from Uncertainty Relation Viewpoint

Quantum cycles in established heat engines can be modeled with various quantum systems as working substances. For example, a heat engine can be modeled with an infinite potential well as the working substance to determine the efficiency and work done. However, in this method, the relationship between the quantum observables and the physically measurable parameters—i.e., the efficiency and work done—is not well understood from the quantum mechanics approach. A detailed analysis is needed to link the thermodynamic variables (on which the efficiency and work done depends) with the uncertainty principle for better understanding. Here, we present the connection of the sum uncertainty relation of position and momentum operators with thermodynamic variables in the quantum heat engine model. We are able to determine the upper and lower bounds on the efficiency of the heat engine through the uncertainty relation.     

Comparing Two Definitions of Work for a Biological Quantum Heat Engine

Systems of photosynthetic reaction centres have been modelled as heat engines, while it has also been reported that the efficiency and power of such heat engines can be enhanced by quantum interference|a trait that has attracted much interest. We compare two definitions of the work of such a photosynthetic heat engine, i.e. definition A used by Weimer et al. and B by Dorfman et al. We also introduce a coherent interaction between donor and acceptor (CIDA) to demonstrate a reversible energy transport. We show that these two definitions of work can impart contradictory results, that is, CIDA enhances the power and efficiency of the photosynthetic heat engine with definition B but not with A. Additionally, we find that both reversible and irreversible excitation-energy transport can be described with definition A, but definition B can only model irreversible transport. As a result, we conclude that definition A is more suitable for photosynthetic systems than definition B.     

以一维谐振子势阱中的单粒子为工质的量子热机性能分析

建立了以一维谐振子势阱中的单粒子为工质的量子热机模型.当势阱壁宽度和粒子的量子态缓慢改变时, 该热机类似于经典卡诺热机对外做功.假设势阱壁移动速度非常缓慢并且考虑热漏, 推导出量子热机循环的输出功率和效率等重要性能参数的一般表达式.通过优化分析, 获得了热机循环中各主要性能参数的最佳优化值和优化区间.     

Performance Analysis and Optimization for Irreversible Combined Carnot Heat Engine Working with Ideal Quantum Gases

An irreversible combined Carnot cycle model using ideal quantum gases as a working medium was studied by using finite-time thermodynamics. The combined cycle consisted of two Carnot sub-cycles in a cascade mode. Considering thermal resistance, internal irreversibility, and heat leakage losses, the power output and thermal efficiency of the irreversible combined Carnot cycle were derived by utilizing the quantum gas state equation. The temperature effect of the working medium on power output and thermal efficiency is analyzed by numerical method, the optimal relationship between power output and thermal efficiency is solved by the Euler-Lagrange equation, and the effects of different working mediums on the optimal power and thermal efficiency performance are also focused. The results show that there is a set of working medium temperatures that makes the power output of the combined cycle be maximum. When there is no heat leakage loss in the combined cycle, all the characteristic curves of optimal power versus thermal efficiency are parabolic-like ones, and the internal irreversibility makes both power output and efficiency decrease. When there is heat leakage loss in the combined cycle, all the characteristic curves of optimal power versus thermal efficiency are loop-shaped ones, and the heat leakage loss only affects the thermal efficiency of the combined Carnot cycle. Comparing the power output of combined heat engines with four types of working mediums, the two-stage combined Carnot cycle using ideal Fermi-Bose gas as working medium obtains the highest power output.     

Efficiency bounds for nonequilibrium heat engines

We analyze the efficiency of thermal engines (either quantum or classical) working with a single heat reservoir like an atmosphere. The engine first gets an energy intake, which can be done in an arbitrary nonequilibrium way e.g. combustion of fuel. Then the engine performs the work and returns to the initial state. We distinguish two general classes of engines where the working body first equilibrates within itself and then performs the work (ergodic engine) or when it performs the work before equilibrating (non-ergodic engine). We show that in both cases the second law of thermodynamics limits their efficiency. For ergodic engines we find a rigorous upper bound for the efficiency, which is strictly smaller than the equivalent Carnot efficiency. I.e. the Carnot efficiency can be never achieved in single reservoir heat engines. For non-ergodic engines the efficiency can be higher and can exceed the equilibrium Carnot bound. By extending the fundamental thermodynamic relation to nonequilibrium processes, we find a rigorous thermodynamic bound for the efficiency of both ergodic and non-ergodic engines and show that it is given by the relative entropy of the nonequilibrium and initial equilibrium distributions. These results suggest a new general strategy for designing more efficient engines. We illustrate our ideas by using simple examples.     

负载对热声发动机性能的影响

热声发动机作为一种完全没有运动部件的能量转化和传输机械具有广阔的应用前景.为了提高热声发动机的驱动性能,本文采用变负载法对热声发动机性能的影响因素进行了实验研究.实验结果表明,负载的阻力和容抗对热声发动机的加热温度、压比和声功引出有重要影响.同时,实验中还发现了能够使热声发动机瞬时消振和起振的实验方法,将极大方便对热声发动机的开关控制.     

线性与非线性传热过程的Curzon-Ahlborn热机在任意功率时的效率

热机性能的优化是热力学领域的一个重要问题,而工质与热源之间的传热过程是热机工作时产生不可逆的主要来源.本文在引入功率增益和效率增益两个重要参数的基础上,基于一个简化的Curzon-Ahlborn热机模型并利用合比分比原理,给出了线性与非线性传热过程的热机在任意功率输出时的效率表达式,结合数值计算详细讨论了热机在任意功率输出时的特性.研究表明,参数ξ作为功率增益δP的函数存在两个分支:在第一分支上(不利情形),效率呈现出单调变化特征;在第二分支上(有利情形),效率随着的δP变化是非单调的且有最大值.随着传热指数的增加,热机的工作区域减小,这源于非线性传热过程包含热辐射所致.进一步发现功率-效率关系曲线存在权衡工作点,热机在该点附近工作能够实现最有效的热功转换.研究结果有助于深入理解具有不同传热过程热机的优化执行.     

能造出功率和效率都高的热机吗?——有限时间热力学的发展与展望

在热力学中,功率和效率是衡量热机性能的两个主要参数。根据经典热力学,可逆热机效率的上限是卡诺效率,但相应的功率为零。这是因为卡诺效率的实现依赖于时间无穷长的准静态假设。因此,如何根据实际需求,在保证热机功率前提下提高热机效率成为热力学一个重要的科学挑战问题。在20世纪上半叶应运而生的有限时间热力学,今天得到了蓬勃发展,为应对这个挑战提供了必要的科学支撑。文章主要介绍有限时间热力学的发展及现状,特别是最近对于有限时间热机功率效率约束关系及其优化问题上的研究。针对有限时间热力学循环功率—效率约束与不可逆性的关系,文章还简介最近作者关于有限时间等温过程中不可逆熵产生的理论和实验研究工作。最后展望未来有限时间热力学及有限系统非平衡物理的可能发展与应用。     

Thermodynamic performance characteristics of a three-terminal quantum dot hybrid thermoelectric heat engine

We propose a new model of the three-terminal quantum dot hybrid thermoelectric heat engine in which the electrons transfer between two electronic terminals at different temperatures and chemical potentials through two coupled single-level quantum dots. Based on master equation we derive the expressions for the output power and the efficiency. The working region of the hybrid heat engine is determined according to the first and second law of thermodynamics. The performance characteristic curves are plotted and the optimal performance parameters are obtained. Finally, the influence of the non-radiative effect on the optimal performance parameters is discussed in detail.     

Recent advance on the efficiency at maximum power of heat engines

This review reports several key advances on the theoretical investigations of efficiency at maximum power of heat engines in the past five years. The analytical results of efficiency at maximum power for the Curzon-Ahlborn heat engine, the stochastic heat engine constructed from a Brownian particle, and Feynman's ratchet as a heat engine are presented. It is found that: the efficiency at maximum power exhibits universal behavior at small relative temperature differences; the lower and the upper bounds might exist under quite general conditions; and the problem of efficiency at maximum power comes down to seeking for the minimum irreversible entropy production in each finite-time isothermal process for a given time.     

Performance analysis of a tunneling thermoelectric heat engine with nano-scaled quantum well

A numerical model of a nano-scaled thermoelectric heat engine with InP/InAs/InP trilayer quantum well (QW) is investigated. The expressions of those performance parameters, such as current, power output, and efficiency are expressed. By numerical calculation, the resonant tunneling behavior of electrons in the QW is described, which seems like a very good energy selective electron mechanism for the heat engine. After considering the radiation heat leakage, for fixed layer thicknesses of the QW, the optimum working regions of the heat engine with respect to the chemical potentials and the bias voltage are obtained numerically under the economic criterion. From these results, the power output can be increased by narrowing down the layer thicknesses. In addition, owing to the radiant heat leakage, the efficiency initially increases in the working regions and then decreases when the layer thicknesses increase gradually, from which one can obtain a maximum efficiency by optimizing layer thicknesses of QW. These results calculated here may provide a guide for the optimum designs of tunneling thermoelectric devices.