Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics for Engineers

The following sections are included:

• Preface

• Contents

The aim of this book is to present the essence of non-equilibrium thermodynamics for engineers. The field was established in 1931 and developed during the forties and fifties for transport in homogeneous phases. Applications of the theory are now increasing. Some perspectives on the applications are given after a brief introduction…

The following sections are included:

• Simple flux equations

• Flux equations in non-equilibrium thermodynamics

• The lost work of an industrial plant

• The second law efficiency

• Consistent thermodynamic models

The following sections are included:

• Balance equations

• Entropy production

• Examples

• The frame of reference for fluxes

The following sections are included:

• Linear flux-force relations

• Transport of heat and mass

• Transport of heat and charge

• Transport of mass and charge
  • The mobility model

• Transport of volume and charge

• Concluding remarks

The following sections are included:

• Isothermal diffusion
  • Prigogine's theorem applied
  • Diffusion in the solvent frame of reference
  • Maxwell-Stefan equations
  • Changing a frame of reference

• Maxwell-Stefan equations generalized

• Concluding remarks

The following sections are included:

• Balance equations
  • Component balances
  • Momentum balance
  • Internal energy balance

• Entropy production

• Stationary pipe flow
  • The measurable heat flux

• The plug flow reactor

• Concluding remarks

The following sections are included:

• The Gibbs energy change of a chemical reaction

• The reaction path
  • The chemical potential
  • The entropy production

• A rate equation with a thermodynamic basis

• The law of mass action

• The entropy production on the mesoscopic scale

• Concluding remarks

The following sections are included:

• The aluminum electrolysis cell

• The thermodynamic efficiency

• A simplified cell model

• Lost work due to charge transfer
  • The bulk electrolyte
  • The diffusion layer at the cathode
  • The electrode surfaces
  • The bulk anode and cathode

• Lost work by excess carbon consumption

• Lost work due to heat transport through the walls
  • Conduction across the walls
  • Surface radiation and convection

• A map of the lost work

• Concluding remarks

The following sections are included:

• Isothermal expansion of an ideal gas
  • Expansion work
  • The entropy production
  • The optimization idea

• Optimal control theory

• Heat exchange
  • The entropy production
  • The work production by a heat exchanger
  • Optimal control theory and heat exchange

• Concluding remarks

The following sections are included:

• The plug flow reactor
  • The entropy production
  • Optimal control theory and plug flow reactors
  • A highway in state space
  • Reactor design

• Distillation columns
  • The entropy production
  • Column design

• Concluding remarks

The following sections are included:

• Appendix A

• Bibliography

• List of Symbols

• Index

• About the authors