Jaynes' MaxEnt, Steady State Flow Systems and the Maximum Entropy Production Principle

TL;DR

This paper explores how Jaynes' MaxEnt principle can be applied to steady state flow systems, providing a theoretical foundation for the maximum entropy production principle and clarifying the role of constraints.

Contribution

It offers a classification of physical systems and discusses the application of MaxEnt to steady state flow and reactive systems, enhancing understanding of the MEP principle.

Findings

MaxEnt provides a steady state analog of equilibrium thermodynamics.

Clarifies the role of constraints in MaxEnt applications.

Supports the maximum entropy production principle in flow systems.

Abstract

Jaynes' maximum entropy (MaxEnt) principle was recently used to give a conditional, local derivation of the ``maximum entropy production'' (MEP) principle, which states that a flow system with fixed flow(s) or gradient(s) will converge to a steady state of maximum production of thermodynamic entropy (R.K. Niven, Phys. Rev. E, in press). The analysis provides a steady state analog of the MaxEnt formulation of equilibrium thermodynamics, applicable to many complex flow systems at steady state. The present study examines the classification of physical systems, with emphasis on the choice of constraints in MaxEnt. The discussion clarifies the distinction between equilibrium, fluid flow, source/sink, flow/reactive and other systems, leading into an appraisal of the application of MaxEnt to steady state flow and reactive systems.