Fourier Heat Conduction as a phenomenon described within the scope of the Second Law

TL;DR

This paper models Fourier heat conduction as a thermodynamically reversible process despite mechanical irreversibility, supported by MD simulations, potentially unifying different thermodynamic processes within the Carnot cycle framework.

Contribution

It introduces a novel thermodynamic model of heat conduction as reversible, challenging traditional views and supported by molecular dynamics simulations.

Findings

MD simulations agree with the reversible heat conduction theory

Fourier heat conduction can be modeled as thermodynamically reversible

Potential unification of various thermodynamic processes within the Carnot cycle

Abstract

The historical development of the Carnot cycle necessitated the construction of isothermal and adiabatic pathways within the cycle that were also mechanically "reversible" which lead eventually to the Kelvin-Clausius development of the entropy function where the heat absorption is for the diathermal (isothermal) paths of the cycle only. It is deduced from traditional arguments that Fourier heat conduction involves mechanically "reversible" heat transfer with irreversible entropy increase. Here we model heat conduction as a thermodynamically reversible but mechanically irreversible process. The MD simulations conducted shows excellent agreement with the theory. Such views and results as these, if developed to a successful conclusion could imply that the Carnot cycle be viewed as describing a local process of energy-work conversion and that irreversible local processes might be brought within the scope of this cycle, implying a unified treatment of thermodynamically (i) irreversible, (ii) reversible, (iii) isothermal and (iv) adiabatic processes.