Irreversible thermodynamic analysis and application for molecular heat engines

TL;DR

This paper compares the thermodynamic limitations of macro and molecular heat engines, applying irreversible thermodynamics to quantum systems to analyze lost work and demonstrate similar constraints across scales.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum thermodynamic approach to analyze molecular heat engines and compares their limitations with classical engines.

Findings

Macro and molecular heat engines obey similar thermodynamic limitations.

Quantum thermodynamics can explain the behavior of molecular heat engines.

Lost work in molecular engines is comparable to classical counterparts.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to determine lost works in a molecular engine and compare results with macro (classical) heat engines. Firstly, irreversible thermodynamics are reviewed for macro and molecular cycles. Secondly, irreversible thermodynamics approaches are applied for a quantum heat engine with -1/2 spin system. Finally, lost works are determined for considered system and results show that macro and molecular heat engines obey same limitations. Moreover, a quantum thermodynamic approach is suggested in order to explain the results previously obtained from an atomic viewpoint.