Nonlinear effects for three-terminal heat engine and refrigerator

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nonlinear transport influences the efficiency and performance of a three-terminal heat device functioning as an engine or refrigerator, optimizing parameters for maximum efficiency and power.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of nonlinear effects on the efficiency and coefficient of performance in a three-terminal heat device, extending understanding beyond linear regimes.

Findings

Nonlinear effects significantly impact efficiency and COP.

Optimization of parameters enhances device performance.

Performance varies with energy levels and temperature settings.

Abstract

The three-terminal heat device consisting of a cavity and coupled to a heat bath is established. By tuning the temperatures of the electrodes and the phonon bath, the device can function as a heat engine or a refrigerator. We study the characteristic performance in the linear and nonlinear regime for both setups. It is our focus here to analyze how the efficiency of the heat engine and coefficient of performance of the refrigerator are affected by the nonlinear transport. With such considerations, the maximum efficiency and power are then optimized for various energy levels, temperatures and other parameters.