Brownian micro-engines and refrigerators in a spatially periodic temperature field: Heat flow and performances

Bao Quan Ai; Liqiu Wang; Liang Gang Liu

doi:10.1016/j.physleta.2005.12.010

Brownian micro-engines and refrigerators in a spatially periodic temperature field: Heat flow and performances

Bao Quan Ai, Liqiu Wang, Liang Gang Liu

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We study the thermodynamic features of a thermal motor driven by temperature differences, which consists of a Brownian particle moving in a sawtooth potential with an external load. The motor can work as a heat engine or a refrigerator under different conditions. The heat flow driven by both potential and kinetic energy is considered. The former is reversible when the engine works quasistatically and the latter is always irreversible. The efficiency of the heat engine (Coefficient Of Performance (COP) of a refrigerator) can never approach Carnot efficiency (COP).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	286-290
Number of pages	5
Journal	Physics Letters, Section A: General, Atomic and Solid State Physics
Volume	352
Issue number	4-5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physleta.2005.12.010
Publication status	Published - 3 Apr 2006
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Efficiency
Heat flow
Thermal motor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Physics and Astronomy

More information

10.1016/j.physleta.2005.12.010

Cite this

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abstract = "We study the thermodynamic features of a thermal motor driven by temperature differences, which consists of a Brownian particle moving in a sawtooth potential with an external load. The motor can work as a heat engine or a refrigerator under different conditions. The heat flow driven by both potential and kinetic energy is considered. The former is reversible when the engine works quasistatically and the latter is always irreversible. The efficiency of the heat engine (Coefficient Of Performance (COP) of a refrigerator) can never approach Carnot efficiency (COP).",

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Brownian micro-engines and refrigerators in a spatially periodic temperature field: Heat flow and performances. / Ai, Bao Quan; Wang, Liqiu; Liu, Liang Gang.
In: Physics Letters, Section A: General, Atomic and Solid State Physics, Vol. 352, No. 4-5, 03.04.2006, p. 286-290.

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

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AU - Wang, Liqiu

AU - Liu, Liang Gang

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Y1 - 2006/4/3

N2 - We study the thermodynamic features of a thermal motor driven by temperature differences, which consists of a Brownian particle moving in a sawtooth potential with an external load. The motor can work as a heat engine or a refrigerator under different conditions. The heat flow driven by both potential and kinetic energy is considered. The former is reversible when the engine works quasistatically and the latter is always irreversible. The efficiency of the heat engine (Coefficient Of Performance (COP) of a refrigerator) can never approach Carnot efficiency (COP).

AB - We study the thermodynamic features of a thermal motor driven by temperature differences, which consists of a Brownian particle moving in a sawtooth potential with an external load. The motor can work as a heat engine or a refrigerator under different conditions. The heat flow driven by both potential and kinetic energy is considered. The former is reversible when the engine works quasistatically and the latter is always irreversible. The efficiency of the heat engine (Coefficient Of Performance (COP) of a refrigerator) can never approach Carnot efficiency (COP).

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DO - 10.1016/j.physleta.2005.12.010

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JO - Physics Letters, Section A: General, Atomic and Solid State Physics

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Brownian micro-engines and refrigerators in a spatially periodic temperature field: Heat flow and performances

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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