Carnot efficiency and zero-entropy-production rate do not guarantee reversibility of a process
Statistical Mechanics
2020-02-12 v1
Abstract
Thermodynamic process at zero-entropy-production (EP) rate has been regarded as a reversible process. A process achieving the Carnot efficiency is also considered as a reversible process. Therefore, the condition, `Carnot efficiency at zero-EP rate' could be regarded as a strong equivalent condition for a reversible process. Here, however, we show that the detailed balance can be broken for a zero-EP rate process and even for a process achieving the Carnot efficiency at zero-EP rate in an example of a quantum-dot model. This clearly demonstrates that `Carnot efficiency at zero-EP rate' or just 'zero-EP rate' is not a sufficient condition for a reversible process.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1812.10651,
title = {Carnot efficiency and zero-entropy-production rate do not guarantee reversibility of a process},
author = {Jae Sung Lee and Sang Hoon Lee and Jaegon Um and Hyunggyu Park},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1812.10651},
year = {2020}
}
Comments
4 pages, 4 figures