Are all Quasi-static Processes Reversible?
Chemical Physics
2009-11-30 v1 Statistical Mechanics
Abstract
A process, carried out in a stepwise manner, becomes quasi-static when the number of intermediate steps tends to infinity. Usually, the net entropy production approaches zero under this limiting condition. Hence, such cases are termed reversible. A favorite example is the introduction of an infinite number of intermediate-temperature reservoirs in between the source and the sink for a non-isothermal heat transfer process. We analyze the situation and conclude that such quasi-static processes are not reversible. Indeed, no non-isothermal heat transfer process can ever be made reversible due to an extraneous work term.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0911.5010,
title = {Are all Quasi-static Processes Reversible?},
author = {Debasis Mukhopadhyay and Kamal Bhattacharyya},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0911.5010},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
11 pages