New Applications of Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics
We propose to extend the existing theory of irreversible processes (TIP) to include reversible real processes associated with the performance of useful work. This is achieved by the fact that the main quantities used by this theory, thermodynamic forces and fluxes, are derived not from the principle of increasing entropy, but rather from the law of the conservation of energy. This way of constructing TIP prevents the occurrence of thermodynamic inequalities and allows one to substantiate all its provisions without invoking the postulates and considerations of a molecular-kinetic and statistical-mechanical nature. This opens up the possibility of further reducing the number of empirical coefficients and expanding the scope of TIP applicability to nonlinear systems and states that are far from equilibrium, as well as to energy conversion processes which are primarily of interest to power engineers, technologists, biophysicists and astro-physicists. At the same time, the unity of the laws of transformation of all forms of energy and the difference between their equations, reciprocity relations and efficiency criteria from the generally accepted ones are proved. On this basis, a theory of similarity of power plants is proposed and their universal load characteristics are constructed, which make it possible to take the next step towards bringing the results of the thermodynamic analysis of their efficiency closer to reality.
