Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics in Engineering and Science

Abstract

The field of nonequilibrium thermodynamics has been a popular one outside the United States, especially in Europe, and scientists there from various disciplines have published extensively on the use of nonequilibrium thermodynamics in a large variety of biological, chemical, and mechanical engineering applications. In contrast, the number of publications from North America has been relatively modest. Here, we review the field of nonequilibrium thermodynamics to assess its utility and impact in engineering and science. We find that developments in the fields thermodynamic optimality of processes, dissipative structures, coupled transport and rate processes, and biological systems suggest that in some circumstances nonequilibrium thermodynamics can be quite useful.

Methodology of non-equilibrium thermodynamics for kinetics research of CO2 capture by ionic liquids

“…Non-equilibrium thermodynamic principles [33][34][35] mainly focus on the entropy production of the systems due to the irreversible process. When the system is close to the equilibrium state (or the deviation from the equilibrium state is not far), the generalized flux is linearly related to the gen- eral driving force [33][34][35], namely…”

“…When the system is close to the equilibrium state (or the deviation from the equilibrium state is not far), the generalized flux is linearly related to the gen- eral driving force [33][34][35], namely…”

Energy Storage and Transduction in Mitochondria

“…Therefore, the entropy and specific internal energy can be obtained through the same calculations as in equilibrium state and Gibbs and Gibbs-Duhem relations are also applicable (Demirel & Sandler, 2001Hill, 2002;Mazur, 1999). When applying non-equilibrium thermodynamics to a process, it is important to take into account how far from equilibrium the process is (Demirel & Sandler, 2004). Distance from equilibrium conditions can be determined by the energy dissipation function (Φ) which gives the rate of free energy loss of a system (Caplan & Essig, 1969).…”

“…Since energy dissipation is directly proportional to the entropy production, Φ can be used to evaluate the amount of energy released during a process (Demirel & Sandler, 2004). Therefore, one of the main objectives of this study was to determine Φ for different mitochondria in order to compare their functions.…”

Three-variable reversible Gray–Scott model

“…[8][9][10][11] However, this assumption prevents us from calculating the entropy production rates in the course of pattern formation. Even though the existence of dissipative structures was discussed theoretically by Nicolis and Prigogine 12 from the viewpoint of thermodynamics, and its importance was suggested, 13 this assumption prevents one from investigating the thermodynamics of pattern formation.…”