On the Existence and Applicability of Extremal Principles in the Theory of Irreversible Processes: A Critical Review

A brief review of the development of ideas on extremal principles in the theory of heat and mass transfer processes (including those in reacting media) is given. The extremal principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics are critically examined. Examples are shown in which the mechanical use of entro...

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Main Author: Igor Donskoy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/7152
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author Igor Donskoy
author_facet Igor Donskoy
author_sort Igor Donskoy
collection DOAJ
description A brief review of the development of ideas on extremal principles in the theory of heat and mass transfer processes (including those in reacting media) is given. The extremal principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics are critically examined. Examples are shown in which the mechanical use of entropy production-based principles turns out to be inefficient and even contradictory. The main problem of extremal principles in the theory of irreversible processes is the impossibility of their generalization, often even within the framework of a class of problems. Alternative extremal formulations are considered: variational principles for heat and mass transfer equations and other dissipative systems. Several extremal principles are singled out, which make it possible to simplify the numerical solution of the initial equations. Criteria are proposed that allow one to classify extremal principles according to their areas of applicability. Possible directions for further research in the search for extremal principles in the theory of irreversible processes are given.
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spelling doaj.art-82a20aa2a49749a5ab6aff1887a8dc482023-11-23T20:14:03ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-09-011519715210.3390/en15197152On the Existence and Applicability of Extremal Principles in the Theory of Irreversible Processes: A Critical ReviewIgor Donskoy0Melentiev Energy Systems Institute, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 664033 Irkutsk, RussiaA brief review of the development of ideas on extremal principles in the theory of heat and mass transfer processes (including those in reacting media) is given. The extremal principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics are critically examined. Examples are shown in which the mechanical use of entropy production-based principles turns out to be inefficient and even contradictory. The main problem of extremal principles in the theory of irreversible processes is the impossibility of their generalization, often even within the framework of a class of problems. Alternative extremal formulations are considered: variational principles for heat and mass transfer equations and other dissipative systems. Several extremal principles are singled out, which make it possible to simplify the numerical solution of the initial equations. Criteria are proposed that allow one to classify extremal principles according to their areas of applicability. Possible directions for further research in the search for extremal principles in the theory of irreversible processes are given.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/7152thermodynamicsoptimizationvariational principlesheat and mass transferchemical kinetics
spellingShingle Igor Donskoy
On the Existence and Applicability of Extremal Principles in the Theory of Irreversible Processes: A Critical Review
Energies
thermodynamics
optimization
variational principles
heat and mass transfer
chemical kinetics
title On the Existence and Applicability of Extremal Principles in the Theory of Irreversible Processes: A Critical Review
title_full On the Existence and Applicability of Extremal Principles in the Theory of Irreversible Processes: A Critical Review
title_fullStr On the Existence and Applicability of Extremal Principles in the Theory of Irreversible Processes: A Critical Review
title_full_unstemmed On the Existence and Applicability of Extremal Principles in the Theory of Irreversible Processes: A Critical Review
title_short On the Existence and Applicability of Extremal Principles in the Theory of Irreversible Processes: A Critical Review
title_sort on the existence and applicability of extremal principles in the theory of irreversible processes a critical review
topic thermodynamics
optimization
variational principles
heat and mass transfer
chemical kinetics
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/7152
work_keys_str_mv AT igordonskoy ontheexistenceandapplicabilityofextremalprinciplesinthetheoryofirreversibleprocessesacriticalreview