François Lanzetta

H. B. Reitlinger and the origins of the efficiency at maximum powerformula for heat engines

Abstract Even if not so ancient, the history of the heat engine efficiency at maximum power expression has been yet turbulent. More than a decade after the publication of the seminal article by Curzon and Ahlborn in 1975, two older works by Chambadal and Novikov were rediscovered, both dating from 1957. Then, some years ago, the name of Yvon arose from a textual reference to this famous relation in a conference article published in 1955. Thanks to a historical study of French-written books not published for a long time, and since never translated into other languages, we bring to light in this paper that this relation was actually first proposed by Henri B. Reitlinger in 1929.

Optimization Performance of a Microfluid Flow Power Converter

Abstract This article deals with an application of the endoreversible thermodynamics theory of heat engine applied to microfluid flow power converters (MFPC). An analogy is demonstrated between thermal and fluid flow efficiencies. Maximum power output and efficiency at maximum power are established for the device based upon the higher and lower pressure bounds. The linear and non linear fluid flows are considered with and without fluid friction losses. This paper provides theoretical limits for designing power flow converter. The best performances are obtained for linear fluid flow without flow losses.