Physics – Condensed Matter – Statistical Mechanics
Scientific paper
2008-05-10
J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 41, 312003 (2008)
Physics
Condensed Matter
Statistical Mechanics
7 pages, 3 figures; correct some errors
Scientific paper
10.1088/1751-8113/41/31/312003
The maximum power of Feynman's ratchet as a heat engine and the corresponding efficiency ($\eta_\ast$) are investigated by optimizing both the internal parameter and the external load. When a perfect ratchet device (no heat exchange between the ratchet and the paw via kinetic energy) works between two thermal baths at temperatures $T_1> T_2$, its efficiency at maximum power is found to be $\eta_\ast =\eta_C^2 /[\eta_C-(1-\eta_C)\ln(1-\eta_C)]$, where $\eta_C\equiv 1-T_2/T_1$. This efficiency is slightly higher than the value $1-\sqrt{T_2/T_1}$ obtained by Curzon and Ahlborn [\textit{Am. J. Phys.} \textbf{43} (1975) 22] for macroscopic heat engines. It is also slightly larger than the result $\eta_{SS}\equiv 2\eta_C/(4-\eta_C)$ obtained by Schmiedl and Seifert [\textit{EPL} \textbf{81} (2008) 20003] for stochastic heat engines working at small temperature difference, while the evident deviation between $\eta_\ast$ and $\eta_{SS}$ appears at large temperature difference. For an imperfect ratchet device in which the heat exchange between the ratchet and the paw via kinetic energy is non-vanishing, the efficiency at maximum power decreases with increasing the heat conductivity.
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