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arXiv · 1705.05817

Universal trade-off between power, efficiency, and constancy in steady-state heat engines

Patrick Pietzonka·Udo Seifert
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Abstract

Heat engines should ideally have large power output, operate close to Carnot efficiency and show constancy, i.e., exhibit only small fluctuations in this output. For steady-state heat engines, driven by a constant temperature difference between the two heat baths, we prove that out of these three requirements only two are compatible. Constancy enters quantitatively the conventional trade-off between power and efficiency. Thus, we rationalize and unify recent suggestions for overcoming this simple trade-off. Our universal bound is illustrated for a paradigmatic model of a quantum dot solar cell and for a Brownian gyrator delivering mechanical work against an external force.

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Patrick Pietzonka, Udo Seifert. 2018-05-14. Universal trade-off between power, efficiency, and constancy in steady-state heat engines. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.120.190602

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