Extended Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics

From Principles to Applications in Nanosystems

Hatim Machrafi

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781032653303
• eBook ISBN: 9781351021920
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Thermodynamics

Extended Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics provides powerful tools departing not from empirical or statistical considerations but from fundamental thermodynamic laws, proposing final solutions that are readily usable and recognizable for students, researchers and industry. The book deals with methods that allow combining easily the present theory with other fields of science, such as fluid and solid mechanics, heat and mass transfer processes, electricity and thermoelectricity, and so on. Not only are such combinations facilitated, but they are incorporated into the developments in such a way that they become part of the theory. This book aims at providing for a systematic presentation of Extended Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics in nanosystems with a high degree of applicability. Furthermore, the book deals with how physical properties of systems behave as a function of their size. Moreover, it provides for a systematic approach to understand the behavior of thermal, electrical, thermoelectric, photovoltaic and nanofluid properties in nanosystems. Experimental results are used to validate the theory, the comparison is analysed, justified and discussed, and the theory is then again used to understand better experimental observations. The new developments in this book, being recognizable in relation with familiar concepts, should make it appealing for academics and researchers to teach and apply and graduate students to use. The text in this book is intended to bring attention to how the theory can be applied to real-life applications in nanoscaled environments. Case studies, and applications of theories, are explored including thereby nanoporous systems, solar panels, nanomedicine drug permeation and properties of nanoporous scaffolds.

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• Explores new generalized thermodynamic models

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• Provides introductory context of Extended Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics within classical thermodynamics, theoretical fundamentals and several applications in nanosystems

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• Provides for a systematic approach to understand the behavior of thermal, electric, thermoelectric and viscous properties as a function of several parameters in nanosystems

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• Includes reflections to encourage the reader to think further and put the information into context

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• Examines future developments of new constitutive equations and theories and places them in the framework of real-life applications in the energetic and medical sectors, such as photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices, nanoporous media, drug delivery and scaffolds

Part II

Selected Applications

4

Thermal Rectifier Efficiency of Various Bulk–Nanoporous Silicon Devices

4.1 Principles of Thermal Rectifiers

Thermal rectifiers have attracted an increased interest not only in fundamental but also in applied research, [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6] presently framed within the relatively new topic of phononics [7, 8, and 9]. The concept of thermal rectification can be traced back to Starr in 1936 [10]. By analogy with electronic diodes used for the control of electric current, thermal rectifiers are devices allowing heat to flow easily in one direction but offering strong resistance in the reverse direction. Search for suitable materials and configurations enhancing heat rectification has been intensely activated principally during the two last decades [11, 12, 13, and 14]. Among the current and widely used techniques, let us mention these based on adsorption/desorption properties [15], phase change [16], photon radiation [17] and thermal expansion–contraction [6] heat transfer between materials with different temperature-dependent heat conductivities [18,19], the main objective is the search for thermal diodes with the highest performance. The subject opens the way to specific applications, especially in the field of energy-saving structures, solar energy conversion, nano-electronic cooling, aero-spatial industry and cryogenics.

In the present theoretical approach, we consider successively discontinuous devices constituted by the junction of bulk and nanoporous Si and porous non-homogenous Si. The purpose of this work is the search of suitable material configurations leading to the most efficient heat rectification. Although the actual analysis is limited to silicon, there will be no difficulty to extend it to other materials.

The underlying property responsible for heat rectification is the behaviour of the thermal co...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Author
• I General Considerations
• II Selected Applications
• III Advanced Applications and Perspectives
• Epilogue
• Unit Conversions
• Index