The supercritical solvent thermal cycles: A challenge to the second law

摘要

The positive excess heat of a solution reaction between a supercritical solvent and a solid solute enables a closed power cycle to access input heat from successive thermal reservoirs below its normal Tl. The cycle's heat to work conversion rate is compared to the summed work output of ideal gas Carrot cycles using the same amount of heat from the same reservoirs. The cycle's energy conversion rate exceeds the isentropic potential of its input heat to do work. Second law logic that established the kinetic energy transfers of the ideal gas Carnot cycle as a universal limit on the convertibility of heat to work by cyclical process is reviewed.