Energy Production from Waste Heat by Means of Elastomers or Memory Metals

摘要

Results are given of an examination of the possibility of energy production from waste heat with memory metals or elastomers. A primary concern has been to present a general description of the thermodynamic limitations on extracting the energy content of waste heat. Thus, the main part of the study deals with efficiency in various conversion processes including ideal processes, conventional conversion processes such as the Rankine cycle, and unconventional processes. The unconventional conversion process treated are those which utilize memory metals, elastomers, or ferromagnetism. The results could also be applied to other types of conversion processes.