Maximum work for Carnot-like heat engines with infinite heat source

Abstract

An analysis of efficiency and its bounds at maximum work output for Carnot-like heat engines is conducted. The heat transfer processes are described by the linear law with time-dependent heat conductance. The upper bound of efficiency is found to be the CA efficiency,and is independent of the time duration completing each process and the time-dependent conductance. We prove that even the working medium exchanges heat sufficiently with the heat reservoirs, the work which could be extracted is finite and limited. The optimal temperature profiles in the heat exchanging processes are also analyzed. When the dimensionless contact times satisfy certain relations,the endoreversible model is recovered.