FINITE-TIME THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF A RADIATIVE HEAT ENGINE WITH INTERNAL IRREVERSIBILITY

A relation between the design parameters of an internally and externally irreversible radiative heat engine is presented to find the maximum power and the efficiency at maximum power output. It was found that the ratio of the reservoir temperatures must be less than half of the cycle-irreversibility parameter and the ratio of area of the heat exchangers must be less than 1.0 for optimum thermal efficiency and maximum power output. Increasing the cycle-irreversibility parameter and the heat-transfer area of the cold side improve thermal efficiency and maximum power output.