Thermodynamics
A section of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300).
Section Information
Thermodynamics is a science of Energy and Entropy. It is a branch of physics that studies material properties and processes with regard to relationships between all forms of energies that ultimately dissipate into heat and generate entropy. It has been formally established rather recently, in the second half of the nineteenth century after pragmatic research in prior centuries, particularly propelled by the development of heat engines and conversion of heat to work. Sadi Carnot’s 1824 treatise, “Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire and on Machines Fitted to Develop that Power,” opened the way to further developments and generalization of thermodynamic reversibility and energy process-equivalency, the definition of absolute thermodynamic temperature (Kelvin 1848), and a new thermodynamic material property entropy (Clausius 1865), as well as the Gibbs free energy (Gibbs 1875), one of the most important thermodynamic functions for the characterization of electro-chemical systems and their equilibriums, thus resulting in the formulation of the universal and far-reaching Second Law of Thermodynamics. Even the First Law of energy conservation was not formulated until 1847 by Helmholtz, after its postulation by Mayer in 1842, and famous Jules’ 1843 experiments, establishing equivalency of work and heat, long after the 1798 Count Rumford’s (Benjamin Thompson) prominent cannon-boring experiments to demonstrate the conversion of work into heat.
The classical, phenomenological thermodynamics today has unjustifiably a dubious status. Some modern physicists regard classical thermodynamics as an obsolete relic. Often, mostly due to lack of dubious comprehension, thermodynamics is considered as an engineering subject and thus not as the most fundamental science of energy and nature. Apart from the view that thermodynamics is obsolete, there is a widespread belief among scientists in thermodynamics’ absolute authority. Einstein, whose early writings were related to thermodynamics, remained convinced throughout his life that “Thermodynamics is the only universal physical theory that will never be refuted.” But there are also others who dispute its clarity and rigor. Arnold (1990) stated that “Every mathematician knows it is impossible to understand an elementary course in thermodynamics.”
The phenomenological Laws of Thermodynamics have much wider, including philosophical significance and implications, than their simple expressions based on experimental observations—they are The Fundamental Laws of Nature: The Zeroth (equilibrium existentialism), the First (conservational transformationalism), the Second (forced, irreversible-directional transformationalism), and the Third (unattainability of 'emptiness'). These Laws define and unify our comprehension of all existence and transformations in the universe.
This section focuses on original reasoning and new research results in fundamentals and applications in thermodynamics. Original manuscripts in different areas of thermodynamics, including critical up-to-date reviews are solicited. We welcome submissions addressing novel issues, as well as those on more specific topics. It is hoped that the thermodynamics section will inspire and motivate scientists and practitioners to revisit important and critical issues related to the Laws of Thermodynamics as the most fundamental laws of nature.
Prof. Dr. M. Kostic
Section Editor-in-Chief
Keywords
- Fundamental laws and application of thermodynamics
- Thermodynamic processes and properties
- Classical thermodynamics
- Engineering thermodynamics
- Environmental thermodynamics
- Biological thermodynamics
- Second law and Exergy analysis
- Energy degradation and entropy generation
- Energetic and exergetic analysis and optimization
- Nature of entropy and its physical meaning
- Irreversibility and reversible limits
- Extrema principles of entropy production and optimization
- Non-equilibrium thermodynamics
- Theoretical and applied thermodynamics for engineers
- Energy conversion and energy efficiency
- Thermodynamics of energy conversion processes
- Entropy generation analysis
- Exergy Analysis
- Minimizing the entropy production
- Principle of maximum entropy production rate
- Relativistic thermodynamics
- Revisiting The Second Law
- Stochastic Thermodynamics
- The Nature of Entropy and Its Physical Meaning
- Theoretical and Applied Thermodynamics for Chemical Engineers
- Thermal energy storage
- Energy Conversion
- Thermodynamics of small systems
- Thermoeconomics
Editorial Board
Topic Board
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Vapor–Liquid Equilibrium and Chemical Thermodynamics (Deadline: 31 August 2021)
- Heat Transfer in Nanofluids and Porous Media (Deadline: 31 August 2021)
- The Mechanics of Solids in the Context of Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Deadline: 31 August 2021)
- Thermodynamics and Entropy for Self-Assembly and Self-Organization (Deadline: 15 September 2021)
- Economics, Entropy, Energy Transition and Sustainability (Deadline: 15 September 2021)
- Thermodynamics and Superconducting Devices (Deadline: 15 September 2021)
- Supercritical Fluids for Thermal Energy Applications (Deadline: 20 September 2021)
- Statistical Thermodynamics: From First Principles Computations to Macroscopic Properties of Matter (Deadline: 20 September 2021)
- High Temperature Statistical Thermodynamics of Molecules in Gases and Plasmas (Deadline: 30 September 2021)
- Nature of Entropy and Its Direct Metrology (Deadline: 30 September 2021)
- Application of Exergy Analysis to Energy Systems II (Deadline: 15 October 2021)
- Thermodynamic and Thermo-Economic Optimization in Renewable Energy Systems (Deadline: 31 October 2021)
- Thermodynamic Optimization of Heat Devices, Stability and Control (Deadline: 31 October 2021)
- Small-System (Nanoscale-Mesoscale) Thermodynamics (Deadline: 31 October 2021)
- Selected Papers from XLII National Conference on Calorimetry, Thermal Analysis and Applied Thermodynamics (Deadline: 31 October 2021)
- Computational Fluid Dynamics and Conjugate Heat Transfer (Deadline: 15 November 2021)
- Computational Thermodynamics (Deadline: 15 November 2021)
- Phase Transition and Heat-Mass Transfer of Gas Hydrate in Sediment (Deadline: 15 November 2021)
- Selected Papers in 13th International Conference on Computational Heat Mass and Momentum Transfer (Deadline: 20 November 2021)
- Entropy in Computational Fluid Dynamics III (Deadline: 20 November 2021)
- Thermodynamics and Self-Organization in Living Systems (Deadline: 30 November 2021)
- Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Adsorption Heat Storage Systems (Deadline: 30 November 2021)
- Selected Papers from the 31st European Symposium on Applied Thermodynamics (Deadline: 30 November 2021)
- Exergy-Based Methods: Fundamentals and Applications (Deadline: 19 December 2021)
- Integrated Cooling, Heating and Power Systems (Deadline: 20 December 2021)
- The Foundations of Thermodynamics (Deadline: 20 December 2021)
- Modeling and Simulation of Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) (Deadline: 31 December 2021)
- Thermodynamic Modelling in Membrane (Deadline: 31 December 2021)
- Geometric Structure of Thermodynamics: Theory and Applications (Deadline: 20 January 2022)
- Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Development (Deadline: 31 January 2022)
- Sustainable Energy Technologies and Heat Transfer (Deadline: 2 February 2022)
- Generalized Statistical Thermodynamics II (Deadline: 20 March 2022)
- Advances in Solar Thermal Technologies (Deadline: 31 March 2022)
- Hamiltonian Thermodynamics as a Unifying Theory of Dynamical and Phenomenological Methods (Deadline: 31 March 2022)
- Geometry in Thermodynamics III (Deadline: 24 April 2022)
- Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics (Deadline: 31 May 2022)
- Heat-Powered Systems (Deadline: 1 June 2022)
Topical Collection
Following topical collection within this section is currently open for submissions: