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We consider a quantum endoreversible Carnot engine cycle and its inverse operation–Carnot refrigeration cycle, working between a hot bath of inverse temperature [Formula: see text] and a cold bath at inverse temperature [Formula: see text]. For the engine model, the hot bath is constructed to be squeezed, whereas for the refrigeration cycle, the cold bath is set to be squeezed. In the high-temperature limit, we analyze efficiency at maximum power and coefficient of performance at maximum figure of merit, revealing the effects of the times allocated to two thermal-contact and two adiabatic processes on the machine performance. We show that, when the total time spent along the two adiabatic processes is negligible, the efficiency at maximum power reaches its upper bound, which can be analytically expressed in terms of squeezing parameter [Formula: see text]: [Formula: see text], with the Carnot efficiency [Formula: see text] and the coefficient of performance at maximum figure of merit is bounded from the upper side by the analytical function: [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text].

We propose an Otto heat engine that undergoes processes involving a special class of feedback and analyze theoretically its response. We use stochastic thermodynamics to determine the performance characteristics of the heat engine and indicate the possibility that its maximum efficiency can surpass the Carnot value. The analytical expression for efficiency at maximum power, including the effects resulting from feedback, reduces to that previously derived based on an engine without feedback.

We setup a three-level heat engine model that works with two noninteracting fermions in a one-dimensional box trap. Besides two quantum adiabatic processes, the quantum heat engine cycle consists of two isoenergetic processes, along which the particles are coupled to energy baths at a high constant energy EH and a low constant energy EC, respectively. Based on the assumption that the potential wall moves at a very slow speed and there exists a heat leakage between two energy baths, we derive the expressions of the power output and the efficiency, and then obtain the optimization region for the heat engine cycle. Finally, we present a brief performance analysis of a Carnot engine between a hot and a cold bath at temperatures TH and TC, respectively. We demonstrate that under the same conditions, the efficiency η=1-(EC/EH) of the engine cycle is bounded from above the Carnot efficiency ηc=1-(TC/TH).

An irreversible cycle model of a Bose–Otto engine is established, in which finite time thermodynamic processes and the irreversibility result from the nonisentropic compression and expansion processes are taken into account. Based on the model, expressions for the power output and efficiency of the Bose–Otto engine are derived. On the basis of the thermodynamic properties of ideal Bose gas, the effects of the irreversibility and the compression ratio of the two isochoric processes on the performance of the Bose–Otto engine are revealed and some important performance parameters are optimized. Furthermore, some optimal operating regions including those for the power output, efficiency, and the temperatures of the cyclic working substance at two important state points are determined and evaluated. Finally, several special cases are discussed in detail.

In this paper, the work output (W) and efficiency (η) of a Carnot cycle in micro-/nanoscale are calculated, in which the quantum boundary effect of gas particles as a working substance of cycle is considered. It is found that under the quantum boundary effect conditions, the work output of cycle depends sensitively on the surface area of the system (boundary of cycle) and cannot be predicted by the classical approximate result (WC), while the efficiency of cycle is independent of the surface area of the system and equals the Carnot efficiency (ηC). Further, the difference of work output of the micro-/nanoscaled Carnot cycle to that of the classical one, ΔW=W−WC, is introduced and can be expressed as the function of the temperature ratio τ=TL/TH of the two heat reservoirs, the volume ratio rV=V3/V1, and the surface area ratio rA=A3/A1 of the two isochoric processes. Variations of difference of work output, ΔW, with the temperature ratio τ and volume ratio rV for the different surface ratio rA are examined,...

Based on the so-called thermosize effects similar to thermoelectric effects, the cycle model of a micro-/nanothermosize refrigerator composed of two isothermal and two isobaric processes is established. The working fluid in this cycle consists of atoms in an ideal gas confined in micro-/nanoscale. The detailed expressions for the rate of refrigeration and coefficient of performance are derived in the two cases of reversible and irreversible heat exchanges. Some important performance characteristic curves are plotted. The optimal performance parameters of the micro-/nanothermosize refrigerator are obtained by numerical calculation. The results obtained here will provide theoretical guidance for designing of a micro-/nanoscaled refrigerator.