A Critical Review of the Theorems of Thermodynamic Availability, with Concise Formulations

Abstract

In this review, which includes some new material, the terms ‘availability’ and ‘irreversibility’ are used to denote certain concepts, their alternative use to denote certain physical quantities being avoided. The review commences with careful definition of the physical quantities, concepts and terms involved in the study, before proceeding to the formulation and proof of seven Theorems, three of which are treated in Part 1. The remainder of this part of the paper is devoted to the detailed evaluation of reversible work quantities, dealing specifically with such terms as available energy, free energy, exergy, anergy and essergy. Part 2 (which will appear in the next issue) will be concerned principally with the evaluation of lost work output (or extra work input) due to irreversibility, while a critical, historical review will be presented in an Appendix.