Power considerations in the operation of a piston fitted inside a cylinder containing a dynamically heated working fluid

Abstract

We determine the optimal motion of a piston fitted in a cylinder containing a gas, pumped with a given time‐dependent rate of heating and coupled to a heat bath, in order to maximize the power obtained. The dependence of the optimal power, and the corresponding optimal operating time, on the form of the heating function is studied. Furthermore, we determine the maximum work production obtainable from the system for a given specific power output.