Second law of thermodynamics and heat pumps for domestic heating

Abstract

The release of energy can be used to provide heat when a fuel burns in a furnace, to produce mechanical work when a fuel burns in an engine, and to generate electrical work when a chemical reaction pumps electrons through a circuit. Thermodynamics, the study of the transformations of energy, enables us to discuss all these matters quantitatively and to make useful predictions. The recognition of two classes of process, spontaneous and non-spontaneous, is summarized by the Second Law of thermodynamics. This law may be expressed in a variety of equivalent ways. One statement was formulated by Kelvin: no process is possible in which the sole result is the absorption of heat from a reservoir and its complete conversion into work. In recently, extensive studies have been conducted on heat pumps for refrigeration and air conditioning of the buildings and automobiles. The objective of this study was to investigate the second law of thermodynamics and heating performance characteristics of the heat pump, especially solar assisted heat pumps for domestic heating.