Entropy balance equation approach

There are three different approaches to a thermodynamic theory of continuum that can be distinguished. These approaches differ from each other by the fundamental postulates on which the theory is based. All of them are characterized by the same fundamental requirement that the results should be obtained without having recourse to statistical or kinetic theories. None of these approaches is concerned with the atomic structure of the material. Therefore, they represent a pure phenomenological approach. The principal postulates of the first approach, usually called the classical thermodynamics of irreversible processes, are documented. The principle of local state is assumed to be valid. The equation of entropy balance is assumed to involve a term expressing the entropy production which can be represented as a sum of products of fluxes and forces. This term is zero for a state of equilibrium and positive for an irreversible process. The fluxes are function of forces, not necessarily linear. However, the reciprocity relations concern only coefficients of the linear terms of the series expansions. Using methods of this approach, a thermodynamic description of elastic, rheologic and plastic materials was obtained. 

Thermal systems can be completely described using balance equations for mass, energy, and entropy in conjunction with thermophysical property relations and/or equations of state, equipment performance characteristics, thermokinetic or rate equations, and boundary/initial conditions. With the thermal system adequately described, it can be optimized by any current technique. Although the approach presented in this paper is not explicit in Second Law terms, it never-the-less will yield the optimal design and with the appropriate transformations, will yield any desired Second Law quantity. 

The formulation of linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics is based on the combination of the first and second laws of thermodynamics with the balance equations including the entropy balance. These equations allow additional effects and processes to be taken into account. The linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics approach is widely recognized as a useful phenomenological theory that describes the coupled transport without the need for the examination of the detailed coupling mechanisms of complex processes. 

Rational thermodynamics is formulated based on the following hypotheses (i) absolute temperature and entropy are not limited to near-equilibrium situations, (ii) it is assumed that systems have memories, their behavior at a given instant of time is determined by the history of the variables, and (iii) the second law of thermodynamics is expressed in mathematical terms by means of the Clausius-Duhem inequality. The balance equations were combined with the Clausius-Duhem inequality by means of arbitrary source terms, or by an approach based on Lagrange multipliers. 

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