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Nature of Entropy

Abstract

THE engineer has no difficulty in understanding entropy. The boilerman says : “I give you steam with so much heat energy and entropy, and you want to know how much work your engine will get out of it. I can't tell you as I don't know your condenser temperature, or how bad your engine is. Multiply your condenser temperature by my entropy and you know how much of the energy is not available in my steam. Your engine will increase entropy by heat conduction, or by wasteful expansion, if a turbine ; but that is your look out”.

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SWINBURNE, J. Nature of Entropy. Nature 151, 335–336 (1943). https://doi.org/10.1038/151335b0

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