The thermodynamic quantity minimized in steady heat and fluid flow processes: A control volume approach

Heat transfer and fluid flow processes exhibit similarities as they occur naturally and are governed by the same type of differential equations. Natural phenomena occur always in an optimum way. In this paper, the natural optimality that exists in the heat transfer and fluid flow processes is investigated. In this regard, heat transfer and fluid flow problems are treated as optimization problems. We discovered a thermodynamic quantity that is optimized during the steady heat transfer and fluid flow processes. Consequently, a new thermodynamic property, the so called temheat, is introduced using the second law of thermodynamics and the definition of entropy. It is shown, through several examples, that overall temheat destruction is always minimized in steady heat and fluid flow processes. The principle of temheat destruction minimization that is based on the temheat balance equation provides a better insight to understand how the natural flow processes take place.

► The optimality in both heat and fluid flow systems has been investigated.
► A new thermodynamic property has been introduced.
► The second law of thermodynamics was extended to present the temheat balance that included the temheat destruction.
► The principle of temheat destruction minimization was introduced.
► It is shown that the rate of total temheat destruction is minimized in steady heat conduction and fluid flow problems.