Thermodynamic optimization of energy transfer in (bio)chemical reaction systems

The engineering science literature on energy-transfer processes (heat engines, heat pumps, etc.) for the production of mechanical energy, electricity, cold or heat has produced some remarkable results on maximum power and efficiency optimization. We have wondered in how far these results can be extended to include chemical reaction systems to describe living and possibly future-industrial energy-transfer systems. With elements of non-linear irreversible thermodynamics and chemical kinetics, we have arrived at some interesting results on optimizing the performance of chemical energy transfer. We discuss thermodynamic efficiency, energy-transfer rate, entropy-generation rate, and optimum-performance characteristics of (bio)chemical energy transfer.