Concentrating solar-thermal plant

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.11 × C.20 · Incident radiation flux × Photothermalfamily: PhotothermalD.11 × C.08 · Incident radiation flux × Heat engine (thermomechanical)family: Heat engine (thermomechanical)D.11 × C.14 · Incident radiation flux × Electromagnetic inductionfamily: Electromagnetic induction

Typed bounds on this route

Every limit the atlas holds for this route, as constraint records: reached through bounded_by claims on the route's own entities. Hard bounds (an upper bound or a formula) decide the thermodynamic-bound check above; benchmarks, constitutive relations and resource limits are listed and never decisive. No prose limit exists anywhere (pass 42).

• Landsberg limit · formula-bound · hard, applies to this route
  η ≤ 1 − (4/3)(T_c/T_s) + (1/3)(T_c/T_s)⁴ for conversion of blackbody radiation at T_s with a sink at T_c; 93.3 % at 6000 K / 300 K
• Carnot limit · formula-bound · hard, applies to this route
  η ≤ 1 − T_c/T_h for any heat engine between reservoirs at T_h and T_c
• Curzon–Ahlborn efficiency at maximum power · benchmark · listed, never decisive
  η_CA = 1 − √(T_c/T_h)

Steps

1. 01
   Incident radiation flux —drives→ Photothermal absorptionestablishedclaim record

   radiative → thermal

   • an absorber with high solar absorptance; selective surfaces suppress re-emission

   illumination required

   refs [1] [2]
2. 02
   Photothermal absorption —produces→ Temperature gradientestablishedclaim record

   thermal → thermal

   refs [1]
3. 03
   Temperature gradient —drives→ Working-fluid expansion (heat-engine cycle)establishedclaim record

   thermal → mechanical · loss to thermal

   • a hot reservoir to heat the working fluid and a cold reservoir to condense or cool it

   temperature gradient required

   refs [1] [3]
4. 04
   Working-fluid expansion (heat-engine cycle) —produces→ Mechanical motionestablishedclaim record

   mechanical → mechanical · loss to thermal

   refs [1]
5. 05
   Mechanical motion —drives→ Rotating-machine generator actionestablishedclaim record

   mechanical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • a shaft turning a rotor inside a stator, or a magnet moved past a coil

   conductor required · magnetic field required

   refs [4] [5]
6. 06
   Rotating-machine generator action —produces→ Charge carriersestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   refs [4] [6]
7. 07
   Charge carriers —converts into→ Electrical workestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • carriers driven through an external load at the potential difference the source maintains

   refs [7]

Evidence for the complete composition · 1

1. [1]
   A. Bejan. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (4th ed.) (2016)

   Wiley · doi:10.1002/9781119245964 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Evidence for the constituent relations · 7

1. [1]
   A. Bejan. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (4th ed.) (2016)

   Wiley · doi:10.1002/9781119245964 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
2. [2]
   P. T. Landsberg, G. Tonge. Thermodynamic energy conversion efficiencies (1980)

   Journal of Applied Physics 51, R1–R20 · doi:10.1063/1.328187 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
3. [3]
   G. Walker. Stirling Engines (1980)

   Oxford University Press · book, no DOI · record
4. [4]
   M. Faraday. Experimental researches in electricity (1832)

   Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 122, 125–162 · doi:10.1098/rstl.1832.0006 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
5. [5]
   S. L. Dixon, C. A. Hall. Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Turbomachinery (7th ed.) (2014)

   Butterworth-Heinemann · doi:10.1016/C2011-0-05059-7 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
6. [6]
   L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz, L. P. Pitaevskii. Electrodynamics of Continuous Media (Course of Theoretical Physics, Vol. 8, 2nd ed.) (1984)

   Pergamon · book, no DOI · record
7. [7]
   N. W. Ashcroft, N. D. Mermin. Solid State Physics (1976)

   Holt, Rinehart and Winston · book, no DOI · record