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Modern Thermodynamics with Julia in CoCalc
Part 3: Modern Energy Systems and Climate Applications
This notebook contains Part 3 from the main Modern Thermodynamics with Julia in CoCalc notebook.
For the complete course, please refer to the main notebook: Modern Thermodynamics with Julia in CoCalc
Modern Energy Systems and Climate Applications
Renewable Energy Thermodynamics
Solar Photovoltaic:
Theoretical maximum efficiency: ~33% (Shockley-Queisser limit)
Commercial silicon cells: ~20-22%
Multi-junction cells: >40% (concentrated sunlight)
Wind Energy:
Betz limit: Maximum 59.3% of kinetic energy can be extracted
Modern turbines: ~45-50% efficiency
Geothermal:
Efficiency limited by: Temperature difference between ground and surface
Typical efficiency: 10-15%
Energy Storage Thermodynamics
Battery Systems:
Lithium-ion: ~90-95% round-trip efficiency
Pumped hydro: ~80-85% efficiency
Compressed air: ~60-70% efficiency
Climate Thermodynamics
Earth's Energy Balance:
Stefan-Boltzmann for Earth:
where is albedo and is solar constant.
Greenhouse Effect:
Atmosphere absorbs long-wave radiation
Re-radiates partially back to surface
Effective increase in surface temperature
Carbon Cycle Thermodynamics
CO₂ dissolution in oceans:
Temperature-dependent solubility
pH changes affect carbonate equilibrium
Ocean acidification consequences
From Planetary Scales to Quantum Realms
We've examined how thermodynamics shapes our energy future and climate system. From the fundamental limits of renewable energy technologies to Earth's delicate energy balance, we've seen how thermodynamic principles govern both human technology and planetary processes.
Our analysis revealed that efficiency limits are universal constraints—the Shockley-Queisser limit for solar cells, the Betz limit for wind turbines, and the Carnot efficiency for heat engines all emerge from fundamental thermodynamic laws. We discovered how Earth's climate system represents a complex thermodynamic balance, where small changes in albedo or greenhouse gas concentrations can trigger significant temperature shifts through feedback mechanisms.
But what happens when we push thermodynamics to its ultimate limits?
At the quantum scale, thermodynamics takes on entirely new characteristics. Information becomes a thermodynamic quantity, quantum coherence affects heat engine efficiency, and thermal fluctuations dominate mechanical behavior. These quantum and nanoscale phenomena are not just theoretical curiosities—they underpin emerging technologies that will define the next century.
Journey to the Quantum Frontier
The macroscopic energy systems we've studied emerge from microscopic quantum processes. Understanding thermodynamics at the smallest scales reveals the fundamental limits of computation, the physics of molecular machines, and the deep connection between information and energy.
In Part 4, we'll explore quantum and nanoscale thermodynamics—from Landauer's principle linking information erasure to energy dissipation, to the remarkable world of molecular motors that operate in high-friction environments dominated by Brownian motion. You'll discover how thermal de Broglie wavelengths determine the quantum-classical boundary, why quantum computers require extreme cooling, and how nature's molecular machines achieve remarkable efficiency despite thermal noise.
Continue to Part 4: Quantum and Nanoscale Thermodynamics →
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