Efficiency at maximum power in the low-dissipation limit

Abstract

We present a general thermodynamic framework for the low-dissipation limit. In the case of an iso-thermal engine, which converts chemical work into mechanical work, this theory predicts an efficiency at maximum power eta* identically equal to 1/2. For multi-bath thermal machines, we derive bounds for efficiency at maximum power, namely eta(rev)/2 <= eta* <= eta(rev)/(2-eta(rev)), where eta(rev) is the efficiency of the corresponding reversible scenario.