The Equivalence of Maximum Power and Minimum Entropy Generation Rate in the Optimization of Power Plants

It is shown that to maximize the power output of a power plant is equivalent to minimizing the total entropy generation rate associated with the power plant. This equivalence is illustrated by using two of the oldest and simplest models of power plants with heat transfer irreversibilities. To calculate the total entropy generation rate correctly, one must recognize that the optimization process (e.g., the variability of the heat input) requires “room to move,” i.e., an additional, usually overlooked, contribution to the total entropy generation rate.