Entropy Growth Is the Manifestation of Spontaneity

Abstract

Every student of thermodynamics grasps entropy growth in terms of dissipation of energy. The real nature of energy and entropy is subtle. This critical review of the evolution of thermodynamic thought uncovers the remarkable advance on our understanding of energy made by Kelvin with his dissipation of energy proposition. Maxwell and Planck, however, pointed out that dissipation of energy does not exhaust growth of entropy (i.e., the idea of spontaneity), and in fact, as it is shown here, Kelvin's proposition of dissipation of energy (1852) is subsumed under the principle of the increase of entropy (Clausius, 1865). It is necessary, therefore, for thermodynamics to become a coherent conceptual system, to introduce spontaneity as an independent concept. Instead of the heat-work dyad framework, the introduction of spontaneity entails energy transformation to be viewed in terms of a triad framework of heat (from the reservoir)-work-spontaneity. Spontaneity is the new energy in the triad framework, and it is also clear that energy commodity (fungible energy or energy carriers) is only one kind of spontaneity, stock spontaneity; the other kind is ongoing spontaneity, the consideration of which is necessary for comprehending problems of homeostasis in both the organic and inorganic worlds.

The Second Law: From Carnot to Thomson-Clausius, to the Theory of Exergy, and to the Entropy-Growth Potential Principle

“…The proxy would have been the real thing; but of course, it is not. Example that Kelvin's GC-2 is false can be found in [18] as well as a general discussion of the relationship between the energy principle and the entropy principle was presented in a 2014 paper [19]. In conclusion, the "self-evident" principle of universal dissipation of high grade energy has been refuted: high grade energy dissipates spontaneously but not universally [18,19].…”

“…Example that Kelvin's GC-2 is false can be found in [18] as well as a general discussion of the relationship between the energy principle and the entropy principle was presented in a 2014 paper [19]. In conclusion, the "self-evident" principle of universal dissipation of high grade energy has been refuted: high grade energy dissipates spontaneously but not universally [18,19]. Only entropy grows universally; with this realization, the introduction of entropy should have been an equally consequential step in science as the introduction of energy.…”

“…The project of completing the second law is made possible on the basis of three recent works [16,18,19]. There, the same kind of combined system consisting of a system and its environment used in exergy analysis was adopted; the combined system was referred to as "universe"; a work reservoir was explicitly introduced [16].…”

“…Change of the erstwhile subscript G to P in (19) signifies this fundamental change in the meaning of the 2nd law from the law of dissipation to be the primary premise that entropy growth potential is the driver in the huge manufactory of natural processes. As it has been noted in [36] (p. xiv), "Irreversible processes are creators and destroyers of order," a precept of the Brussels school of thermodynamics.…”

“…As it has been noted in [36] (p. xiv), "Irreversible processes are creators and destroyers of order," a precept of the Brussels school of thermodynamics. Equation (19) applies to systems in interaction with its heat reservoir. This consideration has been generalized to isolated systems with tendency towards internal equilibrium.…”