Endoreversible thermodynamics of solar energy conversion

TLDR: In this paper, the physical limits governing the conversion of solar energy into work, into wind energy, into electricity, and into chemical substances of high energy level, like carbohydrates, are discussed.

Abstract: This is a book for every scientist interested in thermodynamics, solar energy, or both. It describes in a very clear and often subtly humoristic way the physical limits governing the conversion of solar energy into work, into wind energy, into electricity, and into chemical substances of high energy level, like carbohydrates. Endoreversible thermodynamics is a subset of irreversible thermodynamics in which thermodynamical losses are restricted to the coupling of an engine and/or reactor to the outside world. The book may serve highly diverse purposes. The scientist, the teacher, the higher level student, and the solar engineer all will find useful information and applications. The author indicates that the book is not a textbook, nor a reference manual but rather it illustrates general principles using idealised models.