What does availability mean in thermodynamics?

Availability is about work potential or quality of the energy. When thermal energy is used to do work entire heat energy cannot be converted to useful work as per the second law of thermodynamics. The part that can be converted to useful work is referred to as the Available energy or Availability or Energy.

What is the difference between irreversibility and availability?

The Available Energy (AE) is also known as exergy and the Unavailable Energy (UAE) as anergy. The energy which cannot be utilised for doing useful work is called unavailable energy. Irreversibility is equivalent to energy destroyed, hence also known as energy destruction consider the example given below.

What is availability and unavailability in thermodynamics?

The second law of thermodynamics tells us that it is not possible to convert all the heat absorbed by a system into work. The shaded area 4-3-B-A represents the energy, which is discarded to the ambient atmosphere, and this quantity of energy cannot be converted into work and is called Unavailable energy.

Is availability the same as Exergy?

First of we all should know that availability, available energy and exergy are different names of the same thing. The exergy of a given system is defined as the maximum useful work (total work minus P*dV work) that is obtained in a process in which the system comes to equilibrium with its surroundings.

What is availability with example?

The definition of availability is whether someone or something can be accessed or used. An example of availability is when a classmate can meet to discuss a project on a certain date. noun.

What does second law of thermodynamics state?

The second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of an isolated system (the thermal energy per unit temperature that is unavailable for doing useful work) can never decrease.