Abstract
A mathematical model for investigating the performance of endoreversible heat engines under combined conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer modes is presented. The model is suitable to be introduced to engineering students attending a course in thermodynamics who may apply it to predicting the performance of real engines and a variety of energy conversion systems in a simplified manner. Results generated by the model show that the relative contribution of conduction/convection and radiation heat transfer modes deeply affect the efficiency at maximum power output. Moreover, a number of well-known formulae presented in several references are shown to represent special cases of the new formulation.
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