Supercritical retrograde solubility in R-14 and the second law of thermodynamics.

A closed transcritical power cycle is described that uses a positive excess enthalpy of solution reaction differential between the reaction in the cycle's high-density liquid state and low- density expanded gas state to internally transfer heat energy. The heat energy input to satisfy the solution reaction near the cycle's low temperature is returned as heat during supercritical retrograde solubility near the cycle's high temperature before that heat energy affects gas expansion. The power cycle format is used to frame this heat energy transfer so that Carnot efficiency can be used to calculate the maximum second law allowed amount of heat energy that can be transferred. If the amount of heat transfer exceeds the determined minimum threshold, the cycle's Q efficiency will surpass the cycle's T efficiency. The process demonstrates that the maximum positive excess enthalpy differential allowed by the second law is irreconcilably low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]