title: Finite time thermodynamics: limiting performance of diffusion engines and membrane systems.
abstract: In this paper, the limiting performance of membrane systems with inhomogeneous composition is studied within the class of fixed rate processes. The problem of maintaining a nonequilibrium state in such a system using minimal power (separation problem) and the problem of extracting maximal power from such a system (diffusion engine problem) are formulated and solved. Results are obtained for diffusion engines with constant and periodic contact between the working body and the reservoirs.
authors.affiliation: Program System Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, set "Botik", Pereaslavl-Zalesky, Russia 152020.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsirlin
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Leskov
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kazakov