Title: First and second law work production efficiency of a muscle cell

Authors: Esra Sorgüven; Mustafa Özilgen

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Yeditepe University, Kayisdagi Street, Atasehir, Istanbul 34755, Turkey ' Food Engineering Department, Yeditepe University, Kayisdagi Street, Atasehir, Istanbul 34755, Turkey

Abstract: The absolute value of the muscle efficiency and its decrease over time has vital consequences. Among other diseases, heart failure, which is the leading cause of death in developed countries, is dramatically affected by muscle weakness. This paper provides an analogy between the Carnot engine and muscle to gain insight on the muscle work production process and estimate the maximum muscle efficiency under physiological conditions. An 'ideal muscle' model, which operates steadily and reversibly, is defined and for this model energy and exergy analyses are performed. Theoretical results are compared with the experimental measurements.

Keywords: metabolism; muscle work; thermodynamic efficiency; first law; second law; exergy efficiency; biothermodynamics; muscle cells; muscle efficiency; muscle weakness; Carnot engine; energy analysis; exergy analysis; human muscles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2015.072164

International Journal of Exergy, 2015 Vol.18 No.2, pp.142 - 156

Received: 01 Apr 2014
Accepted: 13 Sep 2014
Published online: 02 Oct 2015 *

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