Second Law Efficiency

Second Law Efficiency measures how effectively a real-world process converts energy into useful work compared to an ideal, most-efficient process. It considers the natural tendency of systems to increase entropy (disorder). Essentially, it shows how close a process gets to the maximum possible efficiency dictated by thermodynamics. A higher second law efficiency indicates the process is using energy more effectively, with less energy lost as waste or disorder. This metric helps compare actual system performance against the best possible scenario, guiding improvements in energy use and system design.