A Fractional-Order Thermodynamic Model for Entropy Generation and Heat Transfer Analysis in Marine Diesel Engines

Abstract

Entropy generation and heat transfer analysis play essential roles in improving thermal efficiency and reducing energy losses in marine diesel engines. Conventional thermodynamic models are generally based on integer-order differential equations that cannot adequately represent memory and hereditary effects in thermal systems. This study proposes a novel fractional-order thermodynamic model using Caputo fractional derivatives to investigate heat transfer and entropy generation in marine diesel engines. A new mathematical parameter, namely the Fractional Entropy Generation Number (FEGN), is introduced to quantify system irreversibility. The proposed model is solved numerically using the fractional Adams-Bashforth-Moulton method. Simulation results indicate that the fractional-order model predicts thermal behavior more accurately than classical models and reveals significant effects of memory parameters on entropy generation and engine efficiency. The findings suggest that fractional thermodynamics can provide a new mathematical framework for analyzing complex thermal systems.