Performance of chemical engines with a mass leak

The performance of an isothermal chemical engine with finite-rate mass transfer and a mass leak is analysed in this paper. The relations between the optimal power output and the efficiency, the maximum power output and the corresponding efficiency and the maximum efficiency and the corresponding power output are derived on the basis of linear (Onsager) mass-transfer law using the analogous method of finite-time thermodynamics for a heat engine. There exists a maximum efficiency bound with nonzero power output besides the maximum power output bound with nonzero efficiency for the engine. This characteristic is different from that for the chemical engine with the sole irreversibility of finite-rate mass transfer. The optimal region of parameter selection for the engine is provided and the effect of the mass-transfer law is analysed.