In the present paper we study the connection between local stability and energetic properties in low-dissipation heat engines operating in the maximum-power and maximum-compromise ($\mathrm{\Omega }$) regimes. We consider two different feedback regulatory pathways: (1) one in which restitutive forces linearly depend on the deviations from the stationary values of the heat exchanges with the hot and cold reservoirs and (2) another where restitutive forces depend on the deviations from the stationary values of the power output and the heat outflux into the cold reservoir. The first dynamics leads to an isolated stable point while in the second one the system is metastable. Further analysis of random perturbations from the steady state gives valuable information about the dynamic behavior of thermodynamic properties like entropy, power, and efficiency in both operation regimes.

• Received 19 July 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.98.032142