Plenary Lecture

In Depth Analysis of the Analogies among Entropy, Information and Sensation. The Concept of Time in Thermodynamics



Professor Vassilis Gekas
Department of Environmental Engineering
Technical University of Crete
GR 731 00 University Campus, Chania
GREECE
E-mail: vassilis.gekas@enveng.tuc.gr
Web site: http://www.enveng.tuc.gr/Labs/efmtfd_lab_en.htm

Abstract: In teaching Thermodynamics, to analyse the analogies of Entropy, Information, Sensation it might be proven very useful in helping the overall understanding of the students of those difficult concepts. Indeed all those three properties are expressed by similar equations, essentially the same one famous S=klnW equation , the only "epitymbion" equation (that is the equation which is engraved in the tomb of a Human, Ludwig Boltzmann).
The teacher , to our opinion, should highlight and analyze the similarities and the differences of the various forms of this equation when applied to Entropy (Boltzmann) Information (Shannon) and Sensation (Heffner-Weber) respectively. The chemical and geometrical aspects of Sensation will be discussed, too.

This lecture is based on the main idea that an additative accumulation in the W variable produces an increased Intensity of a feeling in the S variable which is logarithmically related to W. Beyond these three forms mentioned above an extension in to the concept of Time, a rather obscure and mysterious variable in the field of Thermodynamics, both the objective Time and the perceived Time (the "temps vaicu" in french, the Time as it is felt by Man.



Brief Biography of the Speaker: MSc Chemical Engineer NTUA Athens 1971, PhD Food Engineering, Lund , 1987, Sweden. Vassilis Gekas is Professor of Transport Phenomena and Director of the Transport Phenomena & Environmental Thermodynamics at the Technical University of Crete.
He gained international reputation in the Membrane Technology both the synthetic and biological membranes. Author of the CRC edited book of "Transport Phenomena of Foods and Biological Materials " , boca Ratomn FL, 1992. Author of several books in Greek. He was the first to be chairman of the Environmental Engineering dpt , 1984- 2003. He deals with teaching and research in the following fields: Renewal energy sources, desertification, unit operations with developing of Greek raw materials , recovery of high added value constituents from agro-food wastes, enzymatic conversion of starch, thermal treatment of solid wastes, solar cooling. His approximately 50 publications in international journals gained the attention of approximately 1000 colleagues (CI=1000).