Abstract
Based on the theoretical model of a heated ideal working fluid in the cylinder, the optimal motion path of the piston in this system, for the maximum work output, is re-studied by establishing the changed Lagrangian function and applying the elimination method when the initial internal energy, initial volume, finial volume and the process time are given and generalized radiative heat transfer law between the working fluid and heat bath is considered. The analytical solutions of the intermediate Euler-Lagrange arc with square, cubic and radiative heat transfer laws are taken as examples and obtained. The optimal motion path of the piston with cubic heat transfer law, which is obtained by applying the elimination method, is compared with that obtained by applying the Taylor formula expansion method through numerical example. The comparing result shows that the accuracy of the result which is obtained by applying the elimination method is not affected by the length of time of the expansion process of the working fluid, so this result is more universal.