Thermodynamic framework for a generalized heat transport equation

In this paper, a generalized heat transport equation including relaxational, nonlocal and nonlinear effects is provided, which contains diverse previous phenomenological models as particular cases. The aim of the present work is to establish an extended irreversible thermodynamic framework, with generalized expressions of entropy and entropy flux. Nonlinear thermodynamic force-flux relation is proposed as an extension of the usual linear one, giving rise to the nonlinear terms in the heat transport equation and ensuring compatibility with the second law. Several previous results are recovered in the linear case, and some additional results related to nonlinear terms are also obtained.