Energy determines the ability of matter to work. However, in the given environment, the real usefulness to perform work is determined by exergy. This study covers not only solar, but also any monochromatic thermal radiation. The value of such radiation was determined by its exergy and the ratio of its exergy-to-energy. A novelty in this work is to demonstrate by means of exergy that the usefulness of thermal polychromatic radiation can be increased by its dispersion to monochromatic radiation. This effect is the greater, the lower the temperature of the radiation. Analogies of this effect to the exergetic effect of gas separation have been indicated. The effect of the increase in exergy in the process of radiation dispersion was interpreted by means of a cylinder-piston system that explains this effect with the influence of environmental radiation. The concept of quasi-monochromatic and cumulated radiation was introduced into dispersion considerations and the change in the energetic, entropic and environmental components of the exergy of radiation beams was analyzed. Considerations were illustrated with appropriate examples of calculations considering dispersion of high-temperature radiation, such as extraterrestrial solar radiation and dispersion of low-temperature radiation from water vapor.
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