In thermodynamics, close to equilibrium or near equilibrium are processes quantified by the following condition:
signifying a negative Gibbs free energy change ΔG much less than 1.5 kilo-joules per mol. [1] The name near equilibrium thermodynamics is sometimes used as the branch of thermodynamics that studies these types of processes.
References
1. Ernster, Lars. (1984). Bioenergetics (ch. 1: Thermodynamic Aspects of Bioenergetics, pgs. 1-10, by Karel van Dam and Hans V. Westerhoff). Elsevier.
