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Understanding the Carnot Cycle

The document describes the Carnot cycle, which is a fundamental thermodynamic cycle that forms the basis for understanding engines. It involves a gas undergoing four processes in a closed loop that returns it to its original state: (1) isothermal expansion, (2) adiabatic expansion, (3) isothermal compression, (4) adiabatic compression. Heat is transferred into and out of the gas during the isothermal processes, while no heat is transferred during the adiabatic processes. The net work produced by the cycle is equal to the difference between the heat transferred in and out.

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129 views3 pages

Understanding the Carnot Cycle

The document describes the Carnot cycle, which is a fundamental thermodynamic cycle that forms the basis for understanding engines. It involves a gas undergoing four processes in a closed loop that returns it to its original state: (1) isothermal expansion, (2) adiabatic expansion, (3) isothermal compression, (4) adiabatic compression. Heat is transferred into and out of the gas during the isothermal processes, while no heat is transferred during the adiabatic processes. The net work produced by the cycle is equal to the difference between the heat transferred in and out.

Uploaded by

Anna Brown
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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t is possible to perform a series of processes, in which the state

is changed during each process, but the gas eventually returns


to its original state. Such a series of processes is called a cycle
and forms the basis for understanding engines. The Carnot
Cycle is one of the fundamental thermodynamic cycles and is
described on this web page. We will use a p-V diagram to plot
the various processes in the Carnot Cycle. The cycle begins with
a gas, colored yellow on the figure, which is confined in a
cylinder, colored blue. The volume of the cylinder is changed by
a moving red piston, and the pressure is changed by placing
weights on the piston. We have two heat sources; the red one
is at a nominal 300 degrees, and the purple one is at 200
degrees. Initially, the gas is in State 1 at high temperature, high
pressure, and low volume.
I
The first process performed on the gas is an isothermal
expansion. The 300 degree heat source is brought into contact
with the cylinder, and weight is removed, which lowers the
pressure in the gas. The temperature remains constant, but the
volume increases. During the process from State 1 to State 2
heat is transferred from the source to the gas to maintain the
temperature. We will note the heat transfer by Q1 into the gas.
The second process performed on the gas is an adiabatic
expansion. During an adiabatic process no heat is transferred to
the gas. Weight is removed, which lowers the pressure in the
gas. The temperature decreases and the volume increases as
the gas expands to fill the volume. During the process from
State 2 to State 3 no heat is transferred.
The third process performed on the gas is an isothermal
compression. The 200 degree heat source is brought into
contact with the cylinder, and weight is added, which raises the
pressure in the gas. The temperature remains constant, but the
volume decreases. During the process from State 3 to State 4
heat is transferred from the gas to heat source to maintain the
temperature. We will note the heat transfer by Q2 away from
the gas.
The fourth process performed on the gas is an adiabatic
compression. Weight is added, which raises the pressure in the
gas. The temperature increases and the volume decreases as
the gas is compressed. During the process from State 4 to State
1 no heat is transferred.
At the end of the fourth process, the state of the gas has
returned to its original state and the cycle can be repeated as
often as you wish. During the cycle, work W has been produced
by the gas, and the amount of work is equal to the area
enclosed by the process curves. From the first law of
thermodynamics, the amount of work produced is equal to the
net heat transferred during the process:
W = Q1 - Q2
The Carnot Cycle has performed as an engine, converting the
heat transferred to the gas during the processes into useful
work. A similar Brayton Cycle explains how a gas turbine engine
works, and an Otto Cycle explains how an internal combustion
engine works.

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