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Carnot Cycle and Heat Engine Notes

A heat engine converts heat energy into mechanical work through a cyclic process between a hot and cold reservoir. The Carnot Cycle, proposed by Sadi Carnot, represents the most efficient cycle for a heat engine and consists of four stages: isothermal expansion, adiabatic expansion, isothermal compression, and adiabatic compression. The efficiency of a Carnot Cycle is determined by the temperatures of the reservoirs, given by the formula eta = 1 - T_C/T_H.

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39 views2 pages

Carnot Cycle and Heat Engine Notes

A heat engine converts heat energy into mechanical work through a cyclic process between a hot and cold reservoir. The Carnot Cycle, proposed by Sadi Carnot, represents the most efficient cycle for a heat engine and consists of four stages: isothermal expansion, adiabatic expansion, isothermal compression, and adiabatic compression. The efficiency of a Carnot Cycle is determined by the temperatures of the reservoirs, given by the formula eta = 1 - T_C/T_H.

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Carnot Cycle and Heat Engine Notes

Heat Engine

A heat engine is a device that converts heat energy into mechanical work by undergoing a cyclic

process. It operates between two thermal reservoirs:

1. Hot Reservoir (source): Supplies heat at a high temperature T_H.

2. Cold Reservoir (sink): Absorbs residual heat at a lower temperature T_C.

Key Components of a Heat Engine:

1. Working Substance: A fluid or gas undergoing cyclic transformations.

2. Heat Source: Provides thermal energy.

3. Heat Sink: Receives unused heat.

4. Piston/Cylinder: Converts thermal energy into mechanical work.

Efficiency of a Heat Engine:

The efficiency (eta) is given by:

eta = W/Q_H = (Q_H - Q_C) / Q_H = 1 - Q_C/Q_H

Carnot Cycle

The Carnot Cycle is an idealized thermodynamic cycle proposed by Sadi Carnot. It represents the

most efficient cycle for a heat engine operating between two temperatures T_H and T_C.

Stages of the Carnot Cycle:

1. Isothermal Expansion (A to B): The gas expands at T_H, absorbing heat Q_H.

2. Adiabatic Expansion (B to C): The gas expands without heat exchange, and temperature drops to

T_C.

3. Isothermal Compression (C to D): The gas is compressed at T_C, rejecting heat Q_C.

4. Adiabatic Compression (D to A): The gas is compressed without heat exchange, and temperature
rises to T_H.

Efficiency of the Carnot Cycle:

The efficiency is given by:

eta = 1 - T_C/T_H

Derivation of Carnot Cycle Efficiency

1. Work Done in an Isothermal Process:

During isothermal expansion and compression:

W_AB = Q_H = nRT_H ln(V_B/V_A)

W_CD = Q_C = nRT_C ln(V_D/V_C)

2. Relationship Between Adiabatic Processes:

T_H * V_B^(gamma-1) = T_C * V_C^(gamma-1)

T_C * V_D^(gamma-1) = T_H * V_A^(gamma-1)

3. Net Work Done:

W_net = Q_H - Q_C

Substitute Q_H and Q_C:

W_net = nRT_H ln(V_B/V_A) - nRT_C ln(V_D/V_C)

4. Efficiency of Carnot Cycle:

Efficiency eta = W_net/Q_H = (Q_H - Q_C)/Q_H = 1 - Q_C/Q_H

Since Q_C/Q_H = T_C/T_H:

eta = 1 - T_C/T_H

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