Professional Documents
Culture Documents
4.1 Carnot Cycle:: T T T = 1 - = 1 - = 1 - T T T η
4.1 Carnot Cycle:: T T T = 1 - = 1 - = 1 - T T T η
Mallikarjuna
A Carnot gas cycle operating in a given temperature range is shown in the T-s diagram
in Fig. 4.1(a). One way to carry out the processes of this cycle is through the use of
process 2-3 and the isentropic compression process 4-1 can be simulated quite well by
process 1-2 and the isothermal compression process 3-4 are most difficult to achieve.
reciprocating engine) as shown in Fig. 4.2(b). The Carnot cycle on the p-v diagram is as
shown in Fig. 4.2(a), in which processes 1-2 and 3-4 are isothermal while processes 2-3
and 4-1 are isentropic. We know that the Carnot cycle efficiency is given by the
expression.
TL T T
th = 1 - =1- 4 =1- 3
TH T1 T2
T
1 2
TH
TL
4 3
(a)
heat in Isentropic
isothermal Turbine
Turbine Work
Work out
out
1 2
3 4
Work Work
in in
Isothermal heat out Isentropic
Compressor compressor
Process 1 2: isothermal
p 1 Process 2 3: isentropic
Process 3 4: isothermal
Process 4 1: isentropic
2
4
3
(a)
Piston
displacement
(b)
Volume
3 4
T3=T4
T2=T1
2 1
Entropy
T3 K Piston
T1 K
Since the working fluid is an ideal gas with constant specific heats, we have, for the
isentropic process,
1 1
T1 V4 T V
= ; 2 = 3
T4 V1 T3 V3
v4 v
= 3 = r = compression or expansion ratio
v1 v2
1
th = 1 -
r - 1
From the above equation, it can be observed that the Carnot cycle efficiency increases
as r increases. This implies that the high thermal efficiency of a Carnot cycle is
obtained at the expense of large piston displacement. Also, for isentropic processes we
have,
1 1
T1 p T p
= 1 and 2 = 2
T4 p4 T3 p3
p1 p
= 2 = rp = pressure ratio
p4 p3
1
th = 1 - 1
rp
From the above equation, it can be observed that, the Carnot cycle efficiency can be
increased by increasing the pressure ratio. This means that Carnot cycle should be