The Carnot Cycle

The most efficient cycle is one consisting solely of ideal

reversible processes. The Carnot cycle is such a cycle
and it provides an upper limit on the performance of a
real cycle operating between the same two thermal
reservoirs.

Carnot cycle consists of the following 4 reversible

processes:
12 Adiabatic compression
23 Isothermal expansion
34 Adiabatic expansion
41 Isothermal compression

TCTH THTH THTC TCTC

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Process 1-2 Reversible Adiabatic Compression:
- Gas is compressed very slowly (quasi-equilibrium) so
pressure remains uniform throughout the system
- Work done on the system:
U = Q (-W) U = +W
- Gas temperature increases from TC to TH

Process 2-3 Reversible Isothermal Expansion

- Gas expands slowly, gas cools but as soon as the
temperature drops dT it obtains heat from hot reservoir
raising the temperature back to TH. Since temperature
difference is always dT heat transfer is reversible
- Work done by the system
U = QH (+W) QH = +W
- Heat transfer QH to the gas, temperature stays at TH

Process 3-4 Reversible Adiabatic Expansion:

- Gas expands very slowly (quasi-equilibrium) so pressure
remains uniform throughout the system
- Work done by the system:
U = Q (+W) U = -W
- Gas temperature decreases from TH to TC

Process 4-1 Reversible Isothermal Compression

- Work done on the system
U = QC (-W) QC = -W
- Heat transfer QC from the gas, temperature stays at TC

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Carnot cycle on a P-v diagram

QH
TH

QH
Wnet
E

QC
TL
QC

Net work per cycle per unit mass= Pdv

(-) (+) (+) (-)

Wcycle = 12 Pdv + 23 Pdv + 34 Pdv + 41 Pdv
= shaded area (net work out )

Net heat transfer per cycle = QH - QC

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Carnot Refrigeration Cycle

The Carnot heat-engine cycle is composed of totally

reversible processes. The reverse of the heat engine cycle
is the Carnot refrigeration cycle.

QH
TH

QH
Wnet
3 E

QC

1 TL

QC
2

Heat is removed from the cold reservoir and heat is added

to the hot reservoir.

(+) (-) (-) (+)

Wcycle = 12 Pdv + 23 Pdv + 34 Pdv + 41 Pdv
= shaded area (net work in)
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Carnot Principles

1. The efficiency of an irreversible heat engine is always

less than the efficiency of a reversible one operating
between the same two reservoirs.

2. The efficiencies of all reversible heat engines operating

between the same two reservoirs are the same.

Violation of either principle results in the violation of K-P

Example: Consider two heat engines operating between

the same two reservoirs, one reversible and the other
irreversible, and each engine is supplied the same amount
of heat QH

TH

QH QH
WI WR
I R

QC,I QC,R
TL

In violation of Principle #1 assume I > R,

W
since = WI > WR
QH
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Run reversible engine as a refrigerator
TH

QH QH
WI WR
I R

QC,I QC,R
TL

Heat rejected from refrigerator goes to the irreversible

engine

QH QH
WI WR
I R

QC,I QC,R
TL

The combined engine is:

C WI - WR

QC,R QC,I
TL

The combined engine draws heat from a single reservoir

and generates net work WI WR violates K-P statement

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Kelvin Temperature Scale

Carnot Pr. #2 implies that the efficiency of a reversible

cycle is independent of the working fluid and depends
only on the temperature of the reservoir R = g(TH,TC)

QC Q
Recall : cycle = 1 C = f (TH , TC ) need to find f
QH QH

Consider three reversible engines A, B and D. Where A

and D draw heat Q1 from the same reservoir at T1

T1
Q1
Combined WA
A Q1
reversible
cycle C WC
T2 Q2 D

WB B Q4
Q3
T3

Engines A and B can be combined into one reversible

engine C

According to Carnot Pr. #2 C = D

Q1 Q
So, 1 = 1 1 therefore Q3 = Q4
Q3 Q4
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For each engine we can state (Q4 = Q3)

Q1 Q2 Q1 Q1
= f (T1 , T2 ) = f (T2 , T3 ) = = f (T1 , T3 )
Q2 Q3 Q4 Q3

Q1 Q1 Q2
Note, = f (T1 , T3 ) = f (T1 , T2 ) f (T2 , T3 )
Q3 Q2 Q3

Since left hand side (LHS) is independent of T2 the RHS

must also be independent of T2

This condition is satisfied only if:

(T1 ) (T2 )
f (T1 , T2 ) = and f (T2 , T3 ) =
(T2 ) (T3 )

Q1 (T1 ) (T2 ) (T1 )

= =
Q3 (T2 ) (T3 ) (T3 )

Therefore, for a reversible heat engine operating between

two reservoirs at temperature TH and TC

QH (TH )
=
QC (TC )

127
Lord Kelvin proposed taking (T) = T, so that

QH T
= H
QC rev TC

TH

QH

R Wcycle
QC
TC

The thermal efficiency of a reversible heat engine is

QC TC
Carnot = 1 = 1
engine QH TH

The thermal efficiency of a reversible refrigerator is

1 1
Carnot = =
QH TH
refrig
1 1
QC TC

This is known as the Carnot Efficiency, it represents the

highest possible efficiency for an engine operating
between two reservoirs at TC and TH

128
Use reversible heat engine to measure temperature of an
object at temperature T on Kelvin scale by measuring QH
and QC
T

QH Use water at its triple

R W point 273.16K in the
lower reservoir
QC
273.16K

Measure QH and QC to get the temperature of reservoir T

QH QH
e.g., T = TC = 273.16 K
QC QC

129