Scribd
Upload
325 views8 pages

Carnot Cycle - Working Principle & Processes With (PV - Ts Diagram)

The document summarizes the Carnot cycle, which consists of four processes between a high-temperature and low-temperature heat reservoir: 1) Isothermal expansion, 2) Adiabatic expansion, 3) Isothermal compression, 4) Adiabatic compression. The efficiency of the Carnot cycle is the highest possible for any heat engine operating between the same reservoirs. It also discusses how the Carnot cycle could be reversed to function as a heat pump or refrigerator.

Uploaded by

Sharif Muhammad Hossain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
325 views8 pages

Carnot Cycle - Working Principle & Processes With (PV - Ts Diagram)

The document summarizes the Carnot cycle, which consists of four processes between a high-temperature and low-temperature heat reservoir: 1) Isothermal expansion, 2) Adiabatic expansion, 3) Isothermal compression, 4) Adiabatic compression. The efficiency of the Carnot cycle is the highest possible for any heat engine operating between the same reservoirs. It also discusses how the Carnot cycle could be reversed to function as a heat pump or refrigerator.

Uploaded by

Sharif Muhammad Hossain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

The Engineers Post Menu

Home » Thermal Engineering »


CARNOT CYCLE: PRINCIPLE PROCESSES,
EFFICIENCY WITH [P-V AND T-S DIAGRAM]
Ad

Park Systems

OPEN

Last Updated on: May 12, 2020 by Saif M

Working Principle of Carnot Cycle

Contents [show]

This cycle is designed by “Carnot” who was the first scientist to analyze the
problem of the efficiency of a heat engine, ignoring its mechanical details. He
focussed his attention to the basic features of a heat engine.

In a Carnot cycle, the working substance is subjected to a cyclic operation


consisting of two isothermal and two adiabatic processes. The engine developed
by Carnot has air (which is assumed to work as a perfect gas) as its working
substance enclosed in a cylinder, in which a frictionless piston A moves.
The walls of the cylinder and piston are perfect non-conductors of heat. But the
bottom B of the cylinder is a perfect conductor of heat. However, the bottom B of
the cylinder can be covered, at will, by an insulating cap I.C. The engine is assumed
to work between two sources of infinite capacity. One at a higher temperature and
the other at a lower temperature.

Saree - Jamdani, Nakshi Kantha


Over 10,000 products across 4 lifestyle
brands to choose from

Read also: Thermodynamic Cycle: Its Classification, Working, Terms Used in


Thermodynamics and More.
Now, let us consider the four stages of Carnot’s cycle. Let the engine cylinder
contain m kg of air at its original condition represented by point 1 on the p-v and T-
s diagrams. At this point, let p1, T1, and v1 be the pressure, temperature, and
volume of the air, sequentially.

Carnot Cycle Processes


1. Isothermal Expansion
2. Adiabatic or Isentropic Expansion
3. Isothermal Compression
4. Isentropic Compression

Process 1-2 Isothermal Expansion


The source (hot body, H.B) at a higher temperature is brought in contact
with the bottom B of the cylinder.
The air expands, practically at constant temperature T1, from v1 to v2.
It means that the temperature T2 (at point 2) equals to the temperature T1.
This isothermal expansion is represented by curve 1-2 on p-v and T-s
diagrams in the figure.
The heat supplied the hot body is fully absorbed by the air and is utilized in
doing external work.

∴ Heat supplied = Work done during isothermal expansion

Since the temperature is constant, there is no change in internal energy of the air,
i.e E=0. According to the first law of thermodynamics.
Process 2-1 Adiabatic or Isentropic Expansion
The hot body is removed from the bottom of the cylinder B and the
insulating cap I.C. is brought in contact.
The air is now allowed to expand adiabatically. Thus adiabatic expansion is
represented by the curve 2-3 on p-v and T-s diagrams.
The temperature of the air decreases from T2 to T3.
Since no heat is absorbed or rejected by the air, therefore decreases in
internal energy.

Process 3-4 Isothermal Compression


Now remove the insulating cap I.C. from the bottom of the cylinder and
bring the cold body CB in its contact.
The air is compressed practically at a constant temperature T3 from V3 to
V4.
It means that the temperature T4 ( at point 4) is equal to the temperature T3.
This isothermal compression is represented by the curve 3-4 on P-V and T-s
diagram.
It would be seen that during this process, the heat is rejected to the cold
body and is equal to the work done on the air.

∴ Hear rejected = Work done on the air


The expansion and compression ratios (r) must be equal, otherwise, the cycle
would not close.

We know that for adiabatic expansion 2-3

Similarly, for adiabatic compression process 4-1,

Since T1=T2 and T3=T4, therefore

Process 4-1 Isentropic Compression


Now again the insulated cap I.C. is brought in contact with the bottom of the
cylinder B, and the air is allowed to be compressed adiabatically.
The adiabatic compression is represented by the curve 4-1 on p-v and T-s
diagram.
The temperature of the air increases from T4 to T1. Since no heat is
absorbed or rejected by the air, therefore

Increases in internal energy

= Work done on the air


We see from the above discussion that the decrease in internal energy during
adiabatic expansion 2-3 is equal to the increases in internal energy during
adiabatic compression 4-1. Hence their not effect during the whole cycle is zero.
We know that.

Work done = Heat supplied – Heat rejected

and efficiency

Corresponding we know that for adiabatic compression 2-3,


Carnot Cycle Efficiency
From the above equation, we see that the efficiency of Carnot’s cycle
increases as T1 is increases or T3 is decreased.
In other words, the heat should be taken in at as high a temperature as
possible, and rejected at as low a temperature as possible.
It may be noted that 100% efficiency can be achieved. Only if T3 reaches
absolute zero, though it is impossible to achieve in practice.
In the above theory, we have taken the temperature at points 1,2, 3 and 4 as
T1, T2, T3, and T4 respectively in order to keep similarity between Carnot
cycle and other cycles.
But some authors take it T1 (For points 1 and 2) and T2 9for points 3 and 4).
In that case, they obtain the relation for efficiency as,

It can be noted that it is difficult to make the engine working on Carnot’s


cycle.
The reason for the same is that the isothermal expansion 1-2 will have to be
carried out very slow to ensure that the air is always at temperature T1.
Thus, the isothermal compression 3-4 will have to be taken out very slow.
But adiabatic expression 2-3 and adiabatic compression 4-1 should be
carried out as quickly as possible, in order to approach ideal adiabatic
conditions.
We know that sudden change s in the speed of an engine is not possible in
actual practice.
It is difficult to eliminate friction between the multiple moving parts of the
engine, and also heat losses due to conduction, radiation, etc.
Thus, it is difficult to realise Carnot’s engine in actual practice.
However, such an imaginary engine is used as the ultimate standard pf
comparison of all heat engines.

Reversed Carnot Cycle


The Carnot cycle heat-engine can be called as a fully reversible cycle. That is all the
processes that form can be reversed, in which case it becomes the Carnot
refrigeration cycle. This time, the cycle remains the same but the directions of heat
and work interactions are reversed.

The heat is absorbed from the low-temperature reservoir, heat in the high-
temperature reservoir is rejected, and a work input is needed to achieve all this.
The P–V diagram of the reversed Carnot cycle is the same as for the Carnot cycle
except that the directions of the processes are reversed.

That’s it. Thanks for reading if you have any question about “Carnot Cycle” you can
comment below. If you found this article helpful share with your friends.

Thermal Engineering, Thermodynamic Cycles


Thermal Engg, thermodynamic cycles, thermodynamics
List of Different Types of Thermodynamic Cycles [PDF]
Four-stroke Otto-cycle Spark-Ignition Engine with [P-v and T-s Diagram]

About Saif M

Saif M. is a Mechanical Engineer by profession. He completed his engineering


studies in 2014 and is currently working in a large firm as Mechanical Engineer.
He is also an author and editor at www.theengineerspost.com
...

You might also like