FME 321 Lecture 5

The Carnot Cycle

This hypothetical heat engine cycle consists of two isothermal processes joined together by two
adiabatic processes. All its processes are reversible; hence the adiabatic processes are also isentropic.

The cycle is most conveniently represented on a TS diagram.

1 - 2 Isentropic expansion

2 - 3 Isothermal heat rejection

3 - 4 Isentropic compression

4 - 1 Isothermal heat supply.

Thermal efficiency of a heat engine is defined by

Q2
η=1−
Q1
With reference to the TS diagram, the

Heat supplied = Q1 = area 41BA4

= T1 (SB –SA)

Heat rejected = Q2 = area 23AB2

=T2 (SB – SA)

Therefore

T 2 (S B – S A )
η carnot=1−
T 1 (S B – S A )

T2
=1−
T1
The Reversed Carnot cycle

The figure above shows the heat engine cycle in reverse, quantities Q1, Q2 and W having opposite
directions. The effect of the reversed heat engine is to transfer a quantity of heat Q 1 from a cold source
at temperature T1 and reject a quantity Q2 at temperature T2.

The reversed heat engine fulfills the requirements of a refrigerator and a heat pump. In the case of a
refrigerator the important quantity is Q1 and for a heat pump it is the quantity Q2.

4 - 1 ¿ Isothermal heat transfer at low temperature

Q41=T 1 ( S 1−S 4 )

1 - 2¿Isentropic compression from T1 to T2

Q12 ¿ 0

2 - 3¿Isothermal heat transfer at high temperature

 Q23=T 2 ( S 1−S 4 )

3 - 4 ¿ Isentropic expansion from T3 to T4

Q34 = 0

For the cycle;

Heat received at low temperature

= Refrigeration effect

= T 1 ( S1−S 4 )

And for the cycle

∮ W =∮ Q

Or Net work = Heat received – Heat rejected.

Therefore Net work = T 1 ( S1−S 4 ) −T 2 ( S1−S 4 )

=−( T 1−T 2 )( S 1−S 4 )

-ve sign shows that work must be supplied in order to effect the processes of the cycle.

Refrigeration effect
Therefore C. O. P =
External energy supplied

T 1 (S 1−S 4 )
=
( T 2 −T 1 ) ( S1−S 4 )
T1
=
T 2−T 1

C.O.P = Coefficient of Performance

Refrigerator and heat pump performances are defined by means of C.O.P. as follows:

Q1 Q1
C.O.P. refrigerator = =
W Q2−Q1

Q2 Q2
C.O.P. heat pump = =
W Q2−Q1

From the T-S diagram the areas are proportional to the heat quantities, therefore:
Q1 = T1 (S1-S2)

Q2 = T2 (S2-S3)

= T2 (S1-S4)

T 1(S 1−S 4)
Therefore C.O.P.r =
(T 2−T 1)(S 1−S 4)

T 2(S 1−S 4)
And C.O.P.hp =
(T 2−T 1)(S 1−S 4)

T1
And C.O.P.r =
T 2−T 1

T2
C.O.P.hp =
T 2−T 1

These equations give the maximum possible values of C.O.P. r and C.O.P. hp between given values of T 1
and T2, the temperatures of the refrigerant in the evaporator and condenser coils respectively.

Example 4.1

2000 kJ of heat is transferred from a reservoir at 3000C to an engine that operates on the Carnot cycle.
The engine rejects heat to a reservoir at 230C. Determine the thermal efficiency of the cycle and the
work done by the engine.

Example 4.2

The following table consists of energy transfers in three hypothetical heat engines cycles. In each case
the temperature of the source and sink are 527oC and 27oC respectively. Using Clausius inequality
classify each cycle as either reversible, impossible or irreversible.

Rate of heat supply kW Rate of Heat Rejection Rate of Work Efficiency

Cycle kW W %

a 291 70 221 75.9

 b 291 198 93 32

c 291 109.125 181.9 62.5

Solution:

δQ
Clausius inequality is ∮ ≤0
T

Therefore the cyclic integral is performed for each cycle.

δQ δ Q1 δ Q2
i.e. ∮ ¿∫ +∫
T T1 T2

Q1
¿ ¿ + Q2 ¿
T1 T2

For case (a)

δQ 291 70
∫ ¿ −
T 800 300

¿+ 0.13

Case (b)

δQ 291 198
∮ ¿ −
T 800 300

¿- 0.296

Case (c)

δQ 291 109.125
∮ = −
T 800 300

¿0

According to Clausius inequality

δQ
∮ T
=0 Cycle is reversible
 δQ
∮ T
<0 Cycle is irreversible

δQ
∮ T
>0 Cycle is impossible

Example 4.3

A refrigerator that operates on a Carnot cycle is required to transfer 33 kW from a reservoir at 0 0C to the
atmosphere at 270C. What is the work input?

Example 4.4

An inventor claims to have developed a refrigeration unit which maintains the refrigerated space at -
230C while operating in a room where the temperature is 270C and has a COP of 5.5

a) How do you evaluate his claim?

b) How would you evaluate his claim of a COP of 5.0?
Example 4.5

An office block is heated by means of a heat pump. The air temperature within the building is 20 0C and
the outside air temperature is -40C. The rate of heat transfer to the heat pump is 30 kW and the power
to drive the pump is 10 kW

Determine:

i) The rate of heat transfer to the building

ii) The coefficient of performance
iii) The maximum possible COP of the heat pump
iv) Minimum power input to the heat pump.