Carnot cycle

E531749

The Carnot cycle is an idealized thermodynamic cycle that defines the maximum possible efficiency any heat engine can achieve when operating between two temperature reservoirs.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Carnot heat engine 1

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf idealized heat engine cycle
thermodynamic cycle
assumes no friction
no heat losses other than to reservoirs
quasi-static processes
reversible processes
category heat engine cycles
ideal thermodynamic cycles
comparedWith real heat engine cycles
consistsOf adiabatic compression
adiabatic expansion
isothermal compression
isothermal expansion
defines maximum possible efficiency of a heat engine between two temperature reservoirs
efficiencyDependsOn temperature of cold reservoir
temperature of hot reservoir
hasAssumption reservoirs have constant temperature
working fluid returns to initial state after cycle
hasEfficiencyFormula 1 - Tc/Th
hasKeyConcept entropy change
reversibility
thermal efficiency
hasProcessType reversible adiabatic compression
reversible adiabatic expansion
reversible isothermal heat addition
reversible isothermal heat rejection
hasProperty net work output per cycle
zero total entropy change for system plus reservoirs in ideal case
hasWorkingSubstance ideal gas
implies no engine can be more efficient than a Carnot engine between same reservoirs
introducedBy Sadi Carnot NERFINISHED
introducedInWork Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire NERFINISHED
namedAfter Sadi Carnot NERFINISHED
obeys first law of thermodynamics
second law of thermodynamics
operatesBetween cold reservoir
hot reservoir
relatedTo Carnot theorem NERFINISHED
Clausius inequality NERFINISHED
Kelvin-Planck statement of the second law NERFINISHED
representedOnDiagram P-V diagram
T-S diagram
represents upper limit of heat engine efficiency
usedIn heat engine theory
statistical mechanics education
thermodynamics

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Carnot notableConcept Carnot cycle
subject surface form: Sadi Carnot
Clausius theorem relatedConcept Carnot cycle
Carnot efficiency relatedTo Carnot cycle
Kelvin–Planck statement of the second law of thermodynamics relatedTo Carnot cycle
this entity surface form: Carnot heat engine
On the Moving Force of Heat topic Carnot cycle