Question

Explain in detail the Carnot heat engine.

Answer 1

In the year 1824, a young French engineer Sadi Carnot proved that a certain reversible engine operated in a cycle between hot and cold reservoirs can have maximum efficiency. This engine is called the Carnot engine.

A reversible heat engine operating in a cycle between two temperatures in a particular way is called a Carnot Engine. The Carnot engine has four parts which are given below.

(i) Source: It is the source of heat maintained at constant high-temperature T_H. Any amount of heat can be extracted from it, without changing its temperature.

                  Carnot engine

(ii) Sink: It is a cold body maintained at a constant low-temperature T_L. It can absorb any amount of heat.

(iii) Insulating stand: It is made of perfectly non-conducting material. Heat is not conducted through this stand.

(iv) Working substance: It is an ideal gas enclosed in a cylinder with perfectly non-conducting walls and a perfectly conducting bottom. A non-conducting and frictionless piston is fitted in it.