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Question
Explain in detail the Carnot heat engine.
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Solution
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 TH. 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 TL. 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.
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