CARNOT CYCLE

By EngineerProf PH/Engr. Raymart Bonete

The Carnot Cycle is composed of four totally reversible processes:

✓ isothermal heat addition (1-2) 𝑇𝐻 = 𝑇1 = 𝑇2
✓ isentropic expansion (2-3) 𝑇𝐿 = 𝑇3 = 𝑇4
✓ isothermal heat rejection (3-4) 𝑠1 = 𝑠4
✓ isentropic compression (4-1) 𝑠2 = 𝑠3
A steady flow Carnot Engine
Heat Input
𝑄𝑖𝑛 = 𝑇𝐻 (𝑠2 − 𝑠1 )
𝑉
𝑄𝑖𝑛 = 𝑃1 𝑉1 ln 𝑉2 (for ideal gas)
1

Heat Output
𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑇𝐿 (𝑠3 − 𝑠4 ) = 𝑇𝐿 (𝑠2 − 𝑠1 )
𝑉3
𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑃3 𝑉3 ln
𝑉4

The PV and TS Diagram of the Carnot Cycle Work Net

FOR IDEAL GAS 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑄𝑖𝑛 − 𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑇 = 𝐶: 𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 𝑉2 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑇𝐻 (𝑠2 − 𝑠1 ) − 𝑇𝐿 (𝑠3 − 𝑠4 )
𝑆 = 𝐶: 𝑃2 𝑉2 𝑘 = 𝑃3 𝑉3 𝑘 ; 𝑘 = 1.4 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑇𝐻 (𝑠2 − 𝑠1 ) − 𝑇𝐿 (𝑠2 − 𝑠1 )
𝑘−1 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = (𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐿 )(𝑠2 − 𝑠1 )
𝑇2 𝑃2 𝑘
=( )
𝑇3 𝑃3
𝑇 = 𝐶: 𝑃3 𝑉3 = 𝑃4 𝑉4 Thermal Efficiency
𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑄𝑖𝑛 − 𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝜂𝑡ℎ = = = 1−
𝑄𝑖𝑛 𝑄𝑖𝑛 𝑄𝑖𝑛

𝑇𝐿 (𝑠3 − 𝑠4 ) 𝑇𝐿 (𝑠2 − 𝑠1 )
𝑘 𝑘 𝜂𝑡ℎ = 1 − =1−
𝑆 = 𝐶: 𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃4 𝑉4 𝑇𝐻 (𝑠2 − 𝑠1 ) 𝑇𝐻 (𝑠2 − 𝑠1 )
𝑘−1
𝑇1 𝑃1 𝑘
=( ) 𝑇𝐿
𝑇4 𝑃4 𝜂𝑡ℎ = 1 −
𝑇𝐻
The thermal efficiency of a Carnot cycle is
independent of the type of the working fluid used
(an ideal gas, steam, etc.) or whether the cycle is
executed in a closed or steady-flow system.
Temperatures are in absolute scale (K or R).

Reference: Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach 8 th

Edition by Cengel and Boles