Four Cycle Stroke Gasoline Engine

The internal combustion engine of an automobile is an example of a heat engine. Most internal
combustion engines use a four-cycle process. As the fuel is burned (reacted with oxygen) in the engine,
energy is released from the system of chemicals. There is a heat transfer from the hot system to the
surrounding air of the cylinder. This transfer of heat to the air in the cylinder does work upon the piston.
Driving it downward. The piston is connected to the crankshaft of the car. The back- and-forth
movement of the piston within the cylinder results in the rotational motion of the crankshaft and the
generation of the energy required to set the car in motion.

THERMAL EFFECIENCY

• An important measure of a heat engine is its efficiency, thermal efficiency talks about how much of
the heat or energy input ends up doing useful work.

Why is thermal efficiency important?

Thermal efficiency determines how effectively a heat engine performs work. The better a heat
engines efficiency the less heat is wasted by the engine. This is very important in the automotive
industry.
The efficiency is calculated as a fraction (although it is stated as a percentage).

Note: We can only have a 100% efficiency if there is no energy transferred away from the engine by
heat. But, there is no 100% efficient engine. There will be other losses (to friction, for example) that will
reduce the efficiency.

THE REVERSE PROCESS

1. SPONTANEOUS PROCESS
Heat flows from an object of higher temperature to an object of lower temperature. It does not
require any external energy to occur.

SAMPLE 1: At room temperature and typical atmospheric pressure, for example, ice will spontaneously
melt, but water will not spontaneously freeze.

SAMPLE 2 : Evaporation of water is a spontaneous process as it does not require any external source of
energy, it occurs spontaneously (though very slow) at room temperature.

SAMPLE 3: When two eggs are dropped they spontaneously break.

2. NON SPONTANEOUS PROCESS

Heat flows from lower temperature to higher temperature, it needs mechanical energy to
happen. Mechanical energy is required for this to happen.

SAMPLE 1: Water freezing at room temperature

SAMPLE 2: A ball rolling uphill

SAMPLE 3: The reverse reaction (two eggs leaping into your hand with their shells back intact) is not
spontaneous.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPONTANEOUS AND NON-SPONTANEOUS PROCESS

Second Law of Thermodynamics

It states that heat will never by itself flow from a cold temperature to a hot temperature object.
The work is provided by the motor of the heat pump.

Heat Pump

It is used to reverse the process. It is a device that allows heat to transfer from a cold reservoir to a
warmer one, which cannot happen spontaneously, or on its own. Work is required for the heat to low
from a lower to a higher temperature. This work is provided by the motor of a heat pump.
HEAT PUMP IN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

HEAT PUMP IN REFRIGERATOR