Lecture

Carnot Cycle: Efficiency Optimization

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

In course

PHYS-106(h): General physics : thermodynamics

Le but du cours de Physique générale est de donner à l'étudiant les notions de base nécessaires à la compréhension des phénomènes physiques. L'objectif est atteint lorsque l'étudiant est capable de prévoir quantitativement les conséquences de ces phénomène ...

Description

This lecture introduces the Carnot cycle, a key thermodynamic cycle composed of two adiabats and two isotherms, explaining how to calculate its efficiency by analyzing heat exchanges and temperatures. The instructor demonstrates the Carnot cycle's efficiency formula and compares it with the efficiency of an auto-reversible engine, showing that the Carnot cycle's efficiency is always higher. The lecture also highlights the importance of using absolute temperatures in efficiency calculations and discusses the challenges of increasing the high-temperature source in engines. Through detailed diagrams and calculations, the lecture provides a comprehensive understanding of optimizing efficiency in thermodynamic systems.

Instructor

Ivo Furno

Teaching & PhD PhD Students Jules Amédée Aristobule Schadt, Renat Karimov, Amélie Renggli, Yuri Asnis, Michael Goddijn, Vanni Jonas Meier, Cyrille Sepulchre, Francesco D'Angelo Past EPFL PhD Students Federico Nespoli, Oulfa Chellai, Thibaut François Hugo Richard, Fabian Manke, Riccardo Agnello, Alexandra Waskow, Lorenzo Ibba, Agus Rita, Kadi Lyes Roland Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector Davoud Iraji, Christian Gabriel Theiler, Alexandre Dominique Bovet, Fabio Avino Courses General physics : thermodyn

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Physics

Thermodynamics: Statistical mechanics

Related concepts (27)

Thermodynamic cycle

A thermodynamic cycle consists of linked sequences of thermodynamic processes that involve transfer of heat and work into and out of the system, while varying pressure, temperature, and other state variables within the system, and that eventually returns the system to its initial state. In the process of passing through a cycle, the working fluid (system) may convert heat from a warm source into useful work, and dispose of the remaining heat to a cold sink, thereby acting as a heat engine.

Thermodynamic temperature

Thermodynamic temperature is a quantity defined in thermodynamics as distinct from kinetic theory or statistical mechanics. Historically, thermodynamic temperature was defined by Lord Kelvin in terms of a macroscopic relation between thermodynamic work and heat transfer as defined in thermodynamics, but the kelvin was redefined by international agreement in 2019 in terms of phenomena that are now understood as manifestations of the kinetic energy of free motion of microscopic particles such as atoms, molecules, and electrons.

Carnot cycle

A Carnot cycle is an ideal thermodynamic cycle proposed by French physicist Sadi Carnot in 1824 and expanded upon by others in the 1830s and 1840s. By Carnot's theorem, it provides an upper limit on the efficiency of any classical thermodynamic engine during the conversion of heat into work, or conversely, the efficiency of a refrigeration system in creating a temperature difference through the application of work to the system.

Thermodynamic system

A thermodynamic system is a body of matter and/or radiation, considered as separate from its surroundings, and studied using the laws of thermodynamics. Thermodynamic systems may be isolated, closed, or open. An isolated system exchanges no matter or energy with its surroundings, whereas a closed system does not exchange matter but may exchange heat and experience and exert forces. An open system can interact with its surroundings by exchanging both matter and energy.

Thermodynamic process

Classical thermodynamics considers three main kinds of thermodynamic process: (1) changes in a system, (2) cycles in a system, and (3) flow processes. (1)A Thermodynamic process is a process in which the thermodynamic state of a system is changed. A change in a system is defined by a passage from an initial to a final state of thermodynamic equilibrium. In classical thermodynamics, the actual course of the process is not the primary concern, and often is ignored.

Related lectures (54)

Thermodynamics: Second Principle and Engine Efficiency

Explains the second principle of thermodynamics and its impact on engine efficiency.

Entropy, Irreversible Transformations

Explores reversible and irreversible transformations, entropy generation, and efficiency comparison of real and Carnot cycles.

Kinetic Theory: Velocity Distribution

Explores the kinetic theory of gases, ideal gas law, velocity distribution, Boltzmann postulate, and Maxwell-Boltzmann speed distribution.

Thermodynamics: Thermal Machines and Carnot Cycle

Discusses thermal machines, focusing on the Carnot cycle and its efficiency in thermodynamics.

Thermodynamic Properties: Equations and Models