Question

A Carnot engine operates between two heat reservoirs at temperatures THTH and TCTC. An inventor proposes to increase the efficiency by running one engine between T and an intermediate temperature T and a second engine between T and TCTC, using as input the heat expelled by the first engine. Compute the efficiency of this composite system, and compare it to that of the original engine.

Answer 1

e_12=1-Tc/Th

This is same as the original Carnot engine.

Step-by-step explanation:

For original Carnot engine, its efficiency is given by

e = 1-Tc/Th

For the composite engine, its efficiency is given by

e_12=(W_1+W_2)/Q_H1

where Q_H1 is the heat input to the first engine, W_1 s the work done by the first engine and W_2 is the work done by the second engine.

But the work done can be written as

W= Q_H + Q_C with Q_H as the heat input and Q_C as the heat emitted to the cold reservoir. So.

e_12=(Q_H1+Q_C1+Q_H2+Q_C2)/Q_H1

But Q_H2 = -Q_C1 so the second and third terms in the numerator cancel

each other.

e_12=1+Q_C2/Q_H1

but, Q_C2/Q_H2= -T_C/T'

⇒ Q_C2 = -Q_H2(T_C/T')

= Q_C1(T_C/T')

(T1 is the intermediate temperature)

But, Q_C1 = -Q_H1(T'/T_H)

so, Q_C2 = -Q_H1(T'/T_H)(T_C/T') = Q_H1(T_C/T_H) So the efficiency of the composite engine is given by

e_12=1-Tc/Th

This is same as the original Carnot engine.