The Carnot Engine 93

4
The Carnot Engine

The Carnot Engine

Suppose we have a hot reservoir at temperature T1 and a cold reservoir at temperature T2. What is the
maximum efficiency possible for a heat engine operating between the two reservoir and what cycle of pro-
cesses should be adopted to achieve the maximum efficiency ? Sadi Carnot, a French engineer first considered
these questions in 1824.
A Carnot engine governs by Carnot cycle which is defined as any cyclic process bounded by two reversible
isothermals and two reversible adiabatics.
It consists of the following :
1. A cylinder fitted with piston
2. A source at higher temperature (T1)
3. A source at lower temperature (T2)
4. An insulating stand

Piston

Working
Substance

Source Insulating Sink

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at T1 Stand at T2

The Carnot cycle is shown as :

A (P1, V1, T1)

isothermal
B (P2, V2, T1)
adiabatic Q1
P adiabatic
Q2
D
(P4, V4, T2) C (P3, V3, T2)
isothermal

V
94 The Carnot Engine
The various steps involved in the Carnot engine are as follows :
(a) Step A  B : Isothermal expansion of the gas
Since the internal energy of an ideal gas is a function of its temperature only, the internal energyis constant
in the isothermal process A  B and the heat flow Q1 into the gas from the hot reservoir in this process is
equal to the work done by the gas W1. So we have
V 
Q1  W1  nRT1 ln  2  ... (1)
V
 1
where V1 and V2 are the volumes in states A and B, respectively.
(b) Step B  C : Adiabatic expansion of the gas
To expand adiabatically, the gas needs to perform work W2 which it does at the expense of its internal
energy and hence fall in its temperature. So, we have
(T1  T2 ) ... (2)
W2  nR
 1
(c) Step C  D : Isothermal compression of the gas
The gas is compressed isothermally from the volume V3 to V4. This requires work W3 need to be done on
the gas. This is the amount of heat Q2 released by the gas to the cold reservoir. This gives
V 
Q2  W3  nRT2 ln  4  ... (3)
 V3 
(d) Step D  A : Adiabatic compression of the gas
The gas in the system is further compressed adiabatically to its initial state ( P1 , V1 , T1 ) . The necessary
energy required to perform this task increases the internal energy of the gas resulting in the rise of tempera-
ture of the system. The work done involves in the process is given by
(T2  T1 ) ... (4)
W4  nR
 1
So the total workdone by the gas in one complete cycle is
W  W1  W2  W3  W4

V  (T  T ) V  (T  T )
 nRT1 ln  2   nR 1 2  nRT2 ln  4   nR 2 1
 V1  www.careerendeavour.com
 1  V3   1

V  V 
 nRT1 ln  2   nRT2 ln  4  ... (5)
 V1   V3 
Now from equations (1) and (3), we have
Q1 nRT1 ln (V2 /V1 ) T1 ln (V2 /V1 ) ... (6)
 
Q2 nRT2 ln (V4 /V3 ) T2 ln (V4 /V3 )
Since states B and C lie on the same adiabatic and hence
T1 V2  1  T2 V3  1 ... (7)
Similarly, since states A and D lie on the same adiabatic, we have
T1 V1  1  T2 V4  1 ... (8)
Now dividing equation (7) by (8), we have
V2 V3
 ... (9)
V1 V4
The Carnot Engine 95
Now using equation (9) in (6), we get
Q1 T1 ln (V3 /V4 )
 ... (10)
Q2 T2 ln (V4 /V3 )
Q1 T Q T
   1 or 2   2 ... (11)
Q2 T2 Q1 T1
Considering the magnitude of both Q1 and Q2 , equation (11) can be rewritten as

Q2 T2
 ... (12)
Q1 T1

Thus for an “ideal gas”, the ratio Q2 /Q1 depends only on the temperature of the source (T1 ) and of the sink
(T2 ) and independent of the nature of the working substance (e.g., ideal gas, real gas and steam).

The Heat Engine

(a) Definition : It is a device by which a system is made to undergo a cyclic process that results in conversion
of heat to work.
Since the process is cyclic, the net flow of heat Q into the gas or the system, in any complete cycle, is equal to
the work W done by the engine per cycle.
i.e. Q  W ... (13)
(b) Schematic representation : The Schematic representation of a heat engine is
Heat
Reservoir (T1)
Q1

Working
Substance
W

Q2
Cold
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Reservoir (T2)

Here Q1 is the amount of heat given to the working substance from the hot reservoir (generally the fuel) at
temperature T1 . A part of this Q1 amount of heat is used to perform work W by the system and the rest of the
heat Q2 is rejected to the sink (generally the surrounding atmosphere) at temperature T2 . So by the conserva-
tion of energy, we have
Q1  W  Q2 ... (14)
 W  Q1  Q2 ... (15)
(c) Efficiency : The efficiency () is defined as
what you get
 .
what you pay
For the heat engine, we have given Q1 amount of heat to the system and as a result, it performs W amount of
work. So the thermal efficiency is
 96 The Carnot Engine

W
 ... (16)
Q1

Q1  Q2 Q
   1 2 ... (17) [Using (15)]
Q1 Q1

T2
   1 ... (18) [Using (12)]
T1
The definition in equation (17) is valid for every type of heat engine whereas equation (18) is valid only when
the engine is based on Carnot cycle.
Clearly, the efficiency of a heat engine depends only on the temperatures of the source (T1 ) and of the sink
(T2 ) and independent of the nature of the working substance.
For Q2  0 i.e., if no heat gets wasted, the efficiency of the heat engine is 1 or 100 %. It means that all the heat
given to the system is utilized in the work. This is an ideal case and is not practically possible.
Moreover, the value of ‘’ lies between 0 and 1.
Problem : Find the efficiency of the Carnot engine working between the steam point and the ice point.
Soln. Given T1 = 100oC = 100 + 273 = 373 K (steam point)
T2 = 0oC = 0 + 273 = 273 K (ice point)
T2 273 373 – 273 100
So,  1– 1–  
T1 373 373 373

100
% of efficiency =  100  26.81%
373
Problem : A Carnot engine whose temperature of the source is 400 K takes 200 calories of heat at this temperature
and reject 150 calories of heat to the sink. What is temperature of the sink. Also calculate the efficiency of the
engine?
Soln. Q1  200 Cal , Q2 = 150 Cal, T1 = 400 K, T2 = ?
Q1 Q2 Q 150
Using   T2  2  T1   400  300 K
T1 T2 Q1 www.careerendeavour.com
200
T2 300
Now,   1 – 1–  0.25
T1 400
% of efficiency = 0.25×100 = 25%.

Problem : A Carnot engine is operated between two reservoirs at temperature of 450 K and 350 K. If the engine
receives 1000 calories of heat from the source in each cycle. Calculate the amount of heat rejected to the
sink in each cycle. Calculate the efficiency of the engine & the work done by the engine in each cycle.
Soln. Given : T1  450 K , T2 = 350K, Q1 = 1000 cal , Q2 = ?

Q2 T2 T 350
Using,   Q2  2  Q1   1000  777.77 cal.
Q1 T1 T1 450

T2 350 100
So,   1 –  1–   0.2222
T1 450 450
The Carnot Engine 97
So, % of efficiency =22.22%
Also, work done in each cycle = Q1 – Q2
= (1000 – 777.77) cal = 222.23 cal
= 222.23 × 4.2 J = 933.336 J
Problem : Consider a Carnot engine operating between temperatures of 600K and 400K. The engine performs
1000J of work per cycle. The heat (in Joules) extracted per cycle from the high temperature reservoir
is ____________________.
(Specify your answer to two digits after the decimal point)
Soln. Efficiency is given by T1 = 600K

W T Q1
  1 2
Q1 T1
where Q1 is the amount of heat extracted from the reservoir. W = 1000J

W 1000
 Q1    Q1  3000 J Q2
T2 400
1 1
T1 600 T2 = 400K

Correct answer is (3000)

Problem : A Carnot engine operates between temperature T1 and T2 with Tl > T2. If W is the work done by the engine
in one cycle, then the heat Q1 absorbed at T1 and Q2 rejected at T2 are [IISc 2007]
T2W T1W T1W T2W
(a) Q1  T  T , Q2  T  T (b) Q1  T  T , Q2  T  T
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

T2W T1W T1W T2W

(c) Q1  T  T , Q2  T  T (d) Q1  T  T , Q2  T  T
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
Soln. From the diagram, we have
Q1  W  Q2 ... (1)
and for Carnot engine, we have T1
Q2 T2
 ... (2) Q1
Q1 T1 www.careerendeavour.com W
Using equation (2) in equation (1), we get
T2 Q2
Q1  W  Q1
T1 T2

T1 W
 Q1  ... (3)
T1  T2
Using equation (3) in equation (2), we have
T2 W
Q2 
T1  T2
Correct option is (d)
 98 The Carnot Engine
Problem : In a Carnot cycle, isothermal expansion of an ideal gas take place at 400 K and the isothermal compression
at 300 K. During the expansion 500 cal of heat energy are transfered to the gas. Determine
(1) The work performed by the gas during isothermal expansion.
(2) The heat rejected from the gas during an isothermal compression
(3) The work done in isothermal compression of gas
Soln. (1) The work performed by the gas during the isothermal expansion is equivalent to heat Q1 absorbed by the
gas
Here, Q1 = W = 500 cal
(2) Let Q2 be the amount of heat rejected. Then,
Q1 T1 T 300
  Q2  2  Q1  500   375 cal
Q2 T2 T1 400
(3) The work done on the gas during isothermal compression is equivalent to the heat rejected
W  Q2  375 cal
Problem: A reversible engine works between two temperature whose difference is 100oC. If 746 J of heat from the
source is taken and 546 J heat is given to the sink by working substance. Calculate the temperature of the
source and sink.
Soln. Given T1 –T2 = 100°C, Q1 = 746 J, Q2 = 546 J
Q1 T1 Q 746 373
Using   1  
Q2 T2 Q2 546 273
Q1 – Q2 T1 – T2 200 100 546 100
     T2   273 K
Q2 T2 546 T2 200
Now, T1–T2=100  T1 = T2 + 100 = 273 + 100 = 373 K.

Problem : A Carnot engine whose low temperature reservoir at 7 ºC has an efficiency of 50 %. It is desired to increase
the efficiency to 70 %. By how many degrees should the temperature of the high temperature reservoir be
increased ?
(a) 273.3 K (b) 373.3 K (c) 37.3 K (d) 27.3 K
Soln. In the Case-I:
  50%  0.5 , T2 = 273 + 7 = 280 K, T1 = ?

So,  1–
T2 www.careerendeavour.com
 0.5  1–
280
T1 T1
280 280 2800
  0.5  T1    560 K
T1 0.5 5
In the Case-II:

  70%  0.7
T2  280 K , T1  ?
T2
So,  1 –
T1
280 280 280 280
 0.7  1 –   0.3  T1    933.33 K
T1 T1 0.3 3

So increase in temperature = 933.33 – 560 = 373.33 K

The Carnot Engine 99
Problem : The efficiency of a Carnot cycle is 1/6. On reducing the temperature of the sink by 65 ºC, the efficiency
increases to 1/3. The initial and the final temperature between which cycle is working is
(a) 117 ºC and 52 ºC (b) 152 ºC and 217 ºC
(c) 217 ºC and 152 ºC (d) 52 ºC and 117 ºC
T2 1 T1 – T2
Soln. Using   1  T  6  T  6T1 – 6T2  T1
1 1

or 5T1 – 6T2  0 ... (i)

T2 – 65  1 T – T  65 1
Now, according to question 1 –   1 2   3T1 – 3T2  195  T1
T1 3 T1 3

Or 2T1 – 3T2  – 195 ... (ii)

Solving equations (i) and (ii),
5T1 – 6T2  0  5T1  6T2  0  2T1 – 3T2  –195
Solving T1 = 390 K = 117 ºC.
Also, 5T1  6T2  5  390  6T2
5  390
 T2   325K  52 ºC.
6
Correct option is (a)

Refrigerator
(a) Definition : A refrigerator is the reverse of a heat engine. It is a cyclic device used to cool down a portion
of space.
(b) Schematic diagram :
The Schematic diagram of a refrigerator is
Heat
Reservoir (T1)
Q1

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Working
W Substance

Q2
Cold
Reservoir (T2)
Here the working substance extracts heat Q2 from the cold reservoir (generally food or room) at temperature
T2 , some external work W is done on it and heat Q1 is released to the hot reservoir (generally the surrounding
atmosphere) at temperature T1 . So the conservation of energy gives
Q2  W  Q1
(c) Coefficient of Performance : The efficiency of a refrigerator is measured by the coefficient of perfor-
mance (K). It is defined as the ratio of the heat extracted from the cold reservoir Q2 to the work done W, by
an external agent.
 100 The Carnot Engine
So we have
Q2 Q2 ... (19)
K 
W Q1  Q2
For Carnot’s refrigerator, we have

T2
 K ... (20) [From (12)]
T1  T2

The coefficient of performance of a refrigerator, unlike the thermal efficiency of a heat engine, can be much
larger than 1 or 100 % but can’t be infinite as the value of co-efficient of performance lies between one and
infinity. If its value gets infinity, it means that there is no need of any work to be performed to extract heat from
the cold reservoir and to release it into the hot reservoir. A good refrigerator should have high value of K.
(d) Carnot Cycle : Since the refrigerator is just a reverse of the heat engine, the Carnot cycle for it can be
drawn by just reversing the arrows of the Carnot cycle of the heat engine. So the corresponding Carnot cycle
for the refrigerator is shown below :

A (P1, V1, T1)

isothermal
B (P2, V2, T1)
adiabatic Q1
P adiabatic
Q2
D
(P4, V4, T2) C (P3, V3, T2)
isothermal

Problem : The pV diagram given below represents a [TIFR 2010]

P
A D

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B
C

(a) Carnot refrigerator (b) Carnot engine

(c) gas turbine refrigerator (d) gas turbine engine
Soln. The gas turbine refrigerator and the gas turbine engine is governed by two isobaric and two adiabatic process.
Now since the cycle is anti-clockwise, the pV-diagram in the question represents the gas turbine refrigerator.
Correct option is (c)
Problem : A Carnot’s refrigerator taken heat from water at 0 ºC and discard it to a room at 27 ºC. What is the value
of the co-efficient of its performance ?
(a) 10.1 (b) 101 (c) 1.01 (d) 0.101
Soln. Given : T1  27 º C  300 K and T2  0 º C  273 K
The coefficient of performance is
Q2 Q2 T2
K  
W Q1  Q2 T1  T2
The Carnot Engine 101

273 273
   10.1
300  273 27
Correct option is (a)
Problem : A refrigerator is operated between two reservoirs maintained at 250 K and 300 K respectively. If it
absorbs 500 J from the low temperature reservoir, then the heat lost to the high temperature reservoir is
(a) 800 J (b) 1500 J (c) 600 J (d) 155 J [H.C.U.-2012]
Soln. For Carnot’s refrigerator, we have
T1 T1 = 300 K
Q1   Q2
T2 Q1

300 W
  500
250 Q2 = 500 J
 600 J. T2 = 250 K
Correct option is (c)
Problem : A Carnot engine working as a refrigerator between 260 K and 300 K receives 500 calories of heat from
the reservoir at the lower temperature calculate the amount of heat rejected to the reservoir at the higher
temperature. Calculate also the amount of workdone in each cycle to operate the refrigerator.
Soln. Q1 = ?, Q2 = 500 cal , T1 = 260K, T2 = 300K
For Carnot engine:
Q1 Q2 Q 5000  260
  Q1  2  T1   576.92cal
T1 T2 T2 300

So, W  Q1 – Q2  76.92 cal = 76.92 × 4·2 = 323.06 Joule.

Problem : A Carnot’s refrigerator takes heat from water at 0oC and discard it to a room at 27oC. 1 kg of water
at 0oC is to be changed into ice at 0oC. How many calories of heat are discarded to the room? What is the
work done by the refrigerator in this process? What is the co-efficient of performance of the machine?
(Given : Lf =80 cal/g)
Soln. Given : Q1 = ? , Q2 = mLf =1000 × 80 = 80,000 cal, T1 = 300K, T2 = 273K
For Carnot engine,
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Q1 T1 T 80000  300
  Q1  1  Q2   87,900 cal.
Q2 T2 T2 273
Work done by the refrigerator is
W  Q1 – Q2  87900 – 80000  7900 cal
Q2 80, 000 80, 000
Co-efficient of performance =    10.13
Q1  Q2 87900 – 80, 000 7900

Heat Pump
(a) Definition : A heat pump is the same as refrigerator. What term we use it depends on the purpose of the
device. If the purpose is to cool a portion of space, the device is said to be a refrigerator. If the idea is to
pump heat into a portion of space, the device is called a heat pump.
(b) Schematic representation : Here the working substance performs the work W to extract some amount
of heat Q2 from the cold reservoir (generally the surrounding atmosphere) at temperature T2 and the sum
of W and Q2 , i.e., Q1 is being transferred to the hot reservoir (generally the room) at temperature T1 .
 102 The Carnot Engine

Heat Reservoir (T1)

Q1

Working
Substance
W

Q2
Cold Reservoir (T2)

(c) Co-efficient of performance : The efficiency of a heat pump is also measured by the co-efficient of
performance (K). It is defined as the ratio of the heat transferred to the hot reservoir Q1 to the work done
W. So we have
Q Q1
K 1
W Q1  Q2
For Carnot heat pump, we have
T1
K ... (21)
T1  T2
The value of K lies from 1 to infinity.
(d) Carnot cycle : The Carnot cycle for a Carnot heat pump is same as that of the Carnot refrigerator.

Problem : There are two devices, one of which is a Carnot engine and the other is a Carnot refrigerator. They both are
working between the same temperature limits T1 and T2 ( T1 ) . If  and K be the thermal efficiency of the
engine and co-efficient of performance of the refrigerator respectively, find the relation between them.
Soln. By definition

T2 T1  T2
  1 
T1 T1
T2
and K 
T1  T2
T2 T1 1
Now, K  1  1  
T1  T2 www.careerendeavour.com
T1  T2 

1
 
K 1
1
 K  1 ... (22)

Problem : A heat pump working on the Carnot cycle maintains the inside temperature of a house at 22 ºC by
suppling 450 kJ s–1. If the outside temperature is 0ºC, the heat taken, in kJs–1, from the outside air is
approximately.
(a) 487 (b) 470 (c) 467 (d) 417
Soln. The efficiency of Carnot heat engine may be defined as
Q1  Q2 T1  T2
 
Q1 T1
where, Q1 is heat taken from the source by working substance and Q2 is the heat given by working
substance to sink respectively. Also, T1 and T2 are the temperatures of source and sink respectively.
The Carnot Engine 103
Hence, in question
Q1  450 kJ/s, Q2  ?
T1  22  273  295 K,
T2  273 K
450  Q2 295  273 273  450
Hence,  or Q2   416.44 kJ/s  417 kJ/s
450 295 295
Correct option is (d)
Problem : On a winter day, when the temperature outside is 17ºC the temperature inside a room is main-
tained at 27º C by using a heat pump. The heat pump compensates for the loss of heat due to the
difference of temperature. If, for the temperatures given, the rate of heat loss is 6000 cal/s, what is
the minimum rate of consumption of energy by the pump?
(a) 840 watt (b) 9300 watt (c) 15000 watt (d) 200 watt (e) 430 watt
Soln. For minimum rate of consumption, the engine must be based on Carnot cycle and hence
Room
Q2 T2
 T1 = 27 ºC
Q1 T1
Q1 = 6000 cal/s
290 W
 Q2   6000  5800 cal/s
300 Q2
T2 = 17 ºC
 Wmin  Q1  Q2  200 cal/s  840 W . Outside
Correct option is (a)
Heat Engines in Different Combinations
(a) In series : We have two heat engines in series such that the heat goes out of the first engine goes as an
input in the second engine. The combined thermal efficiency is
T1
W1  W2
 [From Diagram] Q1
Q1
W1
(Q1  Q2 )  (Q2  Q3 ) Q2

Q1 T2

Q
www.careerendeavour.com Q2
 1 3 W2
Q1 Q3
If both the engines are based on Carnot cycle, i.e., Carnot heat engines, we have T3
Q1 T1 Q T
 and 3  3
Q2 T2 Q1 T1
Q3 T3
 
Q1 T1

T3
   1 ... (23)
T1
(b) In parallel : We have two heat engines working between the same value of temperatures T1 and T2 .
The thermal efficiency of the combined engine is
 104 The Carnot Engine

W1  W2
 [From Diagram] T1
Q1  Q3
Q1 Q3
(Q  Q2 )  (Q3  Q4 ) W1 W2
 1
Q1  Q3 Q2 Q4
T2
Q  Q4
 1 2
Q1  Q3
If both the energies are Carnot engines, then
Q2 T2 Q4
 
Q1 T1 Q3
T2 T
Q1  2 Q3
T T1
   1 1
Q1  Q3
T2
   1 ... (24)
T1
Problem : A Carnot engine named A operates between temperatures T1 and T2 (T1 >T2). A second Carnot engine
named B uses all the heat rejected by the engine A as input and operates between temperatures T2 and T3 (T2
>T3). The efficiency of this coupled engine system is [IISc 2008]
T2 T3 T3  T2  T3 
(a) 1  T (b) 1  T (c) 1  T (d)  1  T  1  T 
1 2 1  1  2 

Soln. From the diagram, we have T1

W1  Q1  Q2 ... (1) Q1
Engine
and W2  Q2  Q3 ... (2) W1 A
By definition, the efficiency of the coupled engine system is Q2
W1  W2 (Q1  Q2 )  (Q2  Q3 ) T2
 
Q1 Q1 Q2

Q Q Q www.careerendeavour.com
W Engine
   1 3  1 3  2 B 2

Q1 Q2 Q1 Q3
where for Carnot engines A and B, we have T3
Q2 T2 Q T
 and 3  3
Q1 T1 Q2 T2
T3 T2 T
   1   1 3
T2 T1 T1
Correct option is (a)
Problem : Two reversible engines are connected in series. The first one receives heat at Tº K and rejects heat at 1527
ºC. The second one receives the heat rejected by the first at 1527 ºC and then expels heat at 527 ºC. Find the
temperature T for equal efficiencies of the two engines.
(a) 3240º K (b) 4050º K (c) 2054º K (d) 1000º K (e) 3100º K
The Carnot Engine 105
Soln. If the efficiencies of the two engines is same, then T1 = TK
1   2 Q1

T2 T W1
 1  1 3
T1 T2 Q2

T22 T2 = 1800K
 T1 
T3 Q2
2

1800  W2

800 Q3
 4050 K T3 = 800K
Correct option is (b)
Problem : An engine of efficiency  operates between two reservoirs at temperatures T1 and T2 with T2 > T1 doing an
amount of work W in one cycle. All of this work is used to drive an ideal Carnot engine in reverse (as a
refrigerator) between the two reservoirs. The total heat extracted from the hot reservoir in one combined cycle
of the two engines is: [IISc 2011]

 
 T   T  1 1 
(a) 0 (b) W    1  1 (c) W    1  1 (d) W   
 T2   T2    1  T1 
 T2 
 
Soln. For engine, the efficiency is given by
W W
  Q1 
Q1 
For Carnot’s refrigerator, we have T2 T2
Q3 T1 Q1 Q4

Q4 T2 W

Q4  W T1 W T
    1 1 Q2 Q3
Q4 T2 Q4
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T2
T T1
1
W
 Q4  Engine Carnot's
 T1  Refrigerator
1  
 T2 
Therefore, the heat extracted from the reservoir is
W W
Q1  Q4  
  T1 
1  
 T2 
 
1 1 
W   
  1  T1 
 T2 
 
Correct option is (d)
 106 The Carnot Engine
Carnot Theorem
1. No engine working between two given temperatures can be more “efficient” than a reversible (Carnot
engine) engine, working between the same limits of temperature.
2. All reversible engine (Carnot engine) working between the same limits of temperature have the same
efficiency, whatever be the working substance.
Problem : An engine is being operated between two heat reservoirs at temperatures 100 K and 300 K. The maximum
efficiency of the engine is
(a) 1/3 (b) 2/3 (c) 4/9 (d) 4/3 [H.C.U.-2016]
Soln. For maximum efficiency, the engine must be based on Carnot’s cycle. For this, we have
T2 100 2
  1  1  .
T1 300 3
Correct option is (b)
Problem : A cyclic heat engine operates between a source temperature of 800 ºC and a sink temperature of 30 ºC.
What is the least rate of heat rejection per kW net output of the engine?
(a) 0.392 kW (b) 39.2 kW (c) 392 kW (d) 0.0392kW
Soln. The heat rejected will be minimum when the engine is based on Carnot’s cycle.
For this, we have T1 = 1073 K
W 1 1073
Q1    kW Q1
T2 303 770
1 1
T1 1073 W = 1 kW

1073 303 Q2
 Q2  Q1  W  1   0.392 kW.
770 770 T2 = 303 K
Correct option is (a)
Problem : A steam turbine is operated with an intake temperature of 427ºC and exhaust temperature of 107ºC. Heat
input to the turbine is Q. Which of the following work the turbine can do?
(a) 0.50 Q (b) 0.73 Q (c) Q (d) 0.25 Q
Soln. The maximum work will be done if the engine is based on Carnot’s cycle. For this,
W T
   1 2
Q T1
 280 
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 W  1   Q  0.6 Q.
 700 
From Carnot’s theorem, this is the maximum work an engine can perform and hence the work done by the
turbine. For the given value of Q, must be less than 0.6 Q.
Correct option is (a)
Problem : A reversible Carnot engine is operated between temperatures T1 and T2 T2  T1  with a photon gas as the
working substance. The efficiency of the engine is
3/4 4/3
3T1 T1  T1   T1 
(a) 1  4T (b) 1 T (c) 1    (d) 1   
2 2  T2   T2 
Soln. Since the efficiency of the Carnot engine is independent of the nature of the working substance, the efficiency
T1
of the engine is 1
T2
Correct option is (b)
The Carnot Engine 107

Problems to be Played

1. The device which converts heat into mechanical work is–

(a) Motor (b) Generator (c) Heat engine (d) Energy converter

2. The efficiency of a Carnot engine operating between the temperature Th and Tc , where Th  Tc , is given by
Tc T T
(a) 1  (b) 1  c (c) c (d) Tc  Th
Th Th Th
3. A reversible heat engine can have 100% efficiency if the temperature of sink is–
(a) Less than that of source (b) Equal to that of source
(c) 0ºC (d) 0 K
4. An ideal gas engine produces 1 kJ of useful work. If it operates between 400K and 300K, the amount
of energy lost as waste heat is
(a) 4 kJ (b) 2kJ (c) 1kJ (d) 3kJ
5. In a heat engine the maximum heat that can be converted into mechanical work–
(a) Depends upon friction (b) Depends upon working temperatures
(c) Is 100% (d) Depends upon the working
6. If an ideal (frictionless) heat enegine absorbs heat at a temperature 100ºC and exhausts heat at a temperature
0 ºC, its efficiency is 100%. This statements is
(a) True (b) False
(c) Uncertain (d) Needs more information
7. A Carnot engine operates between a heat source at 500 K and a heat sink at 300 K. The temperature of the
source is increased by 20 K. In order that the efficiency of the engine remain unchanged, the temperature of the
sink should be changed by
(a) +20 K (b) +12 K (c) –12 K (d) –20 K
8. In a Carnot engine for a certain difference in temperature between the source T1 and T2, the efficiency 
1. can be increased to a larger extent by increasing the source temperature
2. can be increased to a larger extent by decreasing the sink temperature
3. is independent of the working substance in the cycle
4. is same as that of an irreversible engine based on the Carnot cycle with the same T1 and T2
(a) only 4 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) only 3
9. www.careerendeavour.com
A refrigerator is operated between two reservoirs maintained at 250 K and 300 K respectively. If it absorbs
500 J from the low temperature reservoir, then the heat lost to the high temperature reservoir is
(a) 800 J (b) 1500 J (c) 600 J (d) 155 J
10. Two Carnot engines are operating in series. The first engine absorbs a quantity of heat Q1 and a temperature T1
and after doing work W1 rejects the remaining heat Q2 at lower temperature T2. The second engine absorbs
the heat Q2 at temperature T2 (rejected by first) and after doing work W2 rejects the remaining heat Q3 at a still
lower temperature T3. What is the efficiency of the combination ?
T3 T T T
(a) 1  (b) 1  1 (c) 1  1 (d) 1  3
T1 T3 T3 T1
11. Using an engine of 30% thermal efficiency to drive a refrigerator having a coefficient of performance of 5, what
is the heat input into the engine for each MJ removed from the cold body by the refrigerator?
(a) 6.6667 kJ (b) 66667 kJ (c) 66.667 kJ (d) 666.67 kJ
12. A cyclic heat engine operates between a source temperature of 800 ºC and a sink temperature of 30 ºC. What
is the least rate of heat rejection per kW net output of the engine?
(a) 0.392 kW (b) 39.2 kW (c) 392 kW (d) 0.0392kW
108 The Carnot Engine
ANSWER KEY

1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (b)

6. (b) 7. (b) 8. (c) 9. (c) 10. (a)
11. (d) 12. (a)

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