The Carnot Cycle

The Carnot Cycle

• Idealized thermodynamic cycle consisting of four reversible processes (working fluid can be any substance):

• The four steps for a Carnot Heat Engine are:

Ø Reversible isothermal expansion (1-2, TH=constant)

Ø Reversible adiabatic expansion (2-3, Q=0, THàTL)

Ø Reversible isothermal compression (3-4, TL=constant)

Ø Reversible adiabatic compression (4-1, Q=0, TLàTH)

1-2

2-3

3-4

4-1