Answer to Question #146336 in Molecular Physics | Thermodynamics for Alfraid

Question

What is efficiency of carnot engine.

Answer 1

Carnot’s principle: No irreversible engine operating between two reservoirs at constant temperatures can have a greater efficiency than a reversible engine operating between the same temperatures. Furthermore, all reversible engines operating between the same temperatures have the same efficiency.

Carnot’s principle implies that the efficiency of a reversible engine is independent of the working substance of the engine, and therefore van depend only on the temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs.

Efficiency of Carnot engine = $1 - \frac{T_C}{T_H}$

This relation give the maximum possible efficiency for a heat engine operating between two Kelvin temperatures.