CARNOT CYCLE

Carnot cycle is one of the air standard cycle. It is given by a French engineer, Sadi Carnot so named as Carnot cycle. This is an ideal cycle of all thermodynamic cycle because it gives maximum efficiency between two temperature difference.
When we study about any other cycle, we compare it to the Carnot cycle, which will give the maximum work output between these temperature range.

In air standard cycle we assume air as the working fuel but actually air with fuel use as working fluid. In Carnot cycle analysis we assume that air is used as the working fluid and it complete a cyclic process. So in Carnot cycle air standard analysis we assume a reciprocating engine in which air is filled which act as the working fluid. A heat reservoir is used at head for Heat addition and heat rejection. 

Carnot cycle is combination of four thermodynamic process, in which two are isothermal processes and the remaining one are isentropic processes. 

Isothermal process is also known as constant temperature process in which temperature of working fluid remain constant until process done. In isentropic process the entropy of system remain constant which mean the system would not emit or absorb heat until whole process. The combination of this process makes the Carnot cycle.

Working of Carnot Cycle:

As we have discussed Carnot cycle is the combination of two isothermal processes and two isentropic processes. In Carnot cycle heat is add or removed at constant temperature and expansion and compression done isentropically.

In Carnot cycle we assume a piston cylinder device which is insulated from surrounding. No heat can add or removed from the system. The head of the system can be replaceable during process by the heat reservoir. At the starting the piston is at the top or at top dead center of cyclinder. At this position the insulated head replaced by the higher temperature heat reservoir which add the heat energy into the system by Zeroth law. This heat energy move or expand the piston downward. One thing note that the heat energy added by reservoir does not rise the temperature of the system. It only done work by expanding piston So this process is done isothermically. 

When the piston reaches mid of the cylinder, the head is replaced by the insulated head so no heat can add into the system but due to inertia of the piston, it expand continuously by using the heat of the working fluid (Air) which down the temperature of the system. Because no extra heat is added into the system, this process done issentropically. At this point piston reaches its maximum downward limits or at bottom dead center. 

Now the cylinder head replaced by the lower temperature heat reservoir which absorb the heat from the system. Due to this the air contracts to maintain its temperature constant. The piston moves upward or compresses the air. In this process the heat removed by the system used to compress the system and the temperature of system remains constant. So the compression done isothermically. 

When the piston is at mid of the cylinder the heat reservoir at head replaced by the insulated head. So no head is removed from system at this end. Due to inertia of piston it moves continuously upward which compressed the air and increase its temperature. No heat is added or removed until this compression so this process done issentropically. At this point the piston reaches its initial condition (Top dead center), so complete a cyclic process. The working fluid (Air) also reached its initial condition so it completes a thermodynamic cycle.

Air Standard Analysis of Carnot Cycle:

As we discuss in upward paragraph that a Carnot cycle consist four processes. These are:-

1. Isothermal Expansion:

In this process the heat is added into the system and the piston expand isothermally. In this process the temperature of the air remains constant.

The amount of heat added to the system is given by the isothermal process is :

Q_{heat addition} = mRT₁log(V2/V1) 

           = mRT₁log(r) 

Where is r is compression ratio.

2. Isentropically Expansion:

In this process the no heat is added into the system and the piston expand isentropically. In this process the temperature of air decreases from the initial temperature. In this process work done by the system.

The work done during this isentropic process is given by 

Work done =  (P2V2 - P3V3) / ( γ - 1 )

Where γ is specific heat ratio of air. 

3. Isothermically Compression:

In this process the air is compressed and heat is removed from the system. In this process the temperature of the air remains constant.

The heat removed by the system is given by the isothermal process is :

Q _{heat removed} = mRT₃log(V4/V3)

              = mRT₁log(r) 

Because V4/V3 = V2/V1 = r

4. Isentropically Compression:

In this process the no heat is added into the system and the piston compress the air isentropically. In this process the temperature of air increases from the initial temperature. In this process the work done on the system.

The work done during this process given by isentropic process is :

Work done =  (P1V1 - P4V4) / ( γ - 1 )

Where γ is specific heat ratio of air. 

Carnot Cycle Efficiency:

Efficiency of carnot cycle is analyzed thermodynamically. The efficiency of any engine given by

η = Work done / Heat supplied

Work done = Heat supplied - Heat rejected

Work done =  mRT₁log(r)  -  mRT3log(r) 

                =   mRlog(r) [T₁ - T3] 

Because heat supplied and heat rejected isothermically which is given by

η = Work done  / Heat supplied

   =  mRlog(r) [T₁ - T3]  /  mRlog(r)T₁

   =   [T₁ - T3] / T₁

    =  1 - T3/T1

           

From the above equation , we see that the efficiency of Carnot cycle increases by increasing higher temperature of cycle (T₁) or by decreasing the lower temperature of cycle (T3).

It is impossible to make a engine work on Carnot cycle because to achieve isothermal expansion and compression the piston should run extremely slow to ensure that the air is always at same temperature and isentropic expansion and compression should carried out as fast as possible to no exchange of heat.

Between two fixed temperatures Carnot cycle has the maximum possible efficiency compared to other slandered cycles. The Carnot cycle does not have any real life example so it is ideal cycle not a practical cycle.