KRM PUBLIC SCHOOL

Block No:11,Shanthi nagar,2 nd Lane,Sembium,(Perambur),ChennaiTamil Nadu 600011

(Affiliated to CBSE,New Delhi ,No:1930658)

Academic Session: 2024-2025

Topic: “Carnot Engine”

Submitted by:
SRIVATHSAVAA.P
Class & Section: Xl-E1
Roll No: 11E1-04
Submitted to:
R. PREETHI
PGT in Physics
KRM Public School, Perambur, Chennai-11
 KRM PUBLIC SCHOOL
Block No:11, Shanthi nagar,2 nd Lane,Sembium,(Perambur),Chennai Tamil Nadu 600011

(Affiliated to CBSE,New Delhi ,No:1930658)

Certificate

This is to certify that Srivathsavaa.P of class XI-E1 has

successfully completed physics project in the academic
year 2024-2025 as per the guidelines prescribed by the
CBSE under the AISSCE course.

Signature of the Internal Signature of the External

 Acknowledgement

In the accomplishment of this project

successfully, many people have best owned
upon me their blessings and the heart pledged
support, I am utilizing this opportunity to thank
all the people who have been concerned with
this project.

I would like to thank Management, Principal

Mr.D.P. Sivasakthi Balan and Physics teacher
Ms.R.Preethi for their support to completion of
my project.
 CONTENT

 Introduction
 Objectives of the experiment
 Experimental setup
 Working principle
 Observations
 Results
 Applications
 Conclusion
 Bibliography
Introduction

The Carnot engine is a theoretical thermodynamic cycle proposed by

Sadi Carnot in 1824. It is an idealized engine that operates between two
thermal reservoirs and follows a reversible cyclic process. The Carnot
cycle provides the maximum possible efficiency that any heat engine
can achieve, making it a fundamental concept in thermodynamics.

Understanding the Carnot cycle helps in grasping key thermodynamic

principles such as heat transfer, entropy, and efficiency. The Carnot
engine is not a practical engine but serves as an ideal benchmark for
evaluating the performance of real engines. The study of the Carnot
cycle also reinforces the second law of thermodynamics, which states
that no heat engine can be more efficient than a Carnot engine operating
between the same two temperatures. This concept is essential in the
development of modern thermodynamic systems, including power
plants, refrigeration systems, and engines.
Objectives of the Experiment

1. To understand the working of the Carnot engine and its

importance in thermodynamics.

2. To study the four processes of the Carnot cycle: Isothermal

expansion, Adiabatic expansion, Isothermal compression,
and Adiabatic compression.

3. To determine the theoretical efficiency of a Carnot engine

and compare it with real-world heat engines.

4. To establish the relationship between temperature, entropy,

and efficiency in the Carnot cycle.

5. To explore the limitations of practical engines in

comparison to the Carnot engine.

6. To analyze the role of entropy in defining the reversibility

of thermodynamic processes.

7. To examine how the Carnot cycle can serve as a benchmark

for improving the efficiency of real-world engines and heat
pumps.
Experimental Setup

The Carnot engine is a theoretical model and cannot be built as a real

physical engine. However, for experimental studies, an idealized system
is considered. The setup includes:

 A working fluid (usually an ideal gas) contained in a cylinder with

a piston.
 A heat source at high temperature (T1) that supplies thermal
energy to the system.
 A heat sink at low temperature (T2) that absorbs the rejected heat
from the system.
 Insulating and conducting walls to control heat flow and maintain
the integrity of the cycle.
 A setup to measure pressure, volume, and temperature changes,
ensuring accurate data collection.
 A thermodynamic cycle diagram to visualize and analyze the
behavior of the working fluid.
 Computational tools and software for simulating the Carnot cycle
and determining its efficiency in various scenarios.
Working Principle

The Carnot cycle consists of four reversible processes, forming a closed

thermodynamic cycle:

1. Isothermal Expansion (A → B): The working fluid absorbs heat (Q1) from
the high-temperature reservoir while expanding and performing work on the
surroundings. During this process, the temperature of the working fluid
remains constant as it continues to expand.
2. Adiabatic Expansion (B → C): The fluid continues to expand without heat
exchange, causing its temperature to drop to T2. The internal energy of the
system decreases as it does work on the surroundings without gaining heat.
3. Isothermal Compression (C → D): The fluid releases heat (Q2) to the low-
temperature reservoir while being compressed. The temperature remains
constant as the system undergoes compression, reducing its volume.
4. Adiabatic Compression (D → A): The fluid is further compressed without
heat exchange, increasing its temperature back to T1. The cycle completes as
the system returns to its initial state.

The efficiency of the Carnot engine is given by: where and are the absolute
temperatures of the heat source and sink, respectively. This formula highlights the
dependence of efficiency on temperature difference, demonstrating that a larger
temperature difference results in higher efficiency.
Observations

1. The efficiency of the Carnot engine depends only on the

temperatures of the heat source and sink, reinforcing the
theoretical nature of the model.

2. The greater the temperature difference, the higher the

efficiency, emphasizing the importance of high-temperature
sources in real-world applications.

3. No real engine can surpass the Carnot efficiency due to the

presence of irreversibilities such as friction and heat losses.

4. The Carnot cycle is completely reversible and serves as an

ideal benchmark for real heat engines, helping engineers
understand the potential limitations and areas for
improvement in practical applications.

5. The second law of thermodynamics asserts that any real

process will have some entropy generation, which prevents
actual engines from achieving Carnot efficiency.

6. Heat engines operating in industrial settings, such as steam

turbines and internal combustion engines, operate at
efficiencies lower than the Carnot limit.
Results

1. The theoretical efficiency of a Carnot engine operating

between given temperatures is calculated and compared
with real engines.

2. The cycle demonstrates that perfect reversibility is key to

achieving maximum efficiency, serving as a model for
improving practical thermodynamic cycles.

3. Real engines have lower efficiency due to irreversibilities

like friction, heat dissipation, and non-ideal material
properties.

4. The study highlights the impact of entropy on limiting the

performance of real-world heat engines and the importance
of reducing losses to improve efficiency.
Applications

1. The Carnot cycle serves as a standard for evaluating real

heat engines, including power plants, automotive engines,
and refrigeration systems.

2. It is fundamental in designing thermodynamic systems such

as refrigerators, heat pumps, and steam turbines, where
maximizing efficiency is crucial.

3. The Carnot efficiency concept helps engineers develop

more energy-efficient machines by optimizing operating
temperatures and reducing energy losses.

4. Used in power plants to improve efficiency by increasing

the operating temperature difference, which directly
influences energy conversion rates.

5. Understanding the Carnot cycle assists in developing

sustainable energy solutions by maximizing the effective
use of heat energy in various applications.

6. Helps in advancing research in renewable energy

technologies, including thermoelectric generators and
concentrated solar power plants, where heat transfer plays a
key role.
Conclusion

The Carnot engine represents the most efficient heat

engine possible under ideal conditions. Although real
engines cannot attain Carnot efficiency due to
irreversibilities, studying the Carnot cycle helps engineers
design more efficient thermal systems. The concept also
reinforces the importance of entropy, temperature, and
reversibility in thermodynamic processes. By
understanding the limitations of real-world engines
compared to the Carnot cycle, advancements can be made
to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in power
generation and industrial applications.
Bibliography

1. Sadi Carnot, "Reflections on the Motive Power of

Fire" (1824).
2. Callen, H. B., "Thermodynamics and an Introduction
to Thermostatistics."
3. Cengel, Yunus A., "Thermodynamics: An
Engineering Approach."
4. Sonntag, Richard E., "Fundamentals of
Thermodynamics."
5. Online resources: NPTEL lectures, MIT
OpenCourseWare, Thermodynamics textbooks, and
research papers on thermodynamic cycles.
6. Physics LibreTexts: https://phys.libretexts.org
7. Chemistry LibreTexts: https://chem.libretexts.org
8. EigenPlus: https://www.eigenplus.com/carnot-cycle-
thermodynamics-of-carnot-engine/