What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the efficiency of a Carnot engine operating under maximum power output when limited by finite heat transfer rates to and from the working substance.

January 1, 1975American Journal of Physics

Efficiency of a Carnot engine at maximum power output

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To evaluate the efficiency of a Carnot engine operating under maximum power output when limited by finite heat transfer rates to and from the working substance.
Modeled a Carnot cycle constrained by finite heat transfer rates between the working fluid and external thermal reservoirs.
Derived analytical expressions for engine power output as a function of source temperature T1 and sink temperature T2.
Compared the resulting theoretical efficiency relation against empirical efficiency values from real-world heat engines.
Thermal efficiency at maximum power output simplifies to the expression η = 1 − (T2/T1)^(1/2).
The derived formula accurately reflects the observed operating efficiencies of existing power-generating heat engines.

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Implication

Thermodynamic modeling demonstrates an efficiency limit of 1 − (T2/T1)^1/2 in heat-transfer-limited engines, highlighting a realistic benchmark for real-world thermal power systems.

Cite This Study

Curzon et al. (1975) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69da94d90f0ab7a47c835b97 https://doi.org/10.1119/1.10023

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Implication

Thermodynamic modeling demonstrates an efficiency limit of 1 − (T2/T1)^1/2 in heat-transfer-limited engines, highlighting a realistic benchmark for real-world thermal power systems.

Efficiency of a Carnot engine at maximum power output

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Implication

Cite This Study

Efficiency of a Carnot engine at maximum power output

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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