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Carnot cycle
The most efficient cycle of operations for a reversible heat engine. Published in 1824 by N. L. S. Carnot (1796-1832), it consists of four operations on the working substance in the engine:
a) Isothermal expansion at thermodynamic temperature T1 with heat q1 taken in.According to the Carnot principle, the efficiency of any reversible heat engine depends only on the temperature range through which it works, rather than the properties of the working substances.
b) Adiabatic expansion with a fall of temperature to T2.
c) Isothermal compression at temperature T2 with heat q2 given out.
d) Adiabatic compression at temperature back to T1.
Related category
• HEAT AND THERMODYNAMICS
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