Carnot Cycle (Noun)
Meaning
A cycle (of expansion and compression) of an idealized reversible heat engine that does work without loss of heat.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The Carnot cycle is a theoretical thermodynamic cycle proposed by Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot in 1824 and is the most efficient cycle for converting thermal energy into work.
- The Carnot cycle consists of four stages: isothermal expansion, adiabatic expansion, isothermal compression, and adiabatic compression, and it represents the maximum possible efficiency for an idealized heat engine.
- In a Carnot cycle, the system is in contact with two heat reservoirs at different temperatures, allowing it to absorb heat from one and release it to the other.
- The Carnot cycle sets an upper limit on the efficiency of any heat engine, according to the second law of thermodynamics, and it serves as a benchmark for evaluating the performance of real-world engines.
- The Carnot cycle is often used as a model for understanding the fundamental principles of thermodynamics and for analyzing the behavior of idealized heat engines.