Carnot Cycle: Doubt in Reversible Isothermal Heat Addition

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Carnot cycle, specifically focusing on the reversible isothermal heat addition process and the implications for work done and heat rejection in subsequent processes. Participants explore the relationships between heat, work, and internal energy within the context of the cycle's four processes.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how heat supplied during the isothermal process can be converted to work while still allowing for heat rejection in the subsequent isothermal heat rejection process.
  • Another participant explains that during the compression process, the system is in thermal contact with a cold reservoir, and work is done on the system while maintaining a fixed temperature.
  • A participant expresses confusion about the relationship between heat added during the isothermal process and the work done in the following adiabatic process, noting that internal energy does not change.
  • Some participants clarify that significant work is done during both the isothermal expansion and compression stages, with work being done by the system during expansion and on the system during compression.
  • There is a question about the source of energy for doing work on the system, with a participant suggesting that the only energy source is the heat supplied during the isothermal process.
  • Another participant counters that the work done on the system must come from an external source, indicating that the dynamics depend on the specific system in question.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between heat, work, and energy sources in the Carnot cycle. There is no consensus on how these elements interact, and confusion remains regarding the implications of the isothermal processes.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of the Carnot cycle's processes, including the interplay between heat addition, work done, and the role of external energy sources. Some assumptions about energy transfer and system behavior remain unresolved.

Rahul Mohan P
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In Carnot cycle during the process - "Reversible isothermal heat addition"

Q (supplied) = ∫pdV

This means that the supplied heat is utilized for pdV work.

My doubt is if the Q supplied is converted to work in this process then how Carnot cycle can reject heat during the upcoming isothermal heat rejection process ?

Please help to clear the miss concepts.

Thank You
 
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In the compression process, the system is in thermal contact with a cold reservoir just as it is in thermal contact with a hot reservoir during the expansion. You do work on the system, which is kept at a fixed temperature set by the cold reservoir.
 
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Orodruin said:
In the compression process, the system is in thermal contact with a cold reservoir just as it is in thermal contact with a hot reservoir during the expansion. You do work on the system, which is kept at a fixed temperature set by the cold reservoir.
Thanks for the reply..But still confused..

Carnot Cycle have 4 process
Two reversible isothermal and two reversible adiabatic process
adiabatic process starts after isotherm. Now if heat added in isotherm is transferred to pdV work and there is no change in internal energy then how work is done in the next adiabatic process ?
 
Work(significant work) is done at two stages i.e. at the higher temperature isotherm (isothermal expansion) and at the lower temperature (isothermal compression). In between these processes we have adiabatic expansion of the gas where the gas cools to the lower temperature. The key here is that work is done BY the system when it expands isothermally at the higher temperature whereas, work is done ON the system when it is compressed at the lower temperature.
 
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Mgcini Keith Phuthi said:
Work(significant work) is done at two stages i.e. at the higher temperature isotherm (isothermal expansion) and at the lower temperature (isothermal compression). In between these processes we have adiabatic expansion of the gas where the gas cools to the lower temperature. The key here is that work is done BY the system when it expands isothermally at the higher temperature whereas, work is done ON the system when it is compressed at the lower temperature.
Thanks for the reply..Who supplies the energy to do work on the system ? Is it supplied externally ? I mean the only energy source available for the system is the heat supplied during isotherm process.
 
Rahul Mohan P said:
Thanks for the reply..Who supplies the energy to do work on the system ? Is it supplied externally ? I mean the only energy source available for the system is the heat supplied during isotherm process.
This is not true, the work the system does must be on an external system just as the work done on the system must be supplied from an external system. What it is depends on your actual system.
 

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