Carnot Cycle: Understanding Why Real Engines Fall Short

[drcrabs]

Why do real engines never attain the efficiency of the Carnot cycle?

 

[russ_watters]

Two reasons:
-First, they don't use the carnot cycle because its acts slowly.
-Second, all real engines produce friction and other losses.

 

[drcrabs]

So what type are processes are we talking about?

 

[Bystander]

Carnot cycle: reversible processes require infinite time to complete.

"Real engine:" processes are completed in finite time, and are, therefore, irreversible, meaning more heat is lost in increasing the entropy of the universe.

 

[Clausius2]

So what type are processes are we talking about?

Here you will have more clarification:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=46054