How Much Energy Does a Carnot Cycle Heat Engine Expel Per Cycle?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the energy expelled by a Carnot cycle heat engine operating between 354.05K and 711.15K, which absorbs 22415J of energy per cycle. The mechanical power output was calculated as 11.49kW, derived from the formula W = Qh - Qc. The heat expelled per cycle, Qc, was confirmed to be 11159.43J or 11.16kJ, consistent with the first law of thermodynamics and the Carnot efficiency equation. The relationship between heat absorbed and expelled is defined by Qc = Qh * (Tc / Th).

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  • Carnot cycle thermodynamics
  • First law of thermodynamics
  • Heat transfer concepts
  • Basic thermodynamic efficiency calculations
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S_fabris
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Hey i have a heat engine that operates in a Carnot cycle between 354.05K and 711.15K, it absorbs 22415J of energy per cycle from hot resevoir. The duration of each cycle is 0.98s.
First question was to find the mechanical power output...i calculated this and got W = Qh - Qc = 22415 - 11159.43 = 11255.57 J/0.98s = 11,49kW

the next question asks how much energy does it expel in each cycle by heat in units of kJ..

everywhere I look it says to use Qc = Qh - W which gives me 11 159.43J is this right?? 11.16kJ?

this seems odd as an answer because it is the same answer as Qc.

Can anybody confirm this or steer me in right direction? thank you
 
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S_fabris said:
Hey i have a heat engine that operates in a Carnot cycle between 354.05K and 711.15K, it absorbs 22415J of energy per cycle from hot resevoir. The duration of each cycle is 0.98s.
First question was to find the mechanical power output...i calculated this and got W = Qh - Qc = 22415 - 11159.43 = 11255.57 J/0.98s = 11,49kW

the next question asks how much energy does it expel in each cycle by heat in units of kJ..

everywhere I look it says to use Qc = Qh - W which gives me 11 159.43J is this right?? 11.16kJ?

this seems odd as an answer because it is the same answer as Qc.

Can anybody confirm this or steer me in right direction? thank you
! Qc IS the heat energy expelled in each cycle (ie the heat flowing to the cold reservoir.

For the Carnot cycle heat flows into and out of the reservoirs at constant temperature and there is 0 change in entropy. ie [itex]\Delta S = Q_h/T_h - Q_c/T_c = 0[/itex], so [itex]Q_c/Q_h = T_c/T_h[/tex]<br /> <br /> From the first law: W = Qh - Qc, so<br /> <br /> [tex]\eta = \frac{W}{Q_h} = \frac{Q_h - Q_c}{Q_h} = 1 - \frac{Q_c}{Q_h} = 1 - \frac{T_c}{T_h}[/tex]<br /> <br /> [tex]Q_c = Q_h\frac{T_c}{T_h}[/tex]<br /> <br /> AM[/itex]
 

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