Maximizing Efficiency: Uncovering the Truth About Heat Engines

[cheez]

Show that no heat engine can be more efficient than a reversable engine.

I really don't have any idea. Can someone shows me any direction of doing it?

 

[lightgrav]

Show it experimentally? good luck! see you in about 10 years ...

Algebraically? starting with WHAT as your given statements?

Logically? Most textbooks show that if some heat engine WAS more efficient
than a reversible one, then the reversible one run backwards hooked up to the "super-efficient" one, would do mechanical Work endlessly.
See "Carnot" in your index ...

 

[cheez]

I have read "the carnot engine" and "2nd law" a lot of times, but I still can't figure out how to prove it!


From the book:
"If the more efficient engine is used to drive the Carnot engine as refrigerator, the net result would be transfer of heat from the cold to the hot reservoir."

I don't understand this statement.

please help!

 

[cheez]

can anyone explain the statement?
urgent! please help