Per Wikipedia:"The Carnot cycle is a theoretical thermodynamic cycle proposed by French physicist Sadi Carnot in 1824 and expanded upon by others in the 1830s and 1840s. It provides an upper limit on the efficiency that any classical thermodynamic engine can achieve during the conversion of heat into work, or conversely, the efficiency of a refrigeration system in creating a temperature difference (e.g. refrigeration) by the application of work to the system. It is not an actual thermodynamic cycle but is a theoretical construct."
Why is this cycle so important to design engineers? The Carnot cycle is a theoretical cycle that gives the maximum thermal efficiencies when the cycle works between two thermal sources (high and low temperatures). For example if the Rankine cycle is considered for the argument, where it operates between the temperature of the boiler feed water at 40 and Steam temperature at 400 degree C. What is the Carnot efficiency of such cycle?
Solution:
Efficiency = 1- Tl / Th = 1- (278/478) = 41% and we know that the thermal efficiency of the Rankine Cycle doesn't exceed high 30%. So Rankine Cycle is a high ceiling for the performance or efficiency of a real cycle.
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