Question

An inventor claims to have invented a heat engine that receives 750kJ of heat from a source at 400K and produces 250kJ of net work while rejecting the waste heat to a sink at 300K. Is this a reasonable claim

Answer 1

Answer:

the claim is not valid or reasonable.

Explanation:

In order to test the claim we will find the maximum and actual efficiencies. maximum efficiency of a heat engine can be found as:

η(max) = 1 - T₁/T₂

where,

η(max) = maximum efficiency = ?

T₁ = Sink Temperature = 300 K

T₂ = Source Temperature = 400 K

Therefore,

η(max) = 1 - 300 K/400 K

η(max) = 0.25 = 25%

Now, we calculate the actual frequency of the engine:

η = W/Q

where,

W = Net Work = 250 KJ

Q = Heat Received = 750 KJ

Therefore,

η = 250 KJ/750 KJ

η = 0.333 = 33.3 %

η > η(max)

The actual efficiency of a heat engine can never be greater than its Carnot efficiency or the maximum efficiency.

Therefore, the claim is not valid or reasonable.