Chapter 9-10-11: Carnot and Rankine Cycles

Question 1

what is an ideal cycle?

Answer 1

cycle that resembles the actual cycle closely but is made up totally of internally reversible processes
- simplification of actual cycle

Question 2

what is a reversible cycles (i.e., Carnot cycle)?

Answer 2

cycles with the highest thermal efficiency of all heat engines operating between the same temperature levels.
They are totally reversible, and unsuitable as a realistic cycle

Question 3

what are the idealizations and simplifications we can do in the analysis of power cycles?

Answer 3

• cycle does not involve friction (no pressure for working fluid)
• all expansion and compression takes place in a quasi-equilibrium manner
• heat transfer between the pipes and various components of system is negligible (assume pipes are well insulated)

Question 4

On what kind of diagram does the area enclosed by the process curve represent the net work of the cycle?

Answer 4

both P-v and T-s diagrams