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Why does efficiency of heat engine not find by adding up two source value?

Physics Asked by john.David on August 31, 2020

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Actually I have two questions.

  1. we know the efficiency of heat engine equal {1-(t/T)},where t is sink temperature and T is source temperature.
    Now, if two source and one sink reservior are connected by a heat engine(as shown in picture),then if T is taken as sum of two source temperature and that gives wrong answer.

From picture,
t=200 and T=800+400=1200 ,so efficiency is {1-(200/1200)} give wrong answer.

why do we need to find individually?
But also adding up two individual efficiency give wrong answer(100% up efficiency).

If i take heat (from picture Qa+Qb) and work(net work divided by total heat supplied)
instead of temperature then it gives me right answer.

  1. why does the use of heat give me right answer?

One Answer

Energy (including energy transport caused by a temperature difference, known as heat) is an extensive variable. In other words, if you duplicate a system and its input and output conditions, then all the energy terms will double. Linear superposition of energy fluxes of $dot{Q}_A$ and $dot{Q}_B$, if valid, will produce a flux of $dot{Q}_A+dot{Q}_B$.

In contrast, temperature is an intensive variable. If you duplicate a system at temperature $T$, the new temperature of the dual system is not $2T$ but generally remains $T$. Thus, the effective temperature of an 800 K reservoir and a 400 K reservoir used in conjunction is unlikely to be 1200 K.

Answered by Chemomechanics on August 31, 2020

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