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THE FEUTEX TOOLKIT

Carnot Heat Engine Limit

Estimate the upper efficiency bound and ideal work from hot and cold reservoir temperatures.

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FormulaMaximum efficiency = 100*(1-cold/hot); Maximum ideal work = heat*(1-cold/hot); Minimum rejected heat = heat*cold/hot
Sources and model references

Worked example

Inputs

Hot reservoir
600 K
Cold reservoir
300 K
Heat input
1000 J

Expected results

Maximum efficiency
50 %
Maximum ideal work
500 J
Minimum rejected heat
500 J

Load the example in the workspace to reproduce these results. Display rounding does not change the underlying calculation.

How to use this tool

  1. Estimate the upper efficiency bound and ideal work from hot and cold reservoir temperatures.
  2. Set hot reservoir, cold reservoir, heat input in the indicated units.
  3. Calculate and compare maximum efficiency, maximum ideal work, minimum rejected heat.

Try this example

{
  "hot": 600,
  "cold": 300,
  "heat": 1000
}

Accuracy and scope

Idealized educational model. Enter measured values in the displayed units; real systems may require additional corrections.

Is my data uploaded?

This tool runs locally in your browser. Input and output are not sent to a processing server. Copy or download your result before leaving the page.