What is the Difference Between Carnot and Rankine cycle?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The Carnot cycle and Rankine cycle are both ideal heat engine cycles that describe the conversion of heat into work. However, they differ in their processes and assumptions:
Carnot Cycle:
- Conceived by Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot, it is the most efficient heat engine cycle.
- Consists of 4 processes: isothermal heat addition, isentropic compression, isothermal heat rejection, and isentropic expansion.
- Assumes no losses and all heat is converted into work.
- Focuses on internal energy change, dE = 0, and heat transfer, Q = W.
- Provides the benchmark for efficiency with the Carnot efficiency formula: 1 - TC/TH (both temperatures in Kelvin).
Rankine Cycle:
- Conceived by William John Macquorn Rankine as a practical machine that could be used in real life.
- Involves 4 processes: isentropic compression, isobaric heat addition, isentropic expansion, and isobaric heat rejection.
- Considers heat transfer at constant pressure instead of constant temperature.
- Assumes some energy loss during the heat rejection process and does not maximize efficiency.
- Allows for superheating, which increases efficiency and work output.
In summary, the Carnot cycle is an idealized process that computes the maximum efficiency achievable for a heat engine, while the Rankine cycle is a more practical approach that considers real-world constraints. The Carnot cycle focuses on isothermal heat addition and rejection, whereas the Rankine cycle assumes heat transfer at constant pressure and allows for superheating.
Comparative Table: Carnot vs Rankine cycle
The Carnot and Rankine cycles are two different thermodynamic cycles that describe the operation of heat engines. Here is a table comparing the key differences between the two cycles:
Feature | Carnot Cycle | Rankine Cycle |
---|---|---|
Heat Addition | Isothermal | Isobaric |
Heat Rejection | Isothermal | Isobaric |
Efficiency | Maximum | Lower than Carnot (typically 60-65%) |
Work Output | Higher | Lower |
Real World Application | Theoretical, serves as an efficiency benchmark | Practical, used in real-life power generation |
Constraints | Internal energy change dE = 0, Q = W | dP = constant |
Inventor | Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot | William Rankine |
The Carnot cycle conceives a heat engine with dE = 0, where Q = W, and focuses on achieving maximum efficiency. On the other hand, the Rankine cycle works with dP = constant and is designed as a practical machine that can be used in real-life power generation. The Rankine cycle does not have the isothermal heat addition and rejection constraints of the Carnot cycle, making it a more practical option for real-world applications. As a result, the Carnot cycle has a higher work output and efficiency compared to the Rankine cycle.
- Rankine Cycle vs Brayton Cycle
- Krebs vs Calvin Cycle
- Heat Transfer vs Thermodynamics
- Thermodynamics vs Kinetics
- Steam Engine vs Steam Turbine
- Thermochemistry vs Thermodynamics
- Gas Turbine vs Steam Turbine
- Pump vs Turbine
- Krebs Cycle vs Glycolysis
- First Law vs Second Law of Thermodynamics
- Chemical Kinetics vs Thermodynamics
- Nitrogen Cycle vs Carbon Cycle
- Cyclic vs Reversible Process
- Light Reaction vs Calvin Cycle
- Counterflow vs Parallel Flow Heat Exchanger
- Mechanical Energy vs Thermal Energy
- Heat Capacity vs Specific Heat
- Furnace vs Boiler
- Specific Heat Capacity vs Heat Capacity