# Concerning heat engines and entropy

In deriving the inequality $$e \leqslant 1 - \frac{T_c}{T_h},$$ Schroeder, in An Introduction to Thermal Physics, uses the fact that for one complete cycle of a heat engine, $$\frac{Q_c}{T_c} - \frac{Q_h}{T_h} = \Delta S \geqslant 0.$$ However, I don't buy that this is the total change in entropy because he doesn't account for any entropy created due to work being done by the engine. I'm assuming that something is wrong with my reasoning, but what?

Edit: As an example, consider a heat engine that lifts a ball and drops it thereby increasing the internal energy and thus the entropy of the floor the ball lands on.* This increase in entropy has nothing to do with the change in entropy due to heat flowing out of the hot reservoir and into the cold reservoir.

*I don't see why I shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition.

• the engine returns to its original state, it is a cycle, therefore the entropy of the engine does not change after the cycle and whatever entropy has been generated internally by the engine is moved in to the environment (cold reservoir). – hyportnex Feb 28 at 20:58
• @hyportnex Yes, so? – PiKindOfGuy Feb 28 at 21:15
• 2nd hint: all processes in a reservoir are assumed to be always reversible (this is an underlying assumption in all of thermostatics). – hyportnex Feb 28 at 21:23
• @PiKindOfGuyY ou didn't tell us what Schroeder was trying to say. If it is that all heat engines are less efficient than the Carnot heat engine, I agree. In any case, answer was based on you presenting the Carnot efficiency expression. So I have withdrawn my answer. – Bob D Feb 28 at 21:30
• @hyportnex I don't think I agree with your second hint, but perhaps I misunderstand it . Just because a cycle operates between two thermal reservoirs does not automatically mean the processes are reversible. What makes it reversible is when the isothermal heat transfers between the system and each reservoir involves temperature differences between the system and the surrounding reservoirs that approach zero. That's only the case for the Carnot Cycle. – Bob D Feb 28 at 21:35

## 5 Answers

If $$T_h$$ is the temperature of the hot reservoir and $$T_c$$ is the temperature of the cold reservoir, then the correct equation for the entropy balance on the working fluid is $$\Delta S=\frac{Q_h}{T_h}-\frac{Q_c}{T_c}+S_{\text{gen}}$$where $$S_{\text{gen}}$$ is the irreversible entropy generated during the cycle. But, since the engine is operating in a cycle and entropy is a function of state, $$\Delta S=0$$. So, $$\frac{Q_h}{T_h}-\frac{Q_c}{T_c}+S_{\text{gen}}=0\tag{1}$$ Also, since $$S_{\text{gen}}$$ is always greater or equal to zero, these results are likewise consistent with the Clausius inequality which, for this situation, becomes: $$\Delta S=0\gt\frac{Q_h}{T_h}-\frac{Q_c}{T_c}$$Since $$W=Q_h-Q_c$$, it follows from Eqn. 1 that:$$\frac{Q_h}{T_h}-\frac{Q_h-W}{T_c}+S_{\text{gen}}=0$$or equivalently,$$\eta=\frac{W}{Q_h}=\left(1-\frac{T_c}{T_h}\right)-\frac{S_{\text{gen}}T_c}{Q_h}\lt \left(1-\frac{T_c}{T_h}\right)$$So the efficiency is less than that of the reversible Carnot engine.

• Chester, wouldn't the entropy balance equation given by the OP be correct if it were for the change in entropy of the surroundings as opposed to the working fluid? – Bob D Mar 2 at 17:05
• @Bob D Yes. That is indeed correct. With regard to our thread in the other forum, I'm hoping you will return. I've left a hint for you that can be used in solving system 2. – Chet Miller Mar 2 at 17:54
• I will return. In fact I found I made a math error in my calculation of the final volume for the reversible process. – Bob D Mar 2 at 18:19

I don't buy that this is the total change in entropy because he doesn't account for any entropy created due to work being done by the engine. I'm assuming that something is wrong with my reasoning, but what?

The equation is the total change in entropy (system + surroundings) and does account for the possibility that the engine creates entropy.

The entropy change of the system is always zero for any complete cycle (reversible or not) because entropy is a state function of the system and does not depend on the path. Consequently, any entropy created by the system is transferred to the surroundings. If a heat engine creates entropy, the cycle is irreversible, and

$$\Delta S_{tot}>0$$

On the other hand, if a heat engine operates between two thermal reservoirs in a reversible cycle (Carnot cycle) the heat engine will not create entropy and

$$\Delta S_{tot}=0$$

Efficiency-

For any heat engine operating between two thermal reservoirs the cycle efficiency is the net work done divided by the gross heat added, or

$$e=\frac {Q_{h}-Q_{c}}{Q_h}$$

Or

$$e=1-\frac{Q_c}{Q_h}$$

If the cycle is reversible (Carnot Cycle)

$$\Delta S_{tot}=\frac{Q_c}{T_c}-\frac{Q_h}{T_h}=0$$

$$\frac {Q_c}{T_c}=\frac {Q_h}{T_h}$$

$$\frac{Q_c}{Q_h}=\frac {T_c}{T_h}$$

And therefore

$$e=1-\frac{T_c}{T_h}$$

Which is the Carnot efficiency.

If the cycle is irreversible,

$$\Delta S_{tot}=\frac{Q_c}{T_c}-\frac{Q_h}{T_h}>0$$

$$\frac {Q_c}{T_c}>\frac {Q_h}{T_h}$$

$$\frac {Q_c}{Q_h}>\frac {T_c}{T_h}$$

$$e=1-\frac{Q_c}{Q_h}<1-\frac{T_c}{T_h}$$

ADDENDUM

In response to your follow up comment

Yes, they should be included in the calculation, but they don't account for the change in entropy due to work being done.

Any entropy generated in the system (due to irreversible work, or otherwise) in a cycle needs to be transferred to the surrounding in order that the change in entropy of the system is zero. There are two ways to transfer entropy between the system and the surroundings; heat and mass flow. Mass flow because entropy is a property of matter so if matter moves out of the system it takes its entropy with it. For a closed system (defined as one that does not permit mass transfer) that leaves only heat.

So for our example, any entropy generated in the system will increase the amount of heat rejected and lower the efficiency of the cycle.

Hope this helps.

ADDENDUM 2

This will respond to your following comment:

Why would that be the case? (that entropy transfer is heat or mass flow)

Chester Miller has given you a rigorous mathematical basis for irreversible processes generating entropy and reduction in efficiency. I will give a couple of examples to show that entropy generation (whether it involves work or not) in a cycle requires heat transfer to the surroundings even if the irreversible process itself does not involve heat transfer.

EXAMPLE 1 (irreversible adiabatic expansion not involving work):

A classic example of an irreversible process not involving heat transfer is the free adiabatic expansion of an ideal gas.

A rigid insulated chamber is partitioned into two equal parts. Half the chamber contains an ideal gas. The other half is a vacuum. An opening is created in the partition allowing the gas to freely expand into the evacuated half. Since the chamber is insulated, there is no heat transfer ($$Q=0$$). Since the expansion of the gas does not expand the boundaries of the chamber, there is no boundary work ($$W=0$$). Consequently, per the first law, the change in internal energy is zero ($$\Delta U=0$$). Being an ideal gas, where a change in internal energy depends only on a change in temperature, there is therefore no change in temperature.

The end result is the volume has doubled the pressure has halved and the temperature is unchanged.

Although no heat transfer has occurred, the process is obviously irreversible (you would not expect the gas to spontaneously return to its original half of the chamber). But we can determine the entropy generated by taking any convenient reversible process to return the gas to its initial conditions. The obvious choice here is to remove the insulation and perform a reversible isothermal compression. To do that requires heat transfer to the surroundings. That amount of heat represents “lost work”, that is, the work that could have been done if the free expansion of the gas was replaced by a reversible adiabatic expansion.

EXAMPLE 2 (an irreversible adiabatic expansion doing work):

This is a bit more complicated. It’s based on an exercise that Chester Miller and I are working on. I will summarize part of it without going into the details.

We have an insulated cylinder containing an ideal gas with a weighted piston sitting on top, so that the initial pressure on the gas is $$P_{1}=10 atm$$. Refer to curve 1 below. We suddenly remove weight so that the external pressure is halved, or $$P_{2a}=5 atm$$. This results in a non quasi-static (irreversible) adiabatic expansion against a constant external pressure. Using the ideal gas laws we can determine the final volume and temperature (point 2a) when equilibrium is reached, assuming the initial volumes and temperatures are as indicated for point 1. The work done is simply the external pressure times the change in volume.

We can compare the irreversible process to a reversible adiabatic expansion where the final pressure ends up being the same as the final pressure of the irreversible expansion. See curve 2 below. What we will find is the final volume and final temperature of the reversible adiabatic expansion (point 2 on the curve) is less than the irreversible expansion, and that the work done (area under the P-V graph) is greater than the irreversible expansion.

Now we wish to return the system that underwent the irreversible expansion (curve 1) to its original state to give us a complete cycle. To do this we can perform an isobaric (constant pressure) compression of the gas from point 2a to point 2 to decrease its volume and temperature to match the final volume at the end of the reversible expansion. This will put us back on the reversible adiabatic curve. But it will also require heat transfer out of the gas to the surroundings. Once again, that heat transfer will be the equivalent of the “lost work” of the irreversible process. We complete the process by now doing a reversible adiabatic compression from point 2 to 1 to return the system to its original state.

For both cases the end result of entropy generation is transfer of heat to the surroundings.

Hope these examples help.

• Sorry, it doesn't help. As you can see, I responded "Yes, so?" to hyportnex who told me the same thing that you began your answer with. The entropies you included in your calculation of $\Delta S$ are simply the entropies due to an exchange of heat. Yes, they should be included in the calculation, but they don't account for the change in entropy due to work being done. – PiKindOfGuy Mar 1 at 16:14
• What do you mean the change in entropy due to work being done? – João Vítor G. Lima Mar 1 at 22:24
• @JoãoVítorG.Lima I think the point PiKindOfGuy is making is that work can generate entropy when no heat transfer is involved. Example, an irreversible (non quasi-static) adiabatic process. – Bob D Mar 1 at 22:30
• @PiKindOfGuy I think I now see your issue. Are you aware that there are only two ways to transfer entropy from the system to its surroundings, heat and mass flow? I will add an addendum to my answer. – Bob D Mar 2 at 12:22
• @PiKindOfGuy I said it winds up as heat. Deformation raises internal energy. A rise in internal energy increases temperature. The increase in temperature relative to the surroundings results in heat transfer. – Bob D Mar 2 at 14:27

I will make one last attempt to answer your question, using a different (logic based) approach.

1. Given that entropy is a state function, isn’t it true that the change in entropy of a system undergoing a complete cycle back to its original state must be zero, regardless of whether or not the cycle is reversible?

2. Given 1, is it also not true that if a heat engine generates entropy operating in a complete cycle, the entropy generated must somehow be removed from the system by transferring it to the environment (surroundings)?

3. If the system is closed (no mass transfer), then is it not true that the only two means of energy transfer between the system and the surroundings is heat and work?

4. Is it not true that the energy transferred by work is an ordered form of energy and that consequently work does not transfer entropy (though it may generate entropy in the system as a byproduct of doing work)? (You don’t have to take my word for it, you can find it stated on several educational sites as well as on this exchange).

5. If you agree with 1-4 then would you agree that the only way to transfer entropy generated by an engine in a cycle to the surroundings is by heat? If not by heat, then how?

With respect to the example in your edit, you have described a process, not a cycle.

Let the system be the engine that lifts the ball. Let the ball, floor, surrounding air, (i.e., everything else) constitute the surroundings. The air in the surroundings transfers heat to the engine. The engine uses this energy to do work on the ball (lifting it giving it potential energy). You have not described the process used by the engine to do the work, so we don’t know if it was reversible or not. It releases the ball. The act of releasing the ball involves no energy exchange. So far, all we have is a process. For it to be a cycle, you need to describe how we return the system to its original state since so far it has lost internal energy in doing the work.

Everything subsequent to the release of the ball (conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy, conversion of kinetic energy into an increase in the internal energy of the ball and floor, etc. ) occurs in the surroundings.

Perhaps you can define the system and surroundings in a different way to show that it is operating in a cycle and that the engine generates entropy.

Hope this helps.

• It's #4 that I don't agree with. – PiKindOfGuy Mar 4 at 14:36
• I gave an example in the question demonstrating that this isn't true. – PiKindOfGuy Mar 4 at 14:37
• @PiKindOfGuy Here's a link to one relevant reference (here are others). Scroll down to "mechanisms of entropy transfer".sfu.ca/~mbahrami/ENSC%20388/Notes/Entropy.pdf – Bob D Mar 4 at 15:01
• @PiKindOfGuy The example you gave doesn't demonstrate it isn't true, because it doesn't describe a CYCLE. See my discussion of it in my answer. You need to revise your example to show that it describes the heat engine operating in a cycle. – Bob D Mar 4 at 15:07
• The internal energy is replenished by heat from the hot reservoir (air in your example). With this being the case, the engine can very well return to its original state thereby completing a cycle. – PiKindOfGuy Mar 4 at 15:36

Maybe a little change in the book's phrase could help ?

In one complete cycle of the heat engine, the entropy created inside the working substance of the engine and associated with irreversibility of its transformation is $${{S}_{\text{created}}}=\frac{{{Q}_{c}}}{{{T}_{c}}}-\frac{{{Q}_{h}}}{{{T}_{h}}}\ge 0$$

The proof is the usual one and result from the definition of cyclic engine with two sources :

In a cycle $$\Delta {{S}_{\text{working substance}}}=0={{S}_{\text{created}}}+{{S}_{\text{exchanded}}}$$ and $${{S}_{\text{exchanded}}}=-\frac{{{Q}_{c}}}{{{T}_{c}}}+\frac{{{Q}_{h}}}{{{T}_{h}}}$$

So, you don't have to worry about over irreversible processes associated with the work produced by the engine?

Sorry for my poor english !

Any isothermal work occurring during the cycle results in the entropy of the universe increasing by +W/T.