# Efficiency of Stirling engine and Carnot's theorem

I want to calculate the efficiency of this Stirling cycle for an ideal gas $pV = nRT$

The mechanical work is

$$\Delta W_{12} = - \int_{V_1}^{V_2} p(V) \mathrm{d}V = -nRT_2 \ln \frac{V_2}{V_1}\\ \Delta W_{23} = \Delta W_{41} = 0\\ \Delta W_{34} = -nRT_1 \ln \frac{V_1}{V_2}$$ On the isothermal curves the change in inner energy $\Delta U = \Delta W + \Delta Q$ is zero. $$\Delta Q_{12} = - \Delta W_{12} > 0\\ \Delta Q_{34} = - \Delta W_{34} < 0$$ On the isochoric (isovolumetric) curves the heat quantities are $$\Delta Q_{23} = C_V (T_1 - T_2) < 0\\ \Delta Q_{41} = C_V (T_2 - T_1) > 0$$ The efficiency is then $$\eta = \frac{-\Delta W}{\Delta Q}$$ $\Delta Q$ is the input heat, i.e. sum of all the heat quantities $> 0$: $$\Delta Q = Q_{12}+Q_{41} = n R T_2 \ln \frac{V_2}{V_1} + C_V (T_2 + T_1)$$ $\Delta W$ is the total mechanical work: $$\Delta W = W_{12}+\Delta W_{34} = - nR(T_2 - T_1) \ln \frac{V_2}{V_1}$$

So finally the efficiency is $$\eta = \frac{T_2 - T_1}{T_2 + \frac{C_V (T_2 - T_1)}{nR \ln V_2 / V_1}} < \eta_\text{C}.$$ It is smaller than the efficiency of the Carnot cycle. But it should be equal to it if all processes are done reversibly.

The calculations are taken from a textbook (Nolting: Grundkurs Theoretische Physik 4) which actually points out this problem as a question to the reader. My only explanation is that this process is not reversible but I don't know how to tell without actually seeing how the isothermal and isochoric processes are realized.

So my questions are:

• Is this a contradiction to Carnot's theorem that the efficiency $\eta_\text{C} = 1 - T_1/T_2$ is the same for all reversible heat engines between two heat baths?
• Is this cycle reversible?
• Is there a way to say whether a process is reversible or irreversible only with a figure like the one above?
• You're miscalculating the efficiency. For an arbitrary engine cycle, you have $Q_{H} = Q_{L} + W$, and $e = \frac{W}{Q_{H}}$. You're not dividing by your input heat. Sep 28, 2013 at 19:41
• I edited the question for clarity of what I'm calculating. The denominator in the efficiency should be the heat that is put into the engine. The way I'm calculating the heat it is the one that is $> 0$. Do you agree? Sep 28, 2013 at 19:56
• Related to the question of reversibility of curves in thermodynamic state space: physics.stackexchange.com/questions/78405/… Sep 29, 2013 at 18:25

There is no contradiction because your analysis only includes what happens to the gaseous working substance in the Stirling engine, and it neglects a crucial component of the engine called the regenerator. If the regenerator is not included as a component of the engine when we perform the efficiency analysis, then we don't have a device that qualifies as a heat engine operating between two temperatures, and we therefore shouldn't expect it to abide by Carnot's Theorem as I stated in the original version of this answer.

However, if we properly take account of the regenerator, then we find that the efficiency of the engine is the Carnot efficiency.

Of course the whole analysis here is an idealized one in which we assume, for example, that there are no energy losses due to friction in the engine's components.

Details.

A stirling engine is more complex than the $P$-$V$ diagram drawn in the question statement seems to indicate. If we conceptually reduce the engine to its simplest form, it contains two fundamental components:

1. A gaseous working substance. This is the part of the engine whose thermodynamic state travels along the curve in the $P$-$V$ diagram.
2. A regenerator. This part of the engine absorbs and stores the energy given up by the gaseous working substance by heat transfer during the process $2\to 3$ and then returns that same energy to the gaseous working substance during the process $4\to 1$.

The crucial point is that when the regenerator is included, there is no net heat transfer into or out of the engine during the processes $2\to 3$ and $4\to 1$. The energy that leaves the gaseous working substance during the process $2\to 3$ by heat transfer is stored in the regenerator, and that heat is then given back up to the working substance during process $4\to 1$. No heat is transferred between the engine and its surroundings during these legs of the cycle.

It follows that the only heat transferred to the engine as a whole is transferred during $1\to 2$. This qualifies the device as a heat engine (see old answer below) and the efficiency of the engine is then computed as the ratio of the net work output divided by the heat input in process $1\to 2$. This yields the Carnot efficiency as it should.

My original answer claimed that the cycle drawn does not represent the operation of a heat engine operating between two temperatures, but I was neglecting the regenerator, and I believe this is what you implicitly did in the computation you originally performed as well, and this yielded the incorrect efficiency.

There is no contradiction. The Stirling cycle you drew above is reversible but does not operate between two reservoirs at fixed temperatures $T_1$ and $T_2$. The isovolumetric parts of the cycle operate at continuously changing temperatures (think ideal gas law).

Old Addendum. Note that in thermodynamics, a heat engine is said to operate (or work) between (two reservoirs at) temperatures $T_1$ and $T_2$ provided all of the heat it absorbs or gives up is done so at one of those two temperatures.

To give credence to this definition (which is essentially implicit in most discussions of heat engines I have seen), here is a quote from Fermi's thermodynamics text:

In the preceding section we described a reversible cyclic engine, the Carnot engine, which performs an amount of work $L$ during each of its cycles by absorbing a quantity of heat $Q_2$ from a source at temperature $t_2$ and surrendering a quantity of heat $Q_1$ to a source at the lower temperature $t_1$. We shall say that such an engine works between the temperatures $t_1$ and $t_2$.

• Then I think I didn't understand what operate between two two reservoirs at fixed temperature actually means. The Carnot cycle consists of adiabatic and isothermics. temperature changes but no heat is transfered. So "operating" basically means heat transfer? You also said the cycle is reversible. Are all curves that can be drawn within the $p$-$V$-plane reversible? Sep 28, 2013 at 20:22
• @frankundfrei Yes; "operating between two temperatures" in this context means that all heat transfers that occur during the cycle occur at one or the other temperature. As for the question of reversibility, I'm not sure it's appropriate to call a curve in thermodynamic state space itself reversible or irreversible. I think we need to answer a more nuanced question like: when we perform some idealized physical process, and it's successive states can be well-approximated by a continuous curve in the state space, then can that process be performed in reverse? Sep 28, 2013 at 21:08
• Could you add this definition of "operation" in your answer? I haven't come across a precise definition neither in the lecture I attended nore the textbooks I use, so it also might be helpful to other people. Thanks for your help! Sep 29, 2013 at 11:29
• @frankundfrei Sure thing. I made an edit. Sep 29, 2013 at 17:58
• @joshphysics : the proof of Carnot's theorem, i.e a reversible cycle has the same efficiency as a Carnot cycle, does not assume that the heat is transfered to the gas isothermally, so I don't understand why transfering heat isovolumetrically changes anything. If the working fluid comes into thermal contact with a hot source, we can heat the fluid at constant volume until it reaches the temperature of the hot source. We don't need the hot source's temperature to change, do we? Jun 4, 2017 at 18:31

The Stirling cycle as you describe it is not reversible. The transfer of heat from thermal reservoirs along paths 4->1 and 2->3 is not a reversible process, because heat is being transferred between two objects at different temperatures. To reverse the process, you would need to spontaneously transfer heat from a colder to hotter reservoir, which violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

Stirling engines are often described as reversible, but this requires a special kind of process. Notice that the heat transferred into the engine along 4->1 is the same as the heat transferred out of the engine along 2->3 and that 4->1 and 2->3 operate between the same two temperatures. Therefore, a Carnot efficient Stirling engine can be constructed if heat is transferred isothermally within the engine along these paths. This is accomplished with a "regenerator," a thermal mass that stores the energy liberated in 2->3 and returns it to the gas along path 4->1. You can see that the regenerator has to vary continuously in temperature between T2 and T1 and exchange heat isothermally with the gas as it passes through.

Note that all reversible engines must operate with the same efficiency. This follows from the definitions of efficiency and entropy. A reversible engine operates with 0 entropy change. $\Delta S = -\frac{Q_h}{T_h} + \frac{Q_c}{T_c}$, so $\Delta S = 0$ implies $\frac{Q_h}{T_h} = \frac{Q_c}{T_c}$ or efficiency = $\frac{Q_h - Q_c}{Q_h} = \frac{T_h - T_c}{T_h}$

• I don't quite understand the "regenerator" but I think your argument on irreversibility of paths 4->1 and 2->3 is not correct, also $\Delta S=0$ in the cycle Mar 1, 2015 at 13:24
• @richard - you have to consider the entropy change of the entire world, not just of the working fluid; any closed cycle will have an entropy change of 0 for the working fluid; only reversible engines will have a entropy change of 0 for the working fluid and the thermal reservoirs.
– Marc
Apr 1, 2015 at 15:12
• yes that is what I'm saying if any part of cycle was irreversible then the entropy change of working fluid and also entire world would be nonzero. Apr 1, 2015 at 18:00
• @richard. for an ideal gas with a fixed number of particles, each point on the P,V diagram has a specific entropy (you can calculate this e.g. from the sackur-tetrode equation). Therefore any closed cycle has a 0 change in entropy of the working fluid. Are you claiming all closed cycles are reversible? Also, certain reversible processes, like isothermal expansion change the entropy of the working fluid. You have to consider the total change in entropy of the working fluid and the reservoirs together.
– Marc
Apr 1, 2015 at 19:08
• No I'm not claiming every closed cycle is reversible. I'm saying the cycle in the above picture is reversible. All parts are reversible including 4-1 and 2-3. Apr 2, 2015 at 17:38

In an ideal Stirling cycle, the isochoric steps have heat exchanged across an infinitesimal temperature difference, which is maintained by the regenerator having a continuous gradient of temperature between the hot and cold reservoirs. The gas can then cool or heat in alignment with that gradient. This is the very ideal part of the design that enables zero change in entropy during the two isochoric stages. This heat is just shuffled back and forth internally and so the only actual exchange with the outside is in via the hot reservoir and out via the cold. Hence the ideal efficiency. I'm not sure it's correct to call what happens in the regenerator stages isothermal. The temperature is changing continuously but ideally always across an infinitesimal difference. Is there a commonly used term for that? None the less, the isochoric stages are very different to the isothermal stages.

I've noticed in my searches on the internet about the topic of Stirling engines that many sources confuse these ideas. I've often seen efficiency analyses that ignore the effect of the regenerator altogether. This is possibly to do with the fact that isochoric processes are not usually associated with zero change in entropy but in the case of the Stirling engine there is a very special type of this process involved, using a regenerator.

The ideal Stirling engine has the same efficiency as the Carnot cycle, but its advantage is that it enables the building of real engines that, although they may not be able to achieve perfect isothermal and totally smooth regenerator isochoric stages, they do come close and are much more feasible than the possibility of building a practical Carnot engine.

So, in reality, real manufactured Stirling engines do not achieve the full ideal Carnot efficiency, but many do much better than other types of heat engine.

In conclusion, in consideration of the ideal Stirling engine:

(1) The ideal maximum efficiency of the Carnot engine is achieved. (2) Your calculation does not contradict this because it is wrong. You include the heat exchanged in the isochoric stages as part of the cost, whereas the only cost is the external heat input during the isothermal power stroke. (3) This cycle is reversible as there is no change in entropy during the isochoric stages. (4) The diagram on its own is not enough to show this as we need to also know that the ideal regenerator is what enables the third point. That is, if you remove the regenerator the diagram is still the same.

The problem comes from 9th equation . Note that the heat that is transferred during the two processes 4-1 and 2-3 cancel out each other. The heat Q41 is given to the regenerator and then reabsorbed from it by the working material of the system. This amount of heat is "not" being given by the hot reservoir to the system or absorbed by the cool reservoir, but in a sense, it is being "reversibly" transferred between two parts of the working material itself. So, including the Heat Q41 in the 9th Eq. as a part of heat that "is transferred" from the hot preserver to the system is the wrong point in calculations above which has led to the wrong result given in the 11th equation.

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Any cycle on the pv diagram is reversible. When you solve for Q you have to integrate and the integration process itself involves dT meaning the difference in temperatures is infinitesimally small thus making the process reversible. The Stirling engine efficiency formula you have derived is correct except that number of moles (n) should have canceled out. The efficiency of the Stirling engine is lower than Carnot and that is fine. As one of you mentioned one cannot compare it with Carnot as the heat exchange in Carnot cycle takes place at two fixed temperatures, while in Stirling engine the heat exchange is taking place also along the two constant volume processes where the temperatures are varying. In Carnot cycle there is no heat exchange along the adiabatic curves along which temperature changes. I hope this helps.