A heat engine has a high-temperature reservoir at 330K and a low-temperature reservoir at 260K. What is the maximum efficiency of this engine?

1 Answer
Apr 6, 2018

#7/33~~21%#

Explanation:

It is a consequence of the second law of thermodynamics that among all engines running between two reservoirs, the Carnot engine is the most efficient.

Now, the efficiency of a Carnot engine running between 330 K and 260 K is

#eta = 1-T_2/T_1 = 1-260/330 = 7/33#

this is the maximum possible efficiency for our engine