- #1
greypilgrim
- 533
- 36
Hi.
Sorting the exchanges of heat and mechanical work in a thermodynamic cycle by the signs and summarizing, I get
##Q_{in}>0##: heat transferred into the system
##Q_{out}<0##: heat transferred to the cold reservoir
##W_{out}<0##: work done by the system
##W_{in}>0##: work done on the system (e.g. by moving back a piston)
The net work is ##W=W_{out}+W_{in}<0## (if it's a heat engine).
Normally, the efficiency is defined by
$$\eta=\frac{|W|}{Q_{in}}=\frac{|W_{out}+W_{in}|}{Q_{in}}\enspace .$$
But wouldn't it be more reasonable to use
$$\eta=\frac{|W_{out}|}{Q_{in}+W_{in}}\enspace ,$$
i.e. only the work actually done by the system divided by all energy put into the system?
Sorting the exchanges of heat and mechanical work in a thermodynamic cycle by the signs and summarizing, I get
##Q_{in}>0##: heat transferred into the system
##Q_{out}<0##: heat transferred to the cold reservoir
##W_{out}<0##: work done by the system
##W_{in}>0##: work done on the system (e.g. by moving back a piston)
The net work is ##W=W_{out}+W_{in}<0## (if it's a heat engine).
Normally, the efficiency is defined by
$$\eta=\frac{|W|}{Q_{in}}=\frac{|W_{out}+W_{in}|}{Q_{in}}\enspace .$$
But wouldn't it be more reasonable to use
$$\eta=\frac{|W_{out}|}{Q_{in}+W_{in}}\enspace ,$$
i.e. only the work actually done by the system divided by all energy put into the system?