Nicolas Leonard Sadi Carnot

Nicolas Leonard Sadi Carnot is often known as the "father of thermodynamics." He developed the theory of how to achieve maximum efficiency through a heat engine. While his work was not seen as hugely significant during his time, it became extremely important in developing the second law of thermodynamics and the definition and idea of entropy.

The Main Idea

Carnot wanted to know if the work provided form heat was unlimited or if there was a finite limit to it. He also worked with steam engines to determine how other fluids would be used and if the were viable options instead of just steam. He concluded that the efficiency of a steam engine is dependent only upon the two reservoirs which it operates between. This represents the most efficient possible system for a heat engine known as the Carnot cycle. By using this idea of the Carnot cycle of a frictionless heat engine the process is able to be reversed and became known as thermodynamic reversibility. Because the process is completely reversible with no caloric loss, it is further confirmed that is the most efficient process.

A Mathematical Model

Carnot often attempted to keep his mathematical models to a minimum especially in his published works. However he did conclude that for the most efficient possible heat engine, where the engine is dependent upon only the temperature of the two reservoirs then [math]\displaystyle{ (T1-T2)/T1 }[/math] where T1 is the absolute temperature of the hotter reservoir.

Carnot also determined this equation to represent the relationship between entropy and the volume of a gas during an isothermal process: [math]\displaystyle{ Δ S α ln(V/Vo) }[/math]

Connectedness

1. How is this topic connected to something that you are interested in?

This topic relates to something I am interested in because Carnot's work brought about the second law of thermodynamics and the idea of entropy. The idea of entropy is interesting because it follows the idea that the entropy of the universe is always increasing which is very interesting to me. Also thermodynamics is interesting because it is essential knowledge in my major and extremely important.

1. How is it connected to your major?

This topic is connected to my major because it involves the use of thermodynamics and entropy which is very interconnected with biomedical engineering. In biomedical engineering the topic of steam engines and thermodynamics can be incredibly important when pertaining to the understanding of a change in temperature or the efficiency of a design. The concept of thermodynamics can be used in product design, medicine, drug design and delivery and an extensive amount of biomedical research.

1. Is there an interesting industrial application?

Steam engines have a highly interesting industrial application because they are used to power many different things that range in possibilities. They can be used to power buildings that produce products, and moving vehicles, boats, etc. They are also highly important because they are a relatively clean fuel and energy creating process compared to the alternatives which makes them ideal for green processes.

History

Carnot was born in 1796 in Paris, France to a prominent family in the sciences. He entered the French military and spent most of his career there being transferred from different locations. He became interested in the steam engine during his time in the army an began his research into the topic. Carnot published the book the Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire. He was eventually admitted to a private asylum and died of cholera at age 36 in year 1832.

References

Sadi Carnot and the Second Law of Thermodynamics, J. Srinivasan, Resonance, November 2001, 42 (PDF file) Carnot, Sadi (1890). Reflections on the Motive Power of Heat. Thurston, Robert Henry (editor and translator). New York: J. Wiley & Sons.