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Show that the efficiency of all reversible heat engines operating between the same temperatures limits is same
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  • Suppose there are two reversible engines $E_A$ and $E_B$ operating between the given source at temperature T1 and the given sink at temperature T2.

  • We have to prove that efficiency of heat engine $E_B$ and heat engine $E_A$ is same.

  • Suppose both the heat engines receive same quantity of heat Q from the source at temperature T1.

  • Let $W_A$ and $W_B$ be the work output from the engines and their corresponding heat rejections be $(Q – W_A)$ and $(Q – W_B)$ respectively.

  • Assume that the efficiency of the engine EA be more than the engine $E_B$

    i.e. $η_A \gt η_B $

    Hence, $\frac{W_A}{Q} = \frac{W_B}{Q}$

    i.e $W_A \gt W_B$

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  • Now let us couple both the engines and $E_B$ is reversed which will act as a heat pump. It receives $(Q – W_B)$ from sink and $W_A$ from engine $E_A$ and pumps heat Q to the source at temperature T1.

  • The net result is that heat $W_A – W_B$ is taken from sink and equal amount of work is produce. This violates second law of thermodynamics.

  • Hence the assumption we made that reversible engine $E_A$ having higher efficiency than the reversible engine $E_B$ is wrong.

  • Similarly we can assume that efficiency of engine $E_B$ is greater than efficiencyof engine $E_A$, this will also result in the violation of the second law of thermodynamics.

  • Hence it is concluded that reversible engines working between same temperature limits have the same efficiency.

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