Two non-ideal heat engines operate in series

PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Engineering physics · Engineering physics

Problem

Two non-ideal heat engines operate in series. Engine I receives

1.0\times10^{3}\,\text{J}

of heat from a

600\,\text{K}

reservoir and rejects its waste heat to an intermediate reservoir at

400\,\text{K}

. Engine II uses this waste heat as its input and rejects heat to a

300\,\text{K}

sink. Each engine operates at

60\%

of the efficiency of a Carnot engine working between the same two reservoirs. Calculate the total work produced by the combined arrangement in one complete cycle. (a)

4.0\times10^{2}\,\text{J}

(b)

3.2\times10^{2}\,\text{J}

(c)

2.0\times10^{2}\,\text{J}

(d)

2.8\times10^{2}\,\text{J}

Related theory

Second Law of Thermodynamics
Second Law & Entropy
Heat Engines
Second law and Carnot cycle
Thermodynamics
Carnot engine

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