Lämpövoimakoneissa

Lämpövoimakoneissa, known in English as heat engines, are devices that convert thermal energy into mechanical work. They operate by exploiting a temperature difference between a hot reservoir and a cold reservoir. The fundamental principle is that heat naturally flows from hotter to colder regions, and this flow can be harnessed to do work.

The most common types of heat engines include internal combustion engines, found in most vehicles, and external combustion engines, such as steam engines. Internal combustion engines burn fuel inside a cylinder, and the resulting expansion of gases drives a piston. External combustion engines generate heat externally, often by burning fuel in a furnace, which then heats a working fluid (like water to create steam) that drives a turbine or piston.

The efficiency of a heat engine is limited by the Carnot cycle, which represents the theoretical maximum efficiency achievable for a given temperature difference. Real-world heat engines are less efficient due to factors like friction, heat loss, and incomplete combustion. Despite these limitations, heat engines are crucial for a vast range of applications, from power generation and transportation to industrial machinery. Their development has been a cornerstone of the Industrial Revolution and continues to be vital for modern society.