lämpövoimakoneistosta

Lämpövoimakoneisto, often translated as a heat engine, is a device that converts thermal energy into mechanical work. This process is fundamental to many technologies that power our modern world, from automobiles to power plants. The core principle behind a heat engine is the transfer of heat from a high-temperature source to a low-temperature sink.

In operation, a working substance within the heat engine absorbs heat from the high-temperature source. This absorbed heat causes the working substance to expand, performing mechanical work. Subsequently, the working substance transfers the remaining heat to the low-temperature sink, and then returns to its initial state, ready for another cycle. This cycle is crucial for continuous operation.

The efficiency of a heat engine is a key performance indicator. It is defined as the ratio of the work output to the heat input. The theoretical maximum efficiency is limited by the Carnot cycle, which depends solely on the temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs. Real-world heat engines are less efficient than the Carnot limit due to various irreversible processes such as friction and heat loss.

Common examples of heat engines include internal combustion engines, steam engines, and gas turbines. Internal combustion engines burn fuel directly within a cylinder, while steam engines use steam generated by heating water. Gas turbines utilize the expansion of hot gases. Understanding the principles of heat engines is essential for thermodynamics and engineering applications.