4
Carnot’s Theory of Heat, and Kelvin’s
Adoption of Which in Terms of Energy
Abstract
MEH surmised work production to be resulting from the consumption of heat.
Carnot demonstrated that work production is derived from the transfer of heat.
Kelvin and Clausius were able to synthesize the two competing theories into one
theory by incorporating Carnot’s theory to accord for what was meant by
“consumption”. This chapter covers Carnot’s theory of heat and how Kelvin
incorporated Carnot’s theory into the MTH in terms of absolute thermodynamic
temperature, the Carnot–Kelvin formula, and the concept of available energy and
the energy principle, which is Kelvin’s version of the second law of
thermodynamics. That is, Kelvin formulated a thermodynamics theory in terms
of energy: in terms of energy conservation and energy availability, as well as the
universality in the direction of energy form transformation.
Keywords
The Clausius statement Á The Kelvin-Planck statement Á Carnot’s principle Á
Absolute temperature Á Carnot’s function Á The Carnot/Kelvin formula Á Carnot
gas cycle Á The energy principle (constancy and availability of energy) Á The
nature of heat (the doctrine of heat as energy) Á Interconvertibility of heat and
work Á Mechanical theory of heat (MTH)
4.1 Unidirectional Nature of Processes and the Production
of Work
A REVERSIBLE UNIVERSE can be defined as a universe that is governed by
time-reversal-invariant (TRI) dynamical laws of nature, i.e., a universe that is
described in terms of force-driven interactions alone (see Sects. 3.4 and 3.5). In
contrast, an irreversible universe cannot be accounted for by TRI laws alone.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L.-S. Wang, A Treatise of Heat and Energy, Mechanical Engineering Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05746-6_4
61
Carnot’s Theory of Heat, and Kelvin’s
Adoption of Which in Terms of Energy
Abstract
MEH surmised work production to be resulting from the consumption of heat.
Carnot demonstrated that work production is derived from the transfer of heat.
Kelvin and Clausius were able to synthesize the two competing theories into one
theory by incorporating Carnot’s theory to accord for what was meant by
“consumption”. This chapter covers Carnot’s theory of heat and how Kelvin
incorporated Carnot’s theory into the MTH in terms of absolute thermodynamic
temperature, the Carnot–Kelvin formula, and the concept of available energy and
the energy principle, which is Kelvin’s version of the second law of
thermodynamics. That is, Kelvin formulated a thermodynamics theory in terms
of energy: in terms of energy conservation and energy availability, as well as the
universality in the direction of energy form transformation.
Keywords
The Clausius statement Á The Kelvin-Planck statement Á Carnot’s principle Á
Absolute temperature Á Carnot’s function Á The Carnot/Kelvin formula Á Carnot
gas cycle Á The energy principle (constancy and availability of energy) Á The
nature of heat (the doctrine of heat as energy) Á Interconvertibility of heat and
work Á Mechanical theory of heat (MTH)
4.1 Unidirectional Nature of Processes and the Production
of Work
A REVERSIBLE UNIVERSE can be defined as a universe that is governed by
time-reversal-invariant (TRI) dynamical laws of nature, i.e., a universe that is
described in terms of force-driven interactions alone (see Sects. 3.4 and 3.5). In
contrast, an irreversible universe cannot be accounted for by TRI laws alone.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L.-S. Wang, A Treatise of Heat and Energy, Mechanical Engineering Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05746-6_4
61