Steam Rankine cycle (shaft work)

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.01 × C.08 · Temperature gradient × Heat engine (thermomechanical)family: Heat engine (thermomechanical)

Typed bounds on this route

Every limit the atlas holds for this route, as constraint records: reached through bounded_by claims on the route's own entities. Hard bounds (an upper bound or a formula) decide the thermodynamic-bound check above; benchmarks, constitutive relations and resource limits are listed and never decisive. No prose limit exists anywhere (pass 42).

• Carnot limit · formula-bound · hard, applies to this route
  η ≤ 1 − T_c/T_h for any heat engine between reservoirs at T_h and T_c
• Curzon–Ahlborn efficiency at maximum power · benchmark · listed, never decisive
  η_CA = 1 − √(T_c/T_h)

Steps

1. 01
   Temperature gradient —drives→ Working-fluid expansion (heat-engine cycle)establishedclaim record

   thermal → mechanical · loss to thermal

   • a hot reservoir to heat the working fluid and a cold reservoir to condense or cool it

   temperature gradient required

   refs [1] [2]
2. 02
   Working-fluid expansion (heat-engine cycle) —produces→ Mechanical motionestablishedclaim record

   mechanical → mechanical · loss to thermal

   refs [1]
3. 03
   Mechanical motion —converts into→ Mechanical workestablishedclaim record

   mechanical → mechanical · loss to thermal

   refs [1]

Evidence for the complete composition · 1

1. [1]
   A. Bejan. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (4th ed.) (2016)

   Wiley · doi:10.1002/9781119245964 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Evidence for the constituent relations · 2

1. [1]
   A. Bejan. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (4th ed.) (2016)

   Wiley · doi:10.1002/9781119245964 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
2. [2]
   G. Walker. Stirling Engines (1980)

   Oxford University Press · book, no DOI · record