Efficiency of reverse cycles

Abstract

It is demonstrated that the generally accepted treatment of the second law of thermodynamics is incorrect when the statement of the maximum limiting efficiency of the forward Carnot cycle is applied to the reverse cycles. An analysis of reversible cycles compared with the Carnot cycle shows that the reverse Carnot cycle has the lowest efficiency of all reverse cycles. A new characteristic is proposed — the thermal efficiency of reverse cycles, and a generalized theorem is put forward for the additivity of the thermal efficiencies of the forward and reverse cycles. A formulation of the second law of thermodynamics is suggested from the point of view of the efficiency of reverse cycles.