Carnot Efficiency Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the carnot efficiency calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Carnot Efficiency Calculator

Formulas Used

Carnot Efficiency

efficiency = 1 - cold_temp / hot_temp

Efficiency (%)

efficiency_pct = (1 - cold_temp / hot_temp) * 100

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
hot_tempHot Reservoir Temperature(K)600
cold_tempCold Reservoir Temperature(K)300

How It Works

Carnot Efficiency

The Carnot efficiency is the theoretical maximum efficiency any heat engine can achieve operating between two temperatures.

Formula

eta = 1 - T_cold / T_hot

Temperatures must be in Kelvin. No real engine can exceed this efficiency due to the second law of thermodynamics.

Worked Example

A heat engine operating between 600 K and 300 K.

hot_temp = 600cold_temp = 300
  1. 01eta = 1 - Tc/Th
  2. 02eta = 1 - 300/600
  3. 03eta = 1 - 0.5
  4. 04eta = 0.5 = 50%

Ready to run the numbers?

Open Carnot Efficiency Calculator