Hot Reservoir
TH700 K
Heat Engine Simulator
Understanding Real Heat Engines
Heat Engine
Example: Typical Automobile EngineHeat Input1000 J
Cold Reservoir
TC300 K
Combined Heat Engine System
QH = W + QC
W = QH - QC
η = W / QH
η = 1 - QC / QH
Hot Temperature TH
700 K
Thermal source temperature
Cold Temperature TC
300 K
Heat sink temperature
Heat Input QH
1000 J
Energy absorbed
Work Output W
240 J
Useful mechanical work
Waste Heat QC
760 J
Rejected heat
Efficiency η
24.0%
Fraction converted to work
Engine Performance Graphs
Theory Panel
Standard thermodynamic representation
A heat engine absorbs heat from a hot reservoir, converts part of it into mechanical work, and rejects the remaining heat to a cold reservoir.
Energy balance: QH = W + QC
Work output: W = QH - QC
Thermal efficiency: η = W / QH
Equivalent form: η = (QH - QC) / QH
Standard form: η = 1 - QC / QH
Ideal Carnot limit: ηCarnot = 1 - TC / TH
Simulation model: η = clamp[0.3 × (TH - TC) / 500,
0.05, 0.40]
Live values: W = ηQH, QC = QH - W
Note: This simulation uses a simplified educational model for visualization. Actual engine performance depends on engine design and operating conditions.