The Reversed Carnot Cycle

Unlike the Carnot heat engine, the Carnot refrigeration cycle undergoes a process with
opposite direction. We see from the model, heat QL is absorbed from the low-temperature
reservoir (TL=constant) and heat QH is rejected to a high-temperature reservoir (TH=constant).
In this case a work input in the amount of Wrev is required to achieve this process. And we
know from the 1st law of thermodynamics, the required work can be determined in
Wrev=- QH - QL. Here QH<0 and QL>0.
The reversed Carnot cycle also consists of two isentropic and two isothermal processes. The
process undergoes in direction 3-2-1-4-3
p
1 QH

2
4
3
QL

0 v

Process 3-2: Reversible Adiabatic Compression

This process is isentropic. The engine is perfect insulated so that no heat is lost and absorbed.
Gas is compressed slowly until the temperature rises from TL to TH.

Process 2-1: Reversible Isothermal Compression (TH=constant)

During this process, heat is rejected. Gas is compressed reversibly at the constant
temperature TH.

Process 1-4: Reversible Adiabatic Expansion

This process is isentropic. The engine is perfect insulated so that no heat is lost and absorbed.
Gas expands slowly until the temperature drops from TH to TL.

Process 4-3: Reversible Isothermal Expansion (TL=constant)

During this process, heat is absorbed. Gas is compressed reversibly at the constant
temperature TH.
The coefficient of performance (COP) of any refrigerator or heat pump, reversible or
irreversible, can be calculated with the general expression:
For a Carnot refrigerator:

Where QH<0 and QL>0

For a Carnot heat pump:

Where QH<0 and QL>0

T
QH
1 2
TH

TL 3
4
QL

0 s

From the T-s-diagram, we obtain:

Qab=QH = TH S21
Qzu=QL = TL S43
S21= - S43

Therefore
For a Carnot refrigerator:
D 1
D D 1
For a Carnot heat pump:
D 1
D D 1

According to coefficient of performance (COP), we can also draw the following conclusions:
1. The coefficient of performance (COP) of a reversed Carnot cycle only depends on the
highest and lowest temperature.
2. Normally TH>TL, so that means COPR>1 and COPHP>1
3. Both coefficients of performance (COP) have a relationship: COPHP = COPR +1
4. If TL decreases, both COPR and COPHP decrease.

As mentioned above, the reversed Carnot cycle is a reversible process. Hence, if a real
refrigerator has the coefficient of performance of COP, then:
COPR < COPR,rev: irreversible refrigerator
COPR = COPR,rev: reversible refrigerator
COPR > COPR,rev: unrealistic refrigerator