An inventor claims to have devised a cyclical engine for use in space vehicles that operates with a nuclear fuel generated energ

Question

1 month ago

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An inventor claims to have devised a cyclical engine for use in space vehicles that operates with a nuclear fuel generated energ

y source whose temperature is 510 K and sink at 270 K that radiates waste heat to deep space. He also claims that this engine produces 4.1 kW while rejecting heat at a rate of 15,000 kJ/h. Is this claim valid?

Engineering

1 answer:

Viktor [391] · Answer 1 · 2026-04-06T20:12:59+03:00

Response:

The claim made by the inventor is not valid.

Reasoning:

We have the following parameters:

Source temperature = 510 K

Sink temperature = 270 K

Power generated = 4.1 KW

Heat disposal = 15,000 KJ/h

Heat disposal = 4.16 KW

It is known that

Heat input = Heat output + Power generated

Heat input = 4.16 + 4.1 KW

Heat input = 8.16 KW

Thus, the efficiency of the engine

$\eta =\dfrac{Power\ produces}{heat\ added}$

$\eta =\dfrac{4.1}{8.16}$

$\eta =0.502$

Now, let’s determine the maximum efficiency achievable with a Carnot engine

The efficiency for a Carnot engine is expressed as

$\eta =1-\dfrac{T_L}{T_H}$

By substituting the values

$\eta =1-\dfrac{T_L}{T_H}$

$\eta =1-\dfrac{270}{510}$

$\eta =0.47$

Therefore, the efficiency of the Carnot cycle falls short of the efficiency calculated for the aforementioned engine. Hence, this engine is not feasible. This indicates that the inventor's assertion lacks validity.