Monsieur Sadi Carnot was a French Engineer who first referred to the Second Law of Thermodynamics in 1824 when he published Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire. Carnot made three important contributions in this publication: the concept of reversibility, the concept of a cycle, and the definition of maximum work from a heat engine while operating between two thermal reservoirs. In other words, the Carnot cycle represents a cycle in which every process is reversible.
Each reversible process contributes to an ideal combustion cycle. Ideal combustion means that combustion of air and fuel results in by-products of nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O). Although perfect combustion does not exist, Carnot Emission Services hopes that engines will approach near-perfect combustion to significantly reduce incomplete combustion by-products like unburned fuel (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO).
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