heat engine (idea)

A heat engine is a device that derives useful work from the difference in temperature between a hot resevoir and a cold resevoir. According to Carnot, the efficiency of a heat engine can be no greater than 1-Tcold/Thot. This often leads engineers to curse Demon Carnot.

Examples of heat engines include:

• internal combustion engines, such as those in cars and trucks
• steam engines, including steam turbines
• jet engines
• gas turbines
• stirling engines