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Carnot Cycle: State 1 - Hot Reservoir

The hot thermal reservoir is at the same temperature as the gas within the system.

Piston-and-cylinder diagram showing the initial state, state 1.

TH = constant

The piston-and-cylinder device is submerged in a hot fluid that acts as a thermal reservoir. There are weights on the back of the piston to show that the pressure within the cylinder is relatively high.

This PV diagram shows the location of state 1 at high pressure and low specific volume.

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Lesson 6E: page 3 of 25

Let’s begin with a gas, like air, that will not condense at the temperatures and pressures we will use in this process.
We will put the air in a trusty piston-and-cylinder device.
But, where does a cycle begin ? Anywhere and nowhere, right? But we need to start somewhere, so I arbitrarily chose to start our Carnot Cycle at a high pressure and temperature and a low volume.
This is represented in the illustration by the many blue weights on the back of the piston.
The cylinder is immersed in a thermal reservoir that is at the same temperature as the gas in the system, TH.
The PV Diagram is pretty simple at this point. It just has our initial state on it, state 1.
Notice that state 1 has a high pressure and a low volume.
All right. Now, we are ready to look at the first process or step that makes up a Carnot Cycle.

Carnot Cycle: State 1 - Hot Reservoir

Ch 6, Lesson E, Page 3 - Carnot Cycle: State 1 - Hot Reservoir