A clockwise engine Carnot cycle has four reversible steps. At hot temperature , isothermal expansion absorbs and does positive work by the gas. Adiabatic expansion then cools it to , with zero heat and positive work by the gas. Isothermal compression at emits and requires work on the gas. Finally adiabatic compression returns it to , with zero heat and work on the gas.
For an ideal gas, the isotherms obey and the adiabats , the latter being steeper. In the plane, the isotherms are horizontal and the adiabats vertical, forming a clockwise rectangle. Heat occurs only on the horizontal legs, while work occurs on all four legs.
Reversing the arrows gives a refrigerator, reversing the heat and work signs.
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