Which outcome arises when a heat engine operates irreversibly between two temperature reservoirs?

💡 Explanation

When a heat engine operates irreversibly, entropy generation occurs due to factors like friction and non-equilibrium heat transfer because some energy is dissipated, reducing the work output. Therefore, it has reduced thermal efficiency compared to the ideal Carnot cycle, rather than increased heat transfer or reversible energy conversion which violates the second law.

• Which consequence results from thermal excitation promoting electrons to higher antibonding molecular orbitals?
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• Which consequence results when fuel enrichment limit is surpassed in a nuclear reactor?
• Which outcome arises when a protein misfolds in aqueous solution?