Which efficiency constraint arises if a heat engine operates with an irreversible cycle?

💡 Explanation

When a heat engine's cycle is irreversible, processes generate entropy because friction, rapid expansion and non-equilibrium heat transfer violate ideal reversible conditions, making the Carnot efficiency unattainable. Therefore the Carnot limit becomes unattainable, rather than simply lowering power or altering peak pressure, which could theoretically still reach Carnot efficiency under ideal/isothermal conditions.

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