MODULE 6:

THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES
6.1 Reversible Process
6.2 Irreversible Process
6.3 Isobaric Process
6.4 Isochoric or Isometic
6.5 Isothermal Process
6.6 Adiabatic Process
6.7 Polytropic Process
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the course, the student shall be
able to:

1. Use process diagrams to illustrate

thermodynamic processes.

2. To solve problem using thermodynamic relations.

3. Describe thermodynamic processes on P-V

diagrams
DEFINITIONS:

• Process diagrams plotted

by employing
thermodynamic properties
as coordinates are very
useful in visualizing the
processes.
• Some common properties
that are used as
coordinates are
temperature T, pressure P,
and volume V (or specific
volume v).
• The prefix iso- is often
used to designate a
process for which a
particular property remains The P-V diagram of a compression
constant. process.
DEFINITIONS:

Thermodynamic Process:
- any change that a system undergoes
from one equilibrium state to another.
Path:
- the series of states through which a
system passes during a process.

Cycle:
- A process during which the initial and
final states are identical.
• Reversible Process (Quasi-equilibrium
process:
- it is a process that can be reversed without
leaving any trace on the surroundings

• Irreversible Process :
- it is a process that proceeds spontaneously
in one direction but the other.

Process Example
DEFINITIONS: (Symbols)
Symbols Meaning
C Constant
n Polytropic index
h Enthalpy
k Ratio of specific heats (isentropic exponent) Cp/Cv
m Mass flow
P Pressure
Q Heat flow
s Entropy

T Temperature
V Volume
η Efficiency

Symbols (Subscripts) Meaning

a Actual or adiabatic process

s Isentropic process

1 Initial state
2 Final state
SUMMARY OF PROCESS TYPES

Process Properties Held Constant

Adiabatic Heat Energy

Isenthalpic Enthalpy

Isentropic Entropy, Equilibrium, Heat Energy

Isobaric Pressure

Isochoric Volume

Isothermal Temperature

Isotropic Direction

Polytropic PV n = C

Reversible Entropy, Equilibrium

THERMODYNAMIC PROCESS DESCRIPTIONS:

• ADIABATIC PROCESS
-is a reversible process in
which there is no flow of
heat between a system
and its surroundings
(Q=0).
A. PV and T relation (P =
C)
B. Nonflow Work
2

Wn =  PdV
1
where: P = C/Vk

Wn =
P 2V 2  P1V 1
1 k

mR ( T 2  T 1 )
Wn =
1 k

C. Steady flow work

2
Ws = -  VdP
1 where: V = C/Pk

k (P2V 2  P1V 1)
Ws =
1 k
 kmR(T 2  T 1)
Ws =
1 k

Ws = kWn
D. Change in internal energy

ΔU = mCvΔT
ΔU = -Wn
E. Change in Enthalpy

ΔH= mCpΔT

F. Heat Transferred (Adiabatic, Q = 0)

Q = ΔU + Wn
ΔU= - Wn

G. Change in entropy

ΔS = 0
• ISENTHALPIC PROCESS

- is one in which there is no transfer of heat energy to or from

the surroundings as if the system were surrounded by a
perfect insulator (Δh=0)

- is an adiabatic system that is irreversible and extracts no

work.
• ISENTROPIC PROCESS

- is one in which entropy remains constant (Δs=0)

- also known as a reversible adiabatic process
• ISOBARIC PROCESS

-is an internally reversible constant pressure process of

working substance.

A. PV and T relation (V= C)

V1 V 2
 (Charle's Law)
T1 T 2

B. PV and TS diagram
C. Nonflow Work 2

Wn = 
1
PdV

Wn = P (V2 - V1)

D. Steady flow work

2

Ws =   VdP
1

Ws = 0

where: dP = 0 at P = C
E. Change in internal energy

ΔU = mCvΔT

F. Change in Enthalpy

ΔH= mCpΔT

G. Heat Transferred

Q = ΔU + Wn
Q = ΔU + ΔPV
Q = ΔH

H. Change in entropy

From: dS = dQ/ dT

ΔS = mCvpln(T2/T1)
 • ISOCHORIC / ISOMETRIC / ISOVOLUMIC PROCESS

-is one in which volume is held constant (ΔV=0)

A. PV and T relation (V = C)
P1 P 2

T1 T 2

B. Nonflow Work 2

Wn = 
1
PdV

Wn = 0

C. Steady flow work

2

Ws =  
1
VdP

Ws = V(P1 - P2)
D. Change in internal energy

ΔU = mCvΔT

E. Change in Enthalpy

ΔH= mCpΔT

F. Heat Transferred

Q = ΔU + Wn
Wn = 0 at V = C

Q = ΔU

G. Change in entropy

From: dS = dQ/ dT
 T2 
ΔS = mCvln  
 T1 
 • ISOTHERMAL PROCESS

-is one in which there is no temperature change (ΔT=0).

A. PV and T (T = C)

P1V1 = P2V2 (Boyle's Law)

B. PV and TS diagram
C. Nonflow Work 2

Wn = 
1
PdV

C
Where: P =
V
V 2 
Wn = P1V 1 ln  
 V1 
V 2 
Wn = mRT ln  
V 1 
D. Steady flow work
2

Ws =   VdP
1
C
where: V 
P
 P2 
Ws  P1V1 ln 
 P1 
 V1 
Ws  mRTln 
V 2 
E. Change in internal energy

ΔU = 0

F. Change in Enthalpy

ΔH= 0

G. Heat Transferred

Q = ΔU + Wn
For : ΔU = 0
Q = Wn

H. Change in entropy
dQ
From: dS 
T
 V2 
ΔS = mRln 
 V1 
 • POLYTROPIC PROCESS

-is an internally reversible process during which PVn = C

where n is a constant
A. PV and T relation (PVn = C)

P1V1n= P2V2 n

n-1
T1 V2 
 
T2 V1  n-1 / n
T1  P1 
 
T2  P2 
B. PV and TS diagram
C. Nonflow Work 2

Wn = 
1
PdV

C
Where: P 
V n

P2V2 P1V1
Wn 
1n
mR(T 2  T 1)
Wn 
D. Steady flow work
1 n
2

Ws =   VdP
1

C
where: V  n
P
n(P2V2 P1V1)
Ws 
1n
 nmR (T 2  T 1)
Ws 
1 n
W s  nW n
E. Change in internal energy

ΔU = mCvΔT
ΔU = - Wn

F. Change in Enthalpy

ΔH= mCpΔT
G. Heat Transferred

Q = mCn ΔT
kn
where : C n  C v  
 1  n 
H. Change in entropy
dQ
From: dS 
T
T2
ΔS = mC n ln  
 T1
 SAMPLE PROBLEM

A gas is enclosed in a cylinder with a

weighted piston as the top boundary. The
gas is heated an expands from a volume
of 0.04 m3 to 0.10 m3 at a constant
pressure of 200 kPa. Find the work done
on the system.

Ans. 12 kJ
 SAMPLE PROBLEM

In the process where the product of

pressure and volume is constant, a gas
compression is carried out from an initial
pressure of 200 kPa to a final pressure of
800 kPa. Considering that the initial
specific volume is 0.10 m3/kg, determine
the work done per kilogram of gas.

Ans. -27.7 kJ/kg

 SAMPLE PROBLEM

Compute the pressure ratio (P1/P2 ) of

nitrogen that is expanded isentropically
from 620˚F to 60˚F.

Ans. 12.9
 SAMPLE PROBLEM

Nitrogen is isentropically expanded from 620

˚F to 60˚F with volumetric ratio (V2/V1) equal to
6.22. If the value of the gas constant (R) is
0.0787 Btu/lbm- ˚R, compute the work done by
the gas.

Ans. 99.22 Btu/lbm

 SAMPLE PROBLEM

Helium is compressed isothermally from 14.7

psi and 68˚F. The compression ratio is 4.
Determine the change in entropy of the gas if the
gas constant is 0.4961 Btu/lbm- ˚R.

Ans. -0.689 Btu/lbm ˚R

 SAMPLE PROBLEM

Helium (R= 0.4968 BTU/lb-˚R) is

compressed isothermally from 14.7 psia
and 68˚F. The compression ratio is 4.
Calculate the work done by the gas in
BTU/lbm?

Ans. -364