Thermodynamic Processes

States of a thermodynamic system can be changed by

interacting with its surrounding through work and heat. When
this change occurs in a system, it is said that the system is
undergoing a process.

A thermodynamic cycle is a sequence of different processes that
begins and ends at the same thermodynamic state.

Some sample processes:
Isothermal process: temperature is constant T=C
Isobaric process: pressure is constant, P=C
Isentropic process: entropy is constant, s=C
Constant-volume process, v=C
Adiabatic process: no heat transfer, Q=0

Process-1
Use ideal gas assumption (closed system):
2
1
2 1
1 2
Isothermal process: T=constant
Energy balance U=Q-W, for ideal gas U= H=0
since both are functions of temperature only
Q=W, W= P
ln ln
Isobaric process:
mRT dV
dV dV mRT
V V
V P
mRT mRT
V P
A A A
= =
| | | |
= =
| |
\ . \ .
} } }

2
2 1
1
2 1 2 1 2 1
2 2 1 1 2 1
P=constant
U=Q-W, W= PdV=P dV=P(V )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
V
Q U P V V U U P V V
U PV U PV H H H
A
= A + = +
= + + = = A
} }
Process-2
v
v
Constant volume process: V=constant
Q-W= U, W= 0, no work done
Q= U=m u=m c
Adiabatic process: Q=0
Q-W= U, -W= U
- W=dU (infinitesimal increment of work and energy)
dU+PdV=0, mc 0

v
PdV
dT
mRT
dT dV
V
c
o
A =
A A
A A
| |
+ =
|
\ .

}
}

v
2 2 2 1 1
1 1 1 2 2
1
0, , integrate and assume
c =constant
ln ln ,
v
v
v
R
k
c
c RT dT dV
dT dV
V R T V
c T V T V V
R T V T V V

| |
+ = =
|
\ .
| | | | | | | |
= = =
| | | |
\ . \ . \ . \ .
Process-3
2 1
1 2
1 1 2
2 2 1
2 1 2 2
1 2 1 1
2 2 2 1
1 1 1
( 1)
1
1
1
, from ideal gas relation
PV=RT, , substitute
, multiply from both sides
,
k
k
k
k
k
T V
T V
V T P
V T P
T T P T
T T P T
T P P V
T P P
and

| |
=
|
\ .
| | | |
=
| |
\ . \ .
| |
| || | | |
=
|
| | |
\ .\ . \ .
\ .
| | | |
= =
| |
\ . \ . 2
1 1 2 2
k
Also and tan
For an ideal gas undergoing adiabatic process
k
k
k
V
PV PV pV cons t
| |
|
\ .
= =
Process-4
Polytropic Process: its P-V relation can be expressed as
PV
n
= constant, where n is a constant for a specific process
Isothermal, T=constant, if the gas is an ideal gas then
PV=RT=constant, n=1
Isobaric, P=constant, n=0 (for all substances)
Constant-volume, V=constant, V=constant(P)
(1/n)
, n=
(for all substances)
Adiabatic process, n=k for an ideal gas
1 1 2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
2
1 1
1 1 2 2 1 1
1 1 2 1
1
( )
( )
( ) ( )
1 1
n n n
n n
n
n n n n
PV PV PV
W PdV PV V dV
PV PV PV
PV V dV V V
n n

= =
= =

= = =

} }
}