Thermodynamic processes

From Flowpedia
Revision as of 17:12, 16 March 2026 by Nian (talk | contribs)


Specific Heat Relations

For thermally perfect and calorically perfect gases

Cp=dhdTCv=dedT

From the definition of enthalpy and the equation of state p=ρRT

h=e+pρ=e+RT

Differentiate Eqn. \ref{eq:enthalpy} with respect to temperature gives

dhdT=dedT+d(RT)dT

Inserting the specific heats gives

Cp=Cv+R

Dividing Eqn. \ref{eq:specificheat:b} by Cv gives

CpCv=1+RCv

Introducing the ratio of specific heats defined as

γ=CpCv

Now, inserting Eqn. \ref{eq:gamma} in Eqn. \ref{eq:specificheat:c} gives

Cv=Rγ1

In the same way, dividing Eqn. \ref{eq:specificheat:b} with Cp gives

1=CvCp+RCp=1γ+RCp

and thus

Cp=γRγ1

Isentropic Relations

First law of thermodynamics:

de=δqδw

For a reversible process: δw=pd(1/ρ) and δq=Tds

de=Tdspd(1ρ)

Enthalpy is defined as: h=e+p/ρ and thus

dh=de+pd(1ρ)+(1ρ)dp

Eliminate $de$ in Eqn. \ref{eq:firstlaw:b} using Eqn. \ref{eq:dh}

Tds=dhpd(1ρ)(1ρ)dp+pd(1ρ)

ds=dhTdpρT

Using dh=CpT and the equation of state p=ρRT, we get

ds=CpdTTRdpp

Integrating Eqn. \ref{eq:ds} gives

s2s1=12CpdTTRln(p2p1)

For a calorically perfect gas, Cp is constant (not a function of temperature) and can be moved out from the integral and thus

s2s1=Cpln(T2T1)Rln(p2p1)

An alternative form of Eqn. \ref{eq:ds:c} is obtained by using de=CvdT Eqn. \ref{eq:firstlaw:b}, which gives

s2s1=12CvdTTRln(ρ2ρ1)

Again, for a calorically perfect gas, we get

s2s1=Cvln(T2T1)Rln(ρ2ρ1)

Isentropic Relations

Adiabatic and reversible processes, i.e., isentropic processes implies ds=0 and thus Eqn. \ref{eq:ds:c} reduces to

CpRln(T2T1)=ln(p2p1)

CpR=γγ1

γγ1ln(T2T1)=ln(p2p1)

p2p1=(T2T1)γ/(γ1)

In the same way, Eqn. \ref{eq:ds:e} gives

ρ2ρ1=(T2T1)1/(γ1)

Eqn. \ref{eq:isentropic:a} and Eqn. \ref{eq:isentropic:b} constitutes the isentropic relations

p2p1=(ρ2ρ1)γ=(T2T1)γ/(γ1)

Flow Processes

ds=CvdTT+Rdνν

dν=νRdsCvνRTdT=νRdsCvpdT

for an isentropic process (ds=0), dν<0 for positive values of dT.

ds=CpdTTRdpp

dp=pRds+CppRTdT=pRds+CpρdT

for an isentropic process (ds=0), dp>0 for positive values of dT.


Since ν decreases with temperature and pressure increases with temperature for an isentropic process, we can see from Eqn.~\ref{eqn:process:dnu} that dν will be greater at lower temperatures and thus isochores (lines of constant specific volume) will be closely spaced at low temperatures and more sparse at higher temperatures. For an isochore dv=0 which implies

0=νR(dsCvdTT)dTds=TCv

and thus we can see that the slope of an isochore in a Ts-diagram is positive and that the slope increases with temperature.

In analogy, we can see that an isobar (dp=0) leads to the following relation

0=pR(CpdTTds)dTds=TCp

and consequently isobars will also have a positive slope that increases with temperature in a Ts-diagram. Moreover, isobars are less steep than ischores as Cp>Cv.