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Polytropic Process of An Ideal Gas

The document discusses polytropic processes of ideal gases. A polytropic process is one where pressure and volume are related by the equation pV^n = constant, where n is a constant that depends on the process. Specific cases include isobaric (n=0), isothermal (n=1), and isentropic or adiabatic (n=k, the ratio of specific heats). The temperature and pressure ratios for an ideal gas undergoing a polytropic process are also defined in terms of n.

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Chowdhury Fatema
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123 views

Polytropic Process of An Ideal Gas

The document discusses polytropic processes of ideal gases. A polytropic process is one where pressure and volume are related by the equation pV^n = constant, where n is a constant that depends on the process. Specific cases include isobaric (n=0), isothermal (n=1), and isentropic or adiabatic (n=k, the ratio of specific heats). The temperature and pressure ratios for an ideal gas undergoing a polytropic process are also defined in terms of n.

Uploaded by

Chowdhury Fatema
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Polytropic Process of an Ideal Gas

Polytropic Process of an Ideal Gas


The relationship between the pressure and volume during
compression or expansion of an ideal gas can be described
analytically. One form of this relationship is given by the
equation
n

pV = constant

where n is a constant for the particular process.

A thermodynamic process described by the above equation is


called a Polytropic process.
For a Polytropic process between two states 1-2

p1V = p 2 V = constant
n
1

n
2

Remarks

p1V = p 2 V = constant
n
1

n
2

When n=0, p = constant, and the process is a


constant pressure or an isobaric process.
When n=1, pV = constant, and the process is
a constant temperature or an isothermal
process.
When n, it is called an isometric process.
When n=k, it is an called isentropic process.

Adiabatic Process
A thermodynamic process in which there is no heat
into or out of a system is called an adiabatic process.
To perform an ideal adiabatic process it is necessary,
that the system be surrounded by a perfect heat
insulator. If a compression or expansion of a gas
takes place in a short time, it would be nearly
adiabatic, such as the compression stroke of a
gasoline or a diesel engine.

Adiabatic-Polytropic (Isentropic) Process


Let an ideal gas undergo an infinitesimal adiabatic process:

dQ = 0
dU = nC v dT, and dW = PdV.
From the first law :
dU = dQ dW
nC v dT = PdV
Taking the derivative of the ideal gas law :
PV = nRT
results in
PdV + VdP = nRdT
Eliminating dT between these two equations and using
Cp Cv = R
results in :

dp C p dV
+
=0
p
CvV

Adiabatic-Polytropic (Isentropic) Process


Denote Cp/Cv = k, the ratio of specific heat capacities of the gas.
Then

Integration gives

dp
dV
+k
=0
p
V

ln(P) + k ln(V) = ln(constant)


So

pV k = constant

Remarks

For an adiabatic process


p1V1k = p2V2k
Work done during an adiabatic process:
W12 = (p1V1 p2V2)/(k-1)
Alternate expression: W12 = nCv(T1-T2), for
constant Cv

Ideal Gas Polytropic Process

From

p2 V1
=
p1 V2

p1V1=nRT1 and p2V2=nRT2


n

we get

p2 nRT1 / p1 T1 p2 p2
=
=
=
p1 nRT2 / p2 T2 p1 p1
T1 p2
or =
T2 p1

Similarly:

T2 V1
=
T1 V2

1 n
n

n 1

T2 p2
=
or
T1 p1

n 1
n

T1

T2

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