First Law of

Thermodynamics
MODULE 2
 Contents:
• First Law of Thermodynamics:
• Joule's experiment
• Equivalence of heat and work
• Statement of the first law of thermodynamics
• Extension of the First law to non-cyclic processes
• Energy
• Energy as a property
• Modes of energy
• Extension of the first law to control volume:
• Steady flow energy equation (SFEE) and its important applications.
 Contents:
• Textbook 1: ch.4- 4.1-4.12
• Self -Study Component: Application of SFEE for compressor and Boiler.
 Internal Energy:
• Internal energy (U) is the total energy contained within a system due to the
microscopic motion and interactions of its particles. It includes:
• Kinetic Energy: Due to the movement of molecules (translational, rotational, and
vibrational).
• Potential Energy: Due to intermolecular and atomic forces (bond energy, electrostatic
forces, etc.).
• Heat Transfer and Internal Energy
• Heat (Q) is a mode of energy transfer between systems or between a system and its
surroundings due to a temperature difference. It affects the internal energy of a system
in the following ways:
1. Increase in Internal Energy: When heat is added to a system, its internal
energy increases, leading to:
1. Higher molecular motion (kinetic energy).
2. Phase transitions (solid to liquid to gas).
3. Increased temperature (if no phase change occurs).
2. Decrease in Internal Energy: When heat is removed from a system, its
internal energy decreases, resulting in:
1. Slower molecular motion.
2. Phase transitions (gas to liquid to solid).
3. Decreased temperature.
• Joule's Law of Thermodynamics states that the internal energy of an ideal gas
depends only on its temperature and not on its volume or pressure.
• Mathematical Formulation:
• U=f(T)
• This means that for an ideal gas, the internal energy (U) is a function of temperature (T) only,
and any change in internal energy is directly related to the change in temperature.
 Law of Conservation of Energy:
• The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or
destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another, but the total energy
of an isolated system remains constant.
• Mathematical Expression:
• Einitial=Efinal
• ΔE=Q−W
• where:
• ΔE= Change in total energy of the system
• Q = Heat added to the system
• W = Work done by the system
• This equation is derived from the First Law of Thermodynamics, which applies the
conservation of energy principle to thermodynamic systems.
• Forms of Energy:
• Energy exists in different forms, including:
• Kinetic Energy (KEKEKE) – Energy due to motion
• Potential Energy (PEPEPE) – Energy stored due to position
• Internal Energy (UUU) – Energy associated with microscopic molecular motion
• Thermal Energy – Energy related to temperature
• Chemical Energy – Energy stored in chemical bonds
• Electrical Energy – Energy due to electric fields
 First Law of Thermodynamics
• The First Law of Thermodynamics is a form of the Law of Conservation of
Energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only
transferred or converted from one form to another. Mathematically, it is
expressed as:
• “When a system undergoes a thermodynamic cycle then the net heat supplied
to the system from the surroundings is equal to net work done by the system
on its surroundings.”

• Where ∫ represents the sum for a complete cycle

• The First Law of Thermodynamics may also be stated as follows :
• “Heat and work are mutually convertible but since energy can neither be
created nor destroyed, the total energy associated with an energy conversion
remains constant”.
Or
• “No machine can produce energy without corresponding expenditure of
energy, i.e., it is impossible to construct a perpetual motion machine of first
kind”.
• The work input to the paddle wheel is
measured by the fall of weight, while the
corresponding temperature rise of liquid
in the insulated container is measured
by the thermometer. It is already known
to us from experiments on heat transfer
that temperature rise can also be
produced by heat transfer.
• The experiments show :
• A definite quantity of work is always
required to accomplish the same
temperature rise obtained with a unit
amount of heat.
• Regardless of whether the temperature of
liquid is raised by work transfer or heat
transfer, the liquid can be returned by heat
transfer in opposite direction to the identical
state from which it started.
• The above results lead to the inference that
work, and heat are different forms of
something more general, which is called
energy.
 ENERGY—A PROPERTY OF SYSTEM
• Consider a system which changes its state from state 1 to state 2 by
following the path L, and returns from state 2 to state 1 by following the
path M.
• So the system undergoes a cycle. Writing the first law
• for path L: QL = ∆EL + WL and
• for path M: QM = ∆EM + WM
• The processes L and M together constitute a
• cycle, for which dW = dQ
• WL + W M = Q L + Q M
• QL – W L = W M – Q M
• From equations,
• it yields ∆ EL = – ∆ EM
• Similarly, had the system returned from state 2 to state 1 by following the
path N instead of path M
• ∆ EL = – ∆ E N
• From equations
• ∆ EM = ∆ E N
• Thus, it is seen that the change in energy between two states of a system is
the same, whatever path the system may follow in undergoing that change
of state.
• If some arbitrary value of energy is assigned to state 2, the value of energy
at state 1 is fixed independent of the path the system follows.
• Therefore, energy has a definite value for every state of the system.
• Hence, it is a point function and a property of the system.
 ENERGY OF AN ISOLATED SYSTEM
• An isolated system is one in which there is no interaction of the
system with the surroundings.
• For an isolated system, dQ = 0, dW = 0
• The first law of thermodynamics gives dE = 0 or E = constant
• The energy of an isolated system is always constant
PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE OF THE FIRST
KIND—PMM 1
• The first law of thermodynamics states the general principle of the conservation of
energy. Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but only gets transformed from
one form to another.
• There can be no machine which would continuously supply mechanical work
without some form of energy disappearing simultaneously.
• Such a fictitious machine is called a perpetual motion machine of the first kind, or
in brief, PMM 1. A PMM 1 is thus impossible.
• The converse of the above statement is also true, i.e., there can be no machine
which would continuously consume work without some other form of energy
appearing simultaneously.
• A system receives 50 kJ of heat while expanding with volume change
of 0.14 m3 against an atmosphere of 1.2 × 105 N/m2. A mass of 90 kg
in the surroundings is also lifted through a distance of 5.5 metres.
• (i) Find the change in energy of the system.
• (ii) The system is returned to its initial volume by an adiabatic process
which requires 110 kJ of work. Find the change in energy of the
system.
• (iii) For the combined processes of (i) and (ii) determine the change in
energy of the system.
APPLICATION OF FIRST LAW TO STEADY FLOW
PROCESS
• Steady Flow Energy Equation (S.F.E.E.) In many practical problems, the
rate at which the fluid flows through a machine or piece of apparatus is
constant.
• This type of flow is called steady flow.
• Assumptions :
• The following assumptions are made in the system analysis :
• The mass flow through the system remains constant
• Fluid is uniform in composition
• The only interaction between the system and surroundings are work and heat
• The state of fluid at any point remains constant with time
• In the analysis only potential, kinetic and flow energies are considered.
• Fig. 4.30 shows a schematic flow process for an open system. An open
system is one in which both mass and energy may cross the
boundaries.
• A wide interchange of energy may take place within an open system.
• Let the system be an automatic engine with the inlet manifold at the first
state point and exhaust pipe as the second point.
• There would be an interchange of chemical energy in the fuel, kinetic
energy of moving particles, internal energy of gas and heat transferred
and shaft work within the system.
• From Fig. 4.30 it is obvious that if there is no variation of flow of mass or
energy with time across the boundaries of the system the steady flow
will prevail.
• The conditions may pass through the cyclic or non-cyclic changes within
the system.
• As a result, the mass entering the system equals the mass leaving, also
energy entering the system equals energy leaving.
• C = Velocity of fluid ,
• Z = Height above datum,
• p = Pressure of the fluid,
• u = Internal energy per kg of fluid,
• pv = Energy required for 1 kg of fluid.
• This equation is applicable to any medium in any steady flow.
• It is applicable not only to rotary machines such as centrifugal fans,
pumps and compressors but also to reciprocating machines such as
steam engines.
• In a steady flow the rate of mass flow of fluid at any section is the
same as at any other section.
• Consider any section of cross-sectional area A, where the fluid velocity
is C, the rate of volume flow past the section is CA.
• Also, since mass flow is volume flow divided by specific volume,
ENERGY RELATIONS FOR FLOW
PROCESS
• The internal energy is a function of temperature only and it is a point function.
• Therefore, for the same two temperatures, change in internal energy is the same
whatever may be the process, non-flow, or steady flow, reversible or irreversible.
• For the same value of Q transferred to non-flow and steady flow process and for the
same temperature range, we can equate the values of eqns. (4.47) and (4.48) for (Q –
∆U).
ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS OF STEADY FLOW
ENERGY EQUATION (S.F.E.E.)
• Water Turbine Refer to Fig. 4.32. In a water turbine, water is supplied from a height.
• The potential energy of water is converted into kinetic energy when it enters into the
turbine and part of it is converted into useful work which is used to generate
electricity.
• Considering centre of turbine shaft as datum, the energy equation can be written as
follows :
W is positive because work is done by the system (or work comes out of the
boundary).
Steam or Gas Turbine
• In a steam or gas turbine steam or gas is passed through the turbine and part of its
energy is converted into work in the turbine.
• This output of the turbine runs a generator to produce electricity as shown in Fig.
4.33.
• The steam or gas leaves the turbine at lower pressure or temperature.