Thermodynamic Processes

Chapter 12
THERMODYNAMICS
 What is Thermodynamic process
Defined by change in a system, a thermodynamic
process is a passage of a thermodynamic system from
an initial to a final state of thermodynamic
equilibrium. The initial and final states are the defining
elements of the process. The actual course of the
process is not the primary concern, and thus often is
ignored. This is the customary default meaning of the
term 'thermodynamic process'. In general, during the
actual course of a thermodynamic process, the system
passes through physical states which are not
describable as thermodynamic states, because they
are far from internal thermodynamic equilibrium.
Such processes are useful for thermodynamic theory.
 A cycle of quasi-static processes
• A quasi-static thermodynamic process can be visualized by
graphically plotting the path of idealized changes to the
system's state variables. In the example, a cycle consisting
of four quasi-static processes is shown. Each process has a
well-defined start and end point in the pressure-volume
state space. In this particular example, processes 1 and 3
are isothermal, whereas processes 2 and 4 are isochoric.
The PV diagram is a particularly useful visualization of a
quasi-static process, because the area under the curve of a
process is the amount of work done by the system during
that process. Thus work is considered to be a process
variable, as its exact value depends on the particular path
taken between the start and end points of the process.
Similarly, heat may be transferred during a process, and it
too is a process variable.
An example of a cycle of idealized thermodynamic
processes which make up the Stirling cycle
 TYPES OF THERMONDYNAMIC
PROCESSES
• ISOTHERMAL PROCESS

• ADIABATIC PROCESS

• ISOCHORIC PROCESS

• ISOBARIC PROCESS

• CYCLIC PROCESS
 DEFINITIONS
Isothermal process
An isothermal process is a change of a system, in which
the temperature remains constant: ΔT = 0. This typically
occurs when a system is in contact with an outside
thermal reservoir (heat bath), and the change in the
system will occur slowly enough to allow the system to
continue to adjust to the temperature of the reservoir
through heat exchange. In contrast, an adiabatic process
is where a system exchanges no heat with its
surroundings (Q = 0). In other words, in an isothermal
process, the value ΔT = 0 and therefore the change in
internal energy ΔU = 0 (only for an ideal gas) but Q ≠ 0,
while in an adiabatic process, ΔT ≠ 0 but Q = 0.
 Adiabatic process

• In thermodynamics, an adiabatic process is one

that occurs without transfer of heat or mass of
substances between a thermodynamic system
and its surroundings. In an adiabatic process,
energy is transferred to the surroundings only as
work. The adiabatic process provides a rigorous
conceptual basis for the theory used to expound
the first law of thermodynamics,and as such it is
a key concept in thermodynamics.
P-V CURVES FOR ISOTHERMAL AND ADIABATIC
PROCESS FOR IDEAL GAS
 Isochoric process
• An isochoric process is one in which the volume is
held constant, with the result that the mechanical PV
work done by the system will be zero. On the other
hand, work can be done isochorically on the system,
An isochoric process is also known as an isometric
process or an isovolumetric process. An example
would be to place a closed tin can of material into a
fire. To a first approximation, the can will not expand,
and the only change will be that the contents gain
internal energy, evidenced by increase in temperature
and pressure.. The system is dynamically insulated, by
a rigid boundary, from the environment.
 Isobaric process

• An isobaric process occurs at constant pressure. An

example would be to have a movable piston in a
cylinder, so that the pressure inside the cylinder is
always at atmospheric pressure, although it is
separated from the atmosphere. In other words, the
system is dynamically connected, by a movable
boundary, to a constant-pressure reservoir.
 Cyclic process

a cyclic process, the system starts and returns to

the same thermodynamic state.
• The net work involved is the enclosed area on
the P-V diagram. If the cycle goes clockwise, the
system does work. A cyclic process is the
underlying principle for an engine.
• If the cycle goes counterclockwise, work is done
on the system every cycle. An example of such a
system is a refrigerator or air conditioner.
• Example of a Cyclic Process
• Expansion at constant temperature (T1).
• Removal of heat at constant volume (V2).
• Compression at constant temperature (T2).
• Addition of heat at constant volume (V1).