Thermodynamic processes There are two main types of thermodynamic processes: reversible process and irreversible process.

The reversible process is the ideal process which never occurs; the irreversible process is the natural process which is commonly found in the nature. We study reversible processes because they are standards to which we can compare different processes.

Definition of an irreversible process An irreversible process is one that cannot be executed in the reverse direction without any net change in the surroundings of the system. E.g. popping a balloon.

Not reversible without expanding energy

Examples of irreversible processes are as follows:

Relative motion with friction Falling of the water from the hill Electricity flow through a resistance. Throttling process Plastic deformation All real processes are irreversible due to irreversibilities. Irreversibilities are factors that make a process irreversible.

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 External irreversibility: These are associated with dissipating effects outside the working fluid. E.g., mechanical friction occurring during the process due to some external source. 2. Internal irreversibility: These are associated with dissipating effects within the working fluid. E.g., unrestricted expansion of the gas, viscosity and inertia of the gas.

Common sources of irreversibility are: 1. Entropy

The entropy of the system is not measured in absolute terms; it is rather measured in relative terms. The entropy of the system is measured in terms of the changes the system has undergone from the previous state to the final state. The process during which the entropy of the system remains constant is called as isentropic process. During an isentropic process, the value of entropy of the system at initial and final state remains constant. Thus during an isentropic process, the value of S=0.

The isentropic process can be reversible or irreversible. For the isentropic process to be reversible, it is essential that it is an adiabatic process also; if it is not adiabatic, then the isentropic process cannot be reversible. This also implies that the process which is reversible and adiabatic is always an isentropic process.

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In actual practice the reversible isentropic process never really occurs, it is only an ideal process. In actual practice, whenever there is a change in the state of the system, the entropy of the system increases. The various causes of the increase in entropy of the closed system are:

i.

Due to external interaction: In closed system the mass of the system remains constant but it can exchange the heat with surroundings. Any change in the heat content of the system leads to disturbance in the system, which tends to increase the entropy of the system.

ii.

Internal changes in the system: Due to internal changes in the movements of the molecules of the system, there is further disturbance inside the system. This causes irreversiblities inside the system and an increase in its entropy. 2. Friction Friction is invariably present in real systems. It causes irreversibility in the process as work done does not show equivalent rise in kinetic or potential energy of the system. Fraction of energy wasted due to frictional effects leads to deviation from reversible states.

3. Electrical resistance Its presence in the system causes dissipative effects and thus leads to irreversibilities. Due to electric resistance, dissipation of electrical work into internal energy or heat takes place. The reverse from heat or internal energy to electrical work is not possible.
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4. Inelastic solid deformation Deformation of solids, when of inelastic type is also irreversible.

Note that curve D is a plastic material. Notice a very large strain for a small stress. The material will not go back to its original length.

5. Free expansion Free expansion refers to the expansion of unresisted type such as expansion in a vacuum. During this unresisted expansion, the work interaction is zero and without expense of any work, it is not possible to restore initial states. Thus free expansion is irreversible.

Consider two vessels A and B which are connected to each other by a pipe and a valve. Vessel A is initially filled with a fluid at a certain pressure and B is completely evacuated. By opening the valve, the fluid in the vessel A will expand until it fills both vessels. This process is known as
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free or unresisted expansion. It is an irreversible process because it needs external work to be done to restore the fluid to its initial condition.

6. Heat transfer through a finite temperature difference It is accompanied by irreversible state changes and thus make processes irreversible. Note that heat transfer occurs only when there exists temperature difference between bodies undergoing heat transfer.

7. Non equilibrium during the process Irreversibilities are introduced due to lack of thermodynamic equilibrium during the process. Non equilibrium may be due to mechanical inequilibrium, chemical inequilibrium, thermal inequilibrium, electrical inequilibrium and are called mechanical irreversibility, chemical irreversibility, thermal irreversibility and electrical irreversibility respectively.

Bibliography and references Singh, O., Applied thermodynamics, New Age International Johnston, R. M., Brockett, W. A., Bock, A. E. & Keating, E. L., 1992, Elements of Applied Thermodynamics, edn 5, Naval Institute Press

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