Thermodynamics 1

Lecturer: Ms Moletsane

Lesson 3: Reversible Work and the P-V-

diagram

E&McC: Chapter 1 p11-15

Study Guide: Learning Unit 1 p8
Reversible Work
E&McC p11

Area A Force exerted by piston on fluid:

Cylinder
F=pA
Fluid p piston piston F Move piston through distance dl
Small amount of work done on system:
dW = - F dl
dl = dv
= - (p A) dl
P = - p (A dl)
2 1 = - p dV
Work is the area under a process-
line on the P-V-diagram
Now, v = V/m V = m v and dV = m dv
dV V
Thus, for a gas with mass m:
dW = - m p dv
Reversible Work
E&McC p12,13

2
Compression Process: Total work done on system: W = ∫1 dW

Expansion Process:

Thus: Wcompress = - Wexpansion

W = m (area under process-curve) on p-v-diagram

W = (area under process-curve) on p-V-diagram
 Reversible Work
E&McC p12,13

Compression Expansion
Work Input Work Output

(1.2)

p is expressed as a function of v: p = cv; p = c/v 2; p = av n; p = c/v n

This relation between p and v describes:

• the shape of the process-curve
• How the properties of state 1 changes
to the properties of state 2
Thermodynamic Cycle
E&McC p13

Cycle When a fluid undergoes a series of processes and finally returns

to its initial state, it has undergone a thermodynamic cycle

• A series of reversible processes

presents a reversible cycle
• A reversible cycle forms a closed
figure when plotted on a p-v-
diagram
• The area enclosed in this closed
figure (reversible cycle) represents
the net work of the cycle
Sign Rules for Reversible Cycles
E&McC p13

Work Input Cycle (+):

p 4
1 Cycle Work = Enclosed Area
W = ∑ Wi = - W12 - W23 + W34 + W41
W 3

2 Anti-clockwise Cycle → Net Work Input

Work Output Cycle (-):

3
p Cycle Work = Enclosed Area
2
W = ∑ Wi = W12 - W23 - W34 + W41
W 4
Clockwise Cycle → Net Work Output
1

V
 End of Lesson 3
Summary
Reversible Work:
• Work is represented by the area under a
process-line on the P-V-diagram
• Wcompress = - Wexpansion
• Direction of the Process → Work Input
or Work Output
• Direction of Cycles → Work Input or
Work Output
Homework
• Study E&McC p11-10
• Look at examples 1.1 & 1.2
• Exercise: Problems 1.2, 1.3 & 1.4 E&McC p24

Assignment 3
• Attempt Problems 1.10 to 1.13 in PT, pp. 24
Assignments 1 for Week 1 and 2

 Attempt quiz 1 on the e-Thuto

Due date 20th February 2019