1 Thermodynamics

Chapter 4
Reversible Processes (Flow & Steady Flow )
Irreversible Processes

Dr. Mahmood Shaker Jamel

Department of Engineering of Mechanics
Engineering College – University of Basrah
 Steasdy Flow Reversible Processes :
The energy balance for a steady-flow device (nozzle, compressor, turbine and pump) with one inlet and one
exit is:
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K E1 + P E1 + I E1 + W E1 + Q = K E2 + P E2 + I E2 + W E2 + W

C12 C22
+ g Z 1 + U 1 + P1 V 1 + Q = + g Z 2 + U 2 + P2 V2 + W One-inlet-one-exit Nozzle
𝟐 𝟐

C12 C12
+ g Z1 + H1 + Q = + g Z1 + H2 + W
𝟐 𝟐

Q – W = ∆H + ∆K E + ∆P E
Its differential form is:
dq – dw = dh + dke + dpe
If the device undergoes an internally reversible process, the heat transfer term δq can be replaced by dh - vdP
since
h = u + pv
dh = du + p dv + v dp
dh – v dp = du + p dv
dq = du + p dv
dq = dh – v dp
 Then the energy balance becomes
dh – v dp – dw = dh + dke + dpe
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By rearranging the above equation, the reversible steady-flow work can be expressed as
– dwreversible = v dp + dke +dpe
Integrating it form location 1 to location 2 yields

The above equation is the relation for the reversible work output associated with an internally reversible
process in a steady-flow device. When the changes in kinetic and potential energies are negligible, the relation
reduces to

The above equation states that the larger the specific volume, the larger the reversible work produced or
consumed by a steady-flow device. To minimize the work input during a compression process, one should keep
the specific volume of the working fluid as small as possible. In the same manner, to maximize the work output
during an expansion process, one should keep the specific volume of the working fluid as large as possible.
 One needs to know the relationship between the specific volume v and the pressure P for the given process to
perform the integration in the above relation. If an incompressible fluid is used as the working fluid, the specific
4 volume v is a constant. The relation for the reversible work output associated with an internally reversible process
in a steady-flow device is simplified to give
Wrev. = – V ( P2 – P1 ) – dke – dpe
Hydraulic turbines used in hydroelectric power plants run in a steady-flow process with incompressible fluid,
i.e., water, as the working fluid.

Water Flowing through a Hydraulic Turbine

If no work interactions are involved, like nozzle or pipe section, the above
equation is reduced to

where V is the velocity

of the fluid. This equation
is known as the Bernoulli
equation in fluid mechanics.
 Reversible Steady – flow Devices produce Most and Consume Least Work
The steady-flow devices deliver the most and consume the least work when it undergoes a reversible process.
5 Consider two steady-flow devices, one is reversible and the other is irreversible (actual process), operating
between the same inlet and exit states. The differential forms for the energy balance of these two devices are
δqact - δwact = dh + dke + dpe
δqrev - δwrev = dh + dke + dpe
The right hand sides of these two equations are the same. It gives,
qact - δwact = qrev - δwrev
Rearranging this equation gives,
δwrev - δwact = qrev - qact

Since qrev = Tds, the above equation becomes,

δwrev - δwact = Tds - qact

the increase of entropy principle gives

𝛅qact
ds ≥ 𝐓
Thus,
δwrev – δwact ≥ 0 or δwrev ≥ δwact Reversible Turbine Delivers more
. Work than Actual Turbine
 That is, for the same inlet and exit conditions, when the device undergoes a reversible process, a work-produce
device like turbine produces the most work (w is positive), or a work-consuming device like compressor
6 consumes the least work (w is negative).

Some work is done on or by the gas by virtue of the forces acting between the moving gas and it’s surrounding,
us For reversible adiabatic flow process for a perfect gas, for the flow equation :

C12 C12
+ g Z 1 + H1 + Q = + g Z 1 + H2 + W
𝟐 𝟐

Adiabatic means, Q = 0, & same elevation Z 1 = Z 2

C12 − C22
W = ( h1 – h2 ) + ( )
𝟐
 Irreversible Process
Irreversible processes are a result of straying away from the curve, therefore decreasing the amount of overall
7 work done. An irreversible process is a thermodynamic process that departs from equilibrium. In terms of
pressure and volume, it occurs when the pressure (or the volume) of a system changes dramatically and
instantaneously that the volume (or the pressure) do not have the time to reach equilibrium.

A classic example of an irreversible process is allowing a certain volume of gas to release into a vacuum. By
releasing pressure on a sample and allowing it to occupy a large space, the system and surroundings are not in
equilibrium during the expansion process.

Here little work occurs. However, there is a requirement of significant work, with a corresponding amount of
energy dissipation as heat flows to the environment. This is in order to reverse the process.
 Non-Flow Irreversible Processes :
free expansion
8 Consider an ideal gas that is held in half of a thermally insulated container by a wall in the middle of the
container. The other half of the container is under vacuum with no molecules inside. Now, if we remove the wall
in the middle quickly, the gas expands and fills up the entire container immediately, as shown in (Figure).
A gas expanding from half of a container to the entire container (a) before and (b) after the wall in the middle is
removed.

Because half of the container is under vacuum before the gas expands there, we do not expect any work to be
done by the system that is, W = 0 because no force from the vacuum is exerted on the gas during the expansion.
If the container is thermally insulated from the rest of the environment, we do not expect any heat transfer to the
system either, so Q = 0 . Then the first law of thermodynamics leads to the change of the internal energy of the
system,
∆U = Q – W
For an ideal gas, if the internal energy doesn’t change, then the temperature stays the same i.e T1 = T2 . Thus, the
equation of state of the ideal gas gives us the final pressure of the gas, 𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟐
P V = n R T then P V = Constant i.e =
𝑷 𝟐 𝑽𝟏
Where PO is the pressure of the gas before the expansion. The volume is doubled and the pressure is halved, but
nothing else seems to have changed during the expansion.
 Let us see another example of irreversibility in thermal processes. Consider two objects in thermal contact: one
at temperature and the other at temperature T2 > T1 , as shown in (Figure)
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Spontaneous heat flow from an object at higher temperature T2 to another at lower temperature T1. We know
from common personal experience that heat flows from a hotter object to a colder one. For example, when we
hold a few pieces of ice in our hands, we feel cold because heat has left our hands into the ice. The opposite is
true when we hold one end of a metal rod while keeping the other end over a fire.
 Steady Flow Irreversible Processes :
Throttling Process ( Isenthalpic Process )
10 A throttling process is a thermodynamics process, in which the enthalpy of the gas or medium remains constant
( h = constant ). In fact, the throttling process is one of isenthalpic processes ( S = Constant ). During the
throttling process no work is done by or on the system ( dW = 0 ), and usually there is no heat transfer (adiabatic)
from or into the system ( dQ = 0 ). On the other the throttling process cannot be isentropic, it is a fundamentally
irreversible process. Characteristics of throttling process:
1. No Work Transfer
2. No Heat Transfer
3. Irreversible Process
4. Isenthalpic Process

A throttling of the flow causes significant reduction in pressure, because a throttling device causes a local
pressure loss. A throttling can be achieved simply by introducing a restriction into a line through which a gas or
liquid flows. This restriction is commonly done by means of a partially open valve or a porous plug. Such
pressure losses are generally termed minor losses, although they often account for a major portion of the head
loss. The minor losses are roughly proportional to the square of the flow rate .
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