Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 7th Edition

Yunus A. Cengel, Michael A. Boles

McGraw-Hill, 2011

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION AND
BASIC CONCEPTS
Mehmet Kanoglu
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Objectives
Identify the unique vocabulary associated with
thermodynamics through the precise definition of
basic concepts to form a sound foundation for the
development of the principles of thermodynamics.
Review the metric SI and the English unit systems.
Explain the basic concepts of thermodynamics such
as system, state, state postulate, equilibrium,
process, and cycle.
Review concepts of temperature, temperature scales,
pressure, and absolute and gage pressure.
Introduce an intuitive systematic problem-solving
technique.
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THERMODYNAMICS AND ENERGY

Thermodynamics: The science of
energy.
Energy: The ability to cause changes.
The name thermodynamics stems from
the Greek words therme (heat) and
dynamis (power).
Conservation of energy principle:
During an interaction, energy can change
from one form to another but the total
amount of energy remains constant.
Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
The first law of thermodynamics: An
expression of the conservation of energy
principle.
The first law asserts that energy is a
thermodynamic property.

Energy cannot be created

or destroyed; it can only
change forms (the first law).
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The second law of thermodynamics:

It asserts that energy has quality as well
as quantity, and actual processes occur
in the direction of decreasing quality of
energy.

Classical thermodynamics: A
macroscopic approach to the study of
thermodynamics that does not require a
knowledge of the behavior of individual
particles.

It provides a direct and easy way to the

solution of engineering problems and it
is used in this text.

Statistical thermodynamics: A
microscopic approach, based on the
average behavior of large groups of
individual particles.

It is used in this text only in the

supporting role.

Conservation of energy
principle for the human body.

Heat flows in the direction of

decreasing temperature.

Application Areas of Thermodynamics

IMPORTANCE OF DIMENSIONS AND UNITS

Any physical quantity can be characterized by
dimensions.
The magnitudes assigned to the dimensions
are called units.
Some basic dimensions such as mass m,
length L, time t, and temperature T are
selected as primary or fundamental
dimensions, while others such as velocity V,
energy E, and volume V are expressed in
terms of the primary dimensions and are called
secondary dimensions, or derived
dimensions.
Metric SI system: A simple and logical system
based on a decimal relationship between the
various units.
English system: It has no apparent
systematic numerical base, and various units
in this system are related to each other rather
arbitrarily.

Some SI and English Units

Work = Force Distance

1 J = 1 Nm
1 cal = 4.1868 J
1 Btu = 1.0551 kJ

The SI unit prefixes are used in all

branches of engineering.

The definition of the force units.

W weight
m mass
g gravitational
acceleration
A body weighing
60 kgf on earth
will weigh only 10
kgf on the moon.

The relative magnitudes of the force

units newton (N), kilogram-force
(kgf), and pound-force (lbf).
The weight of a unit
mass at sea level.

Dimensional homogeneity
All equations must be dimensionally homogeneous.

Unity Conversion Ratios

All nonprimary units (secondary units) can be
formed by combinations of primary units.
Force units, for example, can be expressed as

They can also be expressed more conveniently

as unity conversion ratios as

Unity conversion ratios are identically equal to 1 and

are unitless, and thus such ratios (or their inverses)
can be inserted conveniently into any calculation to
properly convert units.

To be dimensionally
homogeneous, all the
terms in an equation
must have the same unit.

SYSTEMS AND CONTROL VOLUMES

System: A quantity of matter or a region in

space chosen for study.
Surroundings: The mass or region outside
the system
Boundary: The real or imaginary surface that
separates the system from its surroundings.
The boundary of a system can be fixed or
movable.
Systems may be considered to be closed or
open.

Closed system
(Control mass):
A fixed
amount of mass,
and no mass
can cross its
boundary.

10

An open system (a
control volume) with one
inlet and one exit.

Open system (control volume): A properly

selected region in space.
It usually encloses a device that involves
mass flow such as a compressor, turbine, or
nozzle.
Both mass and energy can cross the
boundary of a control volume.
Control surface: The boundaries of a control
volume. It can be real or imaginary.

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PROPERTIES
OF A SYSTEM

Property: Any characteristic of a

system.
Some familiar properties are
pressure P, temperature T, volume
V, and mass m.
Properties are considered to be
either intensive or extensive.
Intensive properties: Those that
are independent of the mass of a
system, such as temperature,
pressure, and density.
Extensive properties: Those
whose values depend on the size
or extentof the system.
Criterion to differentiate intensive
Specific properties: Extensive
and extensive properties.
properties per unit mass.

12

Continuum

Matter is made up of atoms that are

widely spaced in the gas phase. Yet
it is very convenient to disregard the
atomic nature of a substance and
view it as a continuous,
homogeneous matter with no holes,
that is, a continuum.
The continuum idealization allows us
to treat properties as point functions
and to assume the properties vary
continually in space with no jump
discontinuities.
This idealization is valid as long as
the size of the system we deal with
is large relative to the space
between the molecules.
This is the case in practically all
problems.
In this text we will limit our
consideration to substances that can
be modeled as a continuum.

Despite the large gaps between

molecules, a substance can be treated as
a continuum because of the very large
number of molecules even in an
extremely small volume.

13

DENSITY AND SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Density

Specific volume

Specific gravity: The ratio

of the density of a
substance to the density of
some standard substance at
a specified temperature
(usually water at 4C).
Specific weight: The
weight of a unit volume
of a substance.

Density is
mass per unit
volume;
specific volume
is volume per
unit mass.
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STATE AND EQUILIBRIUM

Thermodynamics deals with

equilibrium states.
Equilibrium: A state of balance.
In an equilibrium state there are no
unbalanced potentials (or driving
forces) within the system.
Thermal equilibrium: If the
temperature is the same throughout
the entire system.
Mechanical equilibrium: If there is
no change in pressure at any point of
the system with time.
Phase equilibrium: If a system
involves two phases and when the
mass of each phase reaches an
equilibrium level and stays there.
Chemical equilibrium: If the
chemical composition of a system
does not change with time, that is, no
chemical reactions occur.

A system at two different states.

A closed system reaching thermal

equilibrium.

15

The State Postulate

The number of properties
required to fix the state of a
system is given by the state
postulate:
The state of a simple
compressible system is
completely specified by
two independent,
intensive properties.
Simple compressible
system: If a system involves
no electrical, magnetic,
gravitational, motion, and
surface tension effects.

The state of nitrogen is

fixed by two independent,
intensive properties.
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PROCESSES AND CYCLES

Process: Any change that a system undergoes from one equilibrium state to another.
Path: The series of states through which a system passes during a process.
To describe a process completely, one should specify the initial and final states, as
well as the path it follows, and the interactions with the surroundings.
Quasistatic or quasi-equilibrium process: When a process proceeds in such a
manner that the system remains infinitesimally close to an equilibrium state at all
times.

17

Process diagrams plotted by

employing thermodynamic properties
as coordinates are very useful in
visualizing the processes.
Some common properties that are
used as coordinates are temperature
T, pressure P, and volume V (or
specific volume v).
The prefix iso- is often used to
designate a process for which a
particularproperty remains constant.
Isothermal process: A process
during which the temperature T
remains constant.
Isobaric process: A process during
which the pressure P remains
constant.
Isochoric (or isometric) process: A
process during which the specific
volume v remains constant.
Cycle: A process during which the
initial and final states are identical.

The P-V diagram of a compression

process.

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The Steady-Flow Process

The term steady implies no

change with time. The
opposite of steady is
unsteady, or transient.
A large number of
engineering devices operate
for long periods of time
under the same conditions,
and they are classified as
steady-flow devices.
Steady-flow process: A
process during which a fluid
flows through a control
volume steadily.
Steady-flow conditions can
be closely approximated by
devices that are intended for
continuous operation such
as turbines, pumps, boilers,
condensers, and heat
exchangers or power plants
or refrigeration systems.

During a steadyflow process, fluid

properties within
the control
volume may
change with
position but not
with time.

Under steady-flow conditions, the mass

and energy contents of a control volume
remain constant.

19

TEMPERATURE AND THE ZEROTH LAW OF

THERMODYNAMICS

The zeroth law of thermodynamics: If two bodies are in thermal

equilibrium with a third body, they are also in thermal equilibrium with
each other.
By replacing the third body with a thermometer, the zeroth law can be
restated as two bodies are in thermal equilibrium if both have the same
temperature reading even if they are not in contact.

Two bodies reaching

thermal equilibrium
after being brought
into contact in an
isolated enclosure.

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Temperature Scales

P versus T plots
All temperature scales are based on
of the
some easily reproducible states such as
experimental
the freezing and boiling points of water:
data obtained
the ice point and the steam point.
from a constantIce point: A mixture of ice and water that
volume gas
is in equilibrium with air saturated with
thermometer
vapor at 1 atm pressure (0C or 32F).
using four
Steam point: A mixture of liquid water
different gases
and water vapor (with no air) in
equilibrium at 1 atm pressure (100C or at different (but
low) pressures.
212F).
Celsius scale: in SI unit system
Fahrenheit scale: in English unit system
Thermodynamic temperature scale: A
temperature scale that is independent of
the properties of any substance.
Kelvin scale (SI) Rankine scale (E)
A temperature scale nearly identical to
the Kelvin scale is the ideal-gas
temperature scale. The temperatures
on this scale are measured using a
constant-volume gas thermometer.
A constant-volume gas thermometer would
read 273.15C at absolute zero pressure. 21

Comparison of
temperature
scales.

Comparison of
magnitudes of
various
temperature
units.

The reference temperature in the original Kelvin scale was the ice point,
273.15 K, which is the temperature at which water freezes (or ice melts).
The reference point was changed to a much more precisely reproducible
point, the triple point of water (the state at which all three phases of water
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coexist in equilibrium), which is assigned the value 273.16 K.

PRESSURE
Pressure: A normal force exerted
by a fluid per unit area

68 kg

136 kg

Afeet=300cm2

0.23 kgf/cm2

0.46 kgf/cm2

P=68/300=0.23 kgf/cm2

The normal stress (or pressure) on the

feet of a chubby person is much greater
than on the feet of a slim person.
Some basic
pressure
gages.

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Absolute pressure: The actual pressure at a given position. It is

measured relative to absolute vacuum (i.e., absolute zero pressure).
Gage pressure: The difference between the absolute pressure and
the local atmospheric pressure. Most pressure-measuring devices are
calibrated to read zero in the atmosphere, and so they indicate gage
pressure.
Vacuum pressures: Pressures below atmospheric pressure.
Throughout
this text, the
pressure P
will denote
absolute
pressure
unless
specified
otherwise.

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Variation of Pressure with Depth

When the variation of density
with elevation is known

The pressure of a fluid at rest

increases with depth (as a
result of added weight).

Free-body diagram of a rectangular

fluid element in equilibrium.
25

In a room filled with

a gas, the variation
of pressure with
height is negligible.

Pressure in a liquid
at rest increases
linearly with
distance from the
free surface.
The pressure is the
same at all points on
a horizontal plane in
a given fluid
regardless of
geometry, provided
that the points are
interconnected by the
same fluid.
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Pascals law: The pressure applied to a

confined fluid increases the pressure
throughout by the same amount.

The area ratio A2/A1 is

called the ideal mechanical
advantage of the hydraulic
lift.

Lifting of a large weight

by a small force by the
application of Pascals
law.

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The Manometer
It is commonly used to measure small and
moderate pressure differences. A manometer
contains one or more fluids such as mercury, water,
alcohol, or oil.
Measuring the
pressure drop across a
flow section or a flow
device by a differential
manometer.

The basic
manometer.

In stacked-up fluid layers, the

pressure change across a fluid layer
of density and height h is gh.

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Other Pressure Measurement Devices

Bourdon tube: Consists of a hollow metal tube

bent like a hook whose end is closed and
connected to a dial indicator needle.

Pressure transducers: Use various techniques

to convert the pressure effect to an electrical
effect such as a change in voltage, resistance,
or capacitance.

Pressure transducers are smaller and faster,

and they can be more sensitive, reliable, and
precise than their mechanical counterparts.

Strain-gage pressure transducers: Work by

having a diaphragm deflect between two
chambers open to the pressure inputs.

Piezoelectric transducers: Also called solidstate pressure transducers, work on the principle
that an electric potential is generated in a
crystalline substance when it is subjected to
mechanical pressure.

Various types of Bourdon tubes used

to measure pressure.

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THE BAROMETER AND ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Atmospheric pressure is measured by a device called a barometer; thus, the

atmospheric pressure is often referred to as the barometric pressure.

A frequently used pressure unit is the standard atmosphere, which is defined as

the pressure produced by a column of mercury 760 mm in height at 0C (Hg =
13,595 kg/m3) under standard gravitational acceleration (g = 9.807 m/s2).

The basic barometer.

The length or the

cross-sectional area
of the tube has no
effect on the height
of the fluid column of
a barometer,
provided that the
tube diameter is
large enough to
avoid surface tension
(capillary) effects.
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PROBLEM-SOLVING TECHNIQUE
Step 1: Problem Statement
Step 2: Schematic
Step 3: Assumptions and Approximations
Step 4: Physical Laws
Step 5: Properties
Step 6: Calculations
Step 7: Reasoning, Verification, and Discussion
EES (Engineering Equation Solver) (Pronounced as ease):
EES is a program that solves systems of linear or nonlinear
algebraic or differential equations numerically. It has a large
library of built-in thermodynamic property functions as well as
mathematical functions. Unlike some software packages, EES
does not solve engineering problems; it only solves the equations
supplied by the user.
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Summary

Thermodynamics and energy

Application areas of thermodynamics

Importance of dimensions and units

Some SI and English units, Dimensional homogeneity,
Unity conversion ratios

Systems and control volumes

Properties of a system
Density and specific gravity
State and equilibrium
The state postulate

Processes and cycles

The steady-flow process

Temperature and the zeroth law of thermodynamics

Temperature scales

Pressure
Variation of pressure with depth

The manometer and the atmospheric pressure

Problem solving technique

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