Abstract
This chapter starts with the treatment of changes of state in practical applications where the quasistatic conditions are not fulfilled; the nature of spontaneous and irreversible processes is discussed, compared to reversible processes. In the main part of the chapter, heat engines, refrigerators and heat pumps are described in detail. The treatment is based on equilibrium calculations; irreversibility is only considered as losses due to the nonquasistatic nature of the operation. As the complete thermodynamic formalism is already described in previous chapters, a rather straightforward formulation of heat transfer and energy production, along with the state-function property of energy and entropy enables an easy calculation of the efficiency and the coefficient of performance of practical devices. Besides the necessary treatment of the theoretically important Carnot engines, the Rankin cycle and practical devices based on this cycle are described in details. At the end of the chapter, a detailed thermodynamic analysis of the Joule–Thomson effect is also given, due to its importance in refrigerators and gas liquefiers.
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Notes
- 1.
The Greek word στατικος [statikos] means steady or standstill. The Latin comparative and conjunctive quasi is a compound word coined from quam and si, meaning “as if”, “approximately”, or “nearly”. In this context, quasistatic means “nearly equilibrium”.
- 2.
The word reversible is a derivative of the Latin noun reversio meaning return to a former state. Thus, reversible means “able to return”.
- 3.
Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot (1796–1832), a French engineer and military officer, published his 118-page book “Réflexions sur la puissance motrice du feu et sur les machines propres à développer cette puissance” 1824 in Paris. The long title means: reflections on the motive power of fire (i.e., heat) and on machines fitted to develop that power.
- 4.
William John Macquorn Rankine (1820–1872), a Scottish engineer and physicist, played an important role during the early development of thermodynamics both in theory and construction of devices of practical use. He elaborated the modern theory of steam engines in 1850s and 1860s.
- 5.
James Prescott Joule (1818–1899) was a Scottish brewer and hobby scientist. His scientific activity was most fruitful in experimental studies of energy transformations. The SI unit of energy is named after him.
Further Reading
Atkins P, de Paula J (2009) Physical chemistry, 9th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Callen HB (1985) Thermodynamics and an introduction to thermostatistics, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York
Carnot S (1824) Réflexions sur la puissance motrice du feu et sur les machines propres à développer cette puissance. Bachelier, Paris
English translation: Carnot S, Thurston RH (editor and translator) (1890) Reflections on the motive power of heat and on machines fitted to develop that power. Wiley, New York
Denbigh KG (1981) The principles of chemical equilibrium, 4th edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Guggenheim EA (1985) Thermodynamics: an advanced treatment for chemists and physicists, 7th edn. North Holland, Amsterdam
Silbey LJ, Alberty RA, Moungi GB (2004) Physical chemistry, 4th edn. Wiley, New York
Sonntag RE, Borgnakke C (2001) Introduction to engineering thermodynamics. Wiley, New York
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Keszei, E. (2012). Thermodynamic Processes and Engines. In: Chemical Thermodynamics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19864-9_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19864-9_5
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