MALAYAN COLLEGES LAGUNA

PROCESSES OF IDEAL GASES

ISOMETRIC (Isochoric) PROCESS - Constant Volume Process
Isometric process is a reversible constant volume process.
P T
2 T2

V=C
P2 1 1 T1

P1 Q
V S1 S2 S
V1 = V 2

a.) Relationship between P and T.

T1/T2 = P1/P2
b.) Non-flow work.
Wn =
c.) The change of internal energy
ΔU = mcv(T2 – T1)

d.) The heat transferred

Q = mcv(T2 – T1)
e.) The change of enthalpy
ΔH = mcp(T2 - T1)
f.) Irreversible non-flow constant volume process
Q = ΔU + Wn
where: For reversible non-flow, Wn = 0
For irreversible nonflow, Wn ‡ 0
Wn = non-flow work
PROBLEMS
1. A reversible, non-flow, constant volume process decreases the internal energy
by 316.5kJ for 2.268 kg of a gas for which R=430J/kg-K and k=1.35. For the
process, determine a) the work, b) the heat, and c) the change of enthalpy if
the initial temperature is 204.4oC.
2. Twenty kilojoules of heat is added at constant volume to 2.5 kg ideal gas
(k=1.25, R=320 J/kg-K). The initial temperature of the gas is 32°C. Compute
for a) Wnf, b) T2, c) the change of internal energy, d.) the change of enthalpy.
(0, 311K, 20KJ, 25KJ)
3. A gas whose composition is not known has 42.2kJ of paddle work input at
constant volume of 566L. Initially, P1=138kPa, t1=26.7oC, finally t2=82.2oC,
What are (a.) the change of internal energy, and (b.) the heat transferred if
k=1.21?
4. The mass of a gas is 1.8 kg, for which R = 0.38 kJ/kg.K and k = 1.23
undergoes a constant volume process where P1 = 650kPa and t1 = 70oC. The
final pressure is P2 = 1950 kPa. The process resulted to additional 111
kJ of heat when the gas is stirred internally. Calculate (a )final temperature, T2,
(b) the work, and (c) the change of internal energy.
ISOBARIC PROCESS – Constant Pressure Process
Isobaric process is a reversible constant pressure process of a substance.

P 1 2 T 2 T2
P=C

P 1 T1
Q

V1 V2 V S1 S2 S

a) Relationship between V and T

T1/T2 = V1/V2
b) Nonflow work
Wn = = P(V2 – V1) = mR(T2 – T1)
c) Change of internal energy
ΔU = mcv (T2 – T1)
 d) Heat transferred
Q = mcp (T2 – T1)
e) Change of enthalpy
ΔH = mcp (T2 – T1)
PROBLEMS:
1. A certain gas with R = 320 J/kg-K and k = 1.3 undergoes a constant pressure
process where the initial temperature is 30oC. If 150 kJ are added to 4 kg of
this gas, determine; a) T2, b) change of enthalpy, c) change of internal energy,
d) work for non-flow process.
2. An ideal gas (R=2,075 J/kg-K & k=1.659) goes through a reversible constant
pressure process where 525KJ are added to 2.3kg of the gas. The initial
temperature of the gas is 310K. Compute for a) T2, b) Wnf, c) ΔU, d) ΔH
(353.7K, 208.7KJ)
3. If 120 kJ are added to 3.0 kg of nitrogen gas at constant pressure when the
initial temperature is 32oC, find (a) T2, (b) ΔH, (c) ΔU, and (d) work for a non-
flow process. (R=0.2969 KJ/kg-K, k=1.399)
4. Hydrogen gas expands from 5 cu ft and 80oF to 15 cu ft while the pressure
remains constant at 15.5 psia. Compute (a) T2, (b) ΔH, (c) ΔU and (d) ΔS. (e)
For a reversible non-flow process, what is the work?
ISOTHERMAL PROCESS – Constant Temp. Process
An isothermal process is reversible constant temperature process of a
substance.
T P
1
1 2
T PV= C
Q 2

S1 S2 S V1 V2 V

(a.) Relationship between P and V

P1V1 = P2V2
(b.) Nonflow work
Wn = P1V1lnV2/V1 = mRT1lnV2/V1
(c.) The change of internal energy
ΔU = O
 (d.) The heat transferred
Q = Wn = P1V1lnV2/V1 = mRT1lnP1/P2
(e.) The change of enthalpy
ΔH = 0

PROBLEMS
1. During a reversible process there are abstracted 317 kJ/s from 1.134 kg/s of
a certain gas while the temperature remains constant at 2.7oC. For this gas,
Cp = 2.232 and Cv = 1.713 kJ/kg-K. The initial pressure is 586 kPa. For a
non-flow (ΔPE = 0, ΔKE = 0) process, determine (a) V1,V2 and P2, (b) the
work and Q, ( c ) ΔH.
2. A 3.6 kg mass of air goes through an isothermal process with a temperature
of 305K. The initial and final pressures of the air are 550KPa and 135KPa,
respectively. Compute for a) Wnf, b) ΔU and ΔH c.) the heat. (442.64KJ, 0)
3. During an isothermal process at 88oF, the pressure on 8 lb of air drops from
80 psia to 5 psig. For an internally reversible process, determine (a) the
∫pdV or the work of a nonflow process, (b) Q,, (c) ΔU and ΔH.
4. Air flows steadily through an engine at constant temperature, 400 K. Find
the work per kilogram if the exit pressure is one-third the inlet pressure and
the inlet-pressure is 207 kPa. Assume that the kinetic and potential energy
variation is negligible.
ISENTROPIC PROCESS
An isentropic process is a reversible adiabatic process. Adiabatic simply means no
heat. A reversible adiabatic is one of constant entropy.

P T
1 1
PVK= C
2

2
V1 V2 V S
1. Relationship among P, V and T.
(a) Relationship between P and V
P1V1k = P2V2k = C
(b) Relation between T and V
From P1 V1k = P2 V2k and P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2, we have
T2/T1 = [V1/V2]k-1
(c ) Relation between T and P
T2/T1 = [p2/p1](k-1)/k
2. Nonflow work.
From PVk = C, P = CV-k
Wn = PdV = C-kdV = C V-kdV
Integrating and simplifying
Wn = P2V2 – P1V1 / (1- k) = mR(T2 – T1) / (1 – k)

3. The change of internal energy.

ΔU = mCv (T2 – T1)
4. The heat transferred.
Q=0
5. The change of enthalpy.
ΔH = mCp (T2 – T1)
6. The change of entropy.
ΔS = 0
PROBLEMS
1. An ideal gas having a mass of 2 kg. at 465K and 415 KPa expands in a
reversible adiabatic process (isentropic). The gas constant R is 242 J/kg-K
and k = 1.4. Determine (a) Cp and Cv, (b) the work, (c) the ΔU, and (d) Q.
2. In an isentropic process, the volume of an ideal gas (Cv= 0.65 KJ/kg-K and
k = 1.29) initially 2m3 was expanded to 3.4m3. The pressure and the
temperature of the gas before the process was 190KPa & 110°C,
respectively. Find (a) ΔU; (b) ΔH; (c) Wn & (d) Q
3. In an isentropic process, the volume of 500 gm. of an ideal gas (Cp = 0.52
KJ/kg-K, Cv = 0.32 KJ/kg-K) was increased from 20L to 100L. If the initial
pressure of the gas was 760KPa, compute for (a) P2; (b)T2; (c) ΔU & (d) Wn.
4. From a state defined by 300 psia, 100 cu ft and 240oF, Helium undergoes
and isentropic process to 0.3 psig. Find (a) V2 and t2, (b) ΔU and ΔH, (c)
∫pdV,, (d) Q and ΔS and (e) the work if the process is non-flow.
5. The internal energy of a certain ideal gas is given by the expression
u=850+0.529PV Btu per lb, where p is in psia. Determine the exponent k in
PVk=C for this gas undergoing an isentropic process. (Ans. k=1.53)
POLYTROPIC PROCESS
A polytropic process is an internally reversible process during which
PVn = C and P1V1n = P2V2n = P1V1n
P T
1 1
PVn = C PVn = C
2
Q 2

V S

where n is any polytropic exponent or constant.

1. Relationship among p, V, and T
(a) Relation between P and V
P1V1n = P2V2n
(b) Relation between T and V
T2/T1 = [V1/V2]n-1
(c) Relation between T and p
T2/T1 = [p2/p1](n-1)/n
2. Nonflow work
Wn = ∫pdV = P2V2 – P1V1 / 1-n = mR(T2-T1) / 1-n
3. The change of internal energy.
ΔU = mCv(T2 – T1)
4. The heat transferred.
Q = ΔU + Wn
= mcv (T2 – T1) + mR (T2 – T1)/(1 - n)
= m [(cv – ncv + R)/(n – 1)] (T2 – T1)
= m [(cp – ncv)/(1 – n)] (T2 – T1)
= mcv [(k – n)/(1 – n)] (T2 – T1)
Q = mCn(T2 – T1)
Cn = Cv [(k – n)/(1 – n)], the polytropic specific heat
5. The change of enthalpy
ΔH = mCp (T2 – T1)
PROBLEMS
1. An ideal gas (R = 0.19 KJ/kg-K, Cp = 0.8 KJ/kg-K) with a mass of 4.5 kgs.
undergoes a polytropic process that changed its state from 135 KPa and
280K to 825 KPa and 445K. Calculate (a) n; (b) ΔU; (c) ΔH; (d) Wn; and
(e) Q. (Ans: 1.342, 453KJ, 594KJ, -412.5KJ, 41.5KJ)
2. Four and a half kg. of an ideal gas ( R=210J/kg-K and Cp = 1.04KJ/kg-K )
initially at 138 KPa and 278K goes through a polytropic process so that its
pressure and temperature becomes 827KPa and 445K. Calculate (a) n;
(b) ΔU; (c) ΔH; (d) Wn and (e) Q
3. During a polytropic process, 10 lb of an ideal gas, whose R = 40 ft.lb-R
and Cp = 0.25 Btu/lb-R, changes state from 20 psia and 40oF to 120
psia and 340oF. Determine (a) n; (b) ΔU; (c) ΔH; (d) Q, (e) ∫pdV.
(1BTU = 778 ft–lbf)
4. In a polytropic process with n = 1.4, 4.3 m3/s of an ideal gas ( Cv = 0.66
KJ/kg-K, k = 1.2 and ρ = 1.169 kg/m3) has an initial and final temp. of
60°C and 220°C, respectively. Calculate (a) Work non-flow per unit time;
and (b) Heat flow rate
5. Compress 4 kg/s of CO2 gas polytropically (PV1.2 = C) from P1 = 103.4
kPa, t1 = 60oC to t2 = 227oC. Assuming ideal gas action, find P2, W, and Q
for a non-flow process.
4.