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2012 Christians - Approach For Teaching Polytropic Processes Based On The Energy Transfer Ratio PDF
2012 Christians - Approach For Teaching Polytropic Processes Based On The Energy Transfer Ratio PDF
2012 Christians - Approach For Teaching Polytropic Processes Based On The Energy Transfer Ratio PDF
Introduction
Polytropic processes are characterized by the well known polytropic process equa-
tion, Pvn = C, which describes thermodynamic property relationships in many expan-
sion and compression processes, including those with heat transfer. The basis of this
equation can be clearly illustrated by introducing a new term, called the energy
transfer ratio. This term allows the polytropic process equation to be derived in a
number of different settings, including both closed and open systems, and for both
reversible and irreversible processes. By employing the energy transfer ratio, poly-
tropic processes can be presented to students directly from first principles in a clear,
unambiguous manner.
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
http://dx.doi.org/10.7227/IJMEE.40.1.9
54 J. Christians
The energy transfer ratio is the instantaneous ratio of the rate of heat transfer into
the system to the rate of work done by the system. In terms of the energy transfer
ratio, the First Law can be rewritten:
( K − 1) δ w = du (3)
Assume that the process is internally reversible, and that the only type of work
interaction is moving boundary work, so δw = Pdv [1]. Assume also that the gas is
calorically perfect, so the specific heat is constant throughout the process. The
change in internal energy is therefore given by du = cvdT [1]. Equation 3 then
becomes:
( K − 1) Pdv = cv dT (4)
The Ideal Gas Law can be modified by the compressibility factor, Z, to give a
well known equation of state for real gases: Pv = ZRT. Assume that the compress-
ibility factor is constant for the process. This assumption is usually appropriate for
gases at low pressure and/or high temperature [1], but may also be a reasonable
approximation for gases in other regimes, particularly when a process exhibits only
modest changes in temperature and pressure. Also assume that no chemical reactions
occur, so the gas constant is fixed. The Pv = ZRT equation of state can be differen-
tiated to give:
Pdv + vdP = ZRdT (5)
Based on a well known specific heat relationship [1] arising from the definition of
enthalpy (h ≡ u + Pv), the ZR term can be replaced by (cp − cv). Combining this
observation and equation 5 with equation 4 yields:
− vdP
= (1 − γ ) K + γ (6)
Pdv
where γ is the specific heat ratio, cp/cv. Note that γ is constant by the assumption of
a calorically perfect gas. The discussion will return to equation 6 in a moment, but
first it is necessary to show the development of the polytropic process equation from
the polytropic exponent.
Define the polytropic exponent, n, as follows:
− vdP
n≡ (7)
Pdv
Assume that the polytropic exponent is constant throughout the process. (As will be
shown, polytropic processes exhibit constant polytropic exponents.) So, equation 7
can be rearranged and integrated as follows:
dP dv
∫ P
= − n∫
v
(8)
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
Teaching polytropic processes 55
ln P = − n ln v + constant (9)
Note that equation 9 is calculable over the entire physical domain because P and v
are always positive quantities. It must be emphasized that this result is obtained only
when n is constant for the process. Applying the exponential function,
Pv n = C (11)
where C is a constant.
So it has been demonstrated that, when the polytropic exponent is constant for a
process, that process is polytropic. What underlying condition makes the polytropic
exponent constant? In other words, what is the fundamental characteristic of poly-
tropic processes? Notice that equation 6 can be combined with equation 7 to obtain
the following relationships:
n−γ
n = (1 − γ ) K + γ and K = (12)
1− γ
2 1 c −c
w12 = ∫ Pdv = ( P2 v2 − P1v1 ) = p v (T2 − T1 ) n ≠ 1 (13)
1 1− n 1− n
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
56 J. Christians
Alternately, the work can be found by integrating the term δw directly by rearrang-
ing equation 3. With this approach it is convenient to express the work in terms of
K rather than n:
2 2 du c 1
w12 = ∫ δ w = ∫ = v (T2 − T1 ) = ( P2 v2 − P1v1 ) K ≠ 1
1 1 K −1 K −1 ( K − 1) (γ − 1)
(14)
Of course, equation 14 can also be obtained by integrating the term Pdv instead of
integrating δw directly. The direct integration of δw will prove to be particularly
useful in open systems with significant changes in kinetic energy because in that
case work is not given by ∫Pdv. Note that the integration shown in equation 14 is
greatly simplified by the fact that, for an internally reversible polytropic process in
a closed system (along with some gas property assumptions), the energy transfer
ratio is constant.
In the case of K = n = 1, work is given by:
2 v2 P
w12 = ∫ Pdv = P1 v1 ln = P1 v1 ln 1 K = n =1 (15)
1 v1 P2
Because K is constant, the amount of heat transfer in the process is calculated by
the simple equation q12 = Kw12.
δ q − δ wdevice = dh (16)
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
Teaching polytropic processes 57
TABLE 1 Notable types of polytropic process for internally reversible processes with
negligible changes in kinetic and potential energy
δq
K′ ≡ (17)
δ wdevice
Noting that, for an internally reversible process with a negligible change in kinetic
energy, the total work (including flow work) is given by δwtotal = Pdv and the device
work is given by δwdevice = −vdP [1], the following relationships can be derived:
− vdP γ K′
K = K′ = K ′n = and
Pdv (γ − 1) K ′ + 1
(18)
γ − vdP δ wdevice K
n= = = =
(γ − 1) K ′ + 1 Pdv δ wtotal K′
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
58 J. Christians
Fig. 1 Energy transfer ratios versus polytropic exponent for internally reversible
processes with negligible changes in kinetic and potential energy.
2 n (c − c ) n
wdevice,12 = − ∫ vdP = ( P2 v2 − P1v1 ) = p v (T2 − T1 ) = nwtotal,12 n ≠1
1 1− n 1− n
(19)
2 2 dh cp
wdevice,12 = ∫ δ wdevice = ∫ = (T2 − T1 )
1 1 K ′ −1 K ′ −1
(20)
γ
= ( P2 v2 − P1v1 ) K ′ ≠ 1
(γ − 1) ( K ′ − 1)
Of course, equation 20 can also be obtained by integrating the term −vdP instead of
integrating δwdevice directly. In the case of K′ = n = 1, device work is given by:
2 P1 v
wdevice,12 = − ∫ vdP = P1 v1 ln = P1 v1 ln 2 = wtotal,12 K′ = n =1 (21)
1 P2 v1
Note that, for an isothermal process (K′ = n = 1), device work is equal to total
work, implying that the net flow work done by the system is zero. This result arises
from the fact that, for a gas with a constant compressibility factor, flow work is
proportional to temperature, so the flow work done on the system by the upstream
fluid is equal to the flow work done by the system on the downstream fluid. As with
a closed system, the total amount of heat transfer in the process is easily calculated
with the energy transfer ratio by the simple equation q12 = Kwtotal,12 = K′wdevice,12.
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
Teaching polytropic processes 59
where M is the Mach number [2]. Note that equation 27 is valid only when changes
in potential energy are negligible, which is why that assumption must be made for
this analysis. Along with the well known Clausius equation for heat transfer in a
reversible process, δq = Tds, the device work can be expressed as:
γ −1 2
δ wdevice = − vt dPt − M δq (28)
2
As has been done previously, the First Law can be written exclusively in terms
of system properties and the energy transfer ratio, allowing an expression of the
polytropic exponent to be developed. Simple substitutions will not suffice in this
instance, however, because of the residual δq term in equation 28. A unique expres-
sion for δq in terms of K′ can be arranged to solve this problem:
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
60 J. Christians
γ −1 2 ⎞
K ′ ⎛ δ wdevice + M δq
δq K′ ⎝ 2 ⎠
= Ö δq =
γ −1 2 γ −1 2 γ −1 2
δ wdevice + M δq 1+ M K′ 1+ M K′
2 2 2 (29)
K ′ ( − vt dPt )
=
γ −1 2
1+ M K′
2
The First Law can be rearranged in a way that will prove useful in light of equations
28 and 29, thus:
⎛1 + γ − 1 M 2 ⎞ δ q − ⎛ δ w γ −1 2 ⎞
M δ q = c p dTt
device + (30)
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
Notice that dht has been replaced by cpdTt, as allowed by the assumption of a calo-
rically perfect gas. Equations 28 and 29 can be substituted into equation 30. The
differentiated form of the Pv = ZRT equation of state (equation 5), expressed on a
total property basis, is also utilized. With some algebraic manipulation, the result is:
− vt dPt (1 − γ ) ( K ′ − 1)
nt = = +1 (31)
Pt dvt ⎛ γ ⎡1 + γ − 1 M 2 ⎤ − 1⎞ K ′ + 1
⎝ ⎣⎢ 2 ⎦⎥ ⎠
Equation 31 gives the instantaneous relationship between nt, K′, and M at a particu-
lar point in the process. Recall that a process is not polytropic unless the polytropic
exponent is constant. Because of the presence of the Mach number, it is evident from
equation 31 that a constant value of K′ for a process does not necessarily give a
constant value of nt when the change in kinetic energy is significant. It is also noted
that, when the Mach number is very low, changes in kinetic energy are small, and
equation 31 numerically collapses into the expression for n in equation 18.
The student must not misinterpret the physical significance of the polytropic
exponent in this context. When changes in kinetic energy are significant, the device
work is given by δwdevice = −vdP − dke, which does not equate to the term −vtdPt
Likewise, the total work is given by δwtotal = Pdv − dke, which does not equate to
the term Ptdvt Therefore, neither the static nor the total polytropic exponent is equal
to the ratio of device work to total work when changes in kinetic energy are
significant.
Fig. 2 is a plot of equation 31 for γ = 1.4, where the relationship between total
polytropic exponent and Mach number is shown for various contours of the modified
energy transfer ratio. A process is polytropic on the basis of total properties if it
follows a horizontal path on the plot (i.e. if nt is constant), which often does not
correspond to a constant modified energy transfer ratio. Some earlier assertions are
reinforced by the plot. For example, every K′ contour becomes horizontal as the
Mach number approaches zero. This result demonstrates that changes in kinetic
energy become negligible when the Mach number remains low throughout a process.
The plot also gives the student some insight into how high the Mach number can be
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
Teaching polytropic processes 61
Fig. 2 Polytropic exponent vs. Mach number, with contours of modified energy transfer
ratio for internally reversible processes (γ = 1.4).
before changes in kinetic energy become significant (i.e. before the K′ contour is no
longer approximately horizontal). Interestingly, the Mach number at which kinetic
energy changes become significant depends on the value of K′. Adiabatic processes
(K′ = 0) and constant-total-temperature processes (K′ = 1) are polytropic regardless
of Mach number. At high Mach numbers, progressively more K′ contours become
approximately horizontal (approaching nt = 1). In many regimes, particularly when
changes in Mach number are small, it would be reasonable to consider a process to
be approximately polytropic.
In previous analyses where changes in kinetic energy were negligible, the device
work could be calculated in terms of the polytropic exponent by integrating the
expression for device work in a reversible process, and using the polytropic equation
to relate the necessary properties. In the current context, where changes in kinetic
energy are significant, however, that approach cannot easily be applied because the
kinetic energy term (equation 24) introduces a Mach number dependency. In this
case it is simpler to calculate device work directly from the First Law (equation 23).
This approach is valid whenever the modified energy transfer ratio is constant,
regardless of whether or not the process is polytropic:
dht
( K ′ − 1) δ wdevice = dht Ö δ wdevice = (32)
K ′ −1
which can be integrated and rearranged to give:
2 cp γ
wdevice,12 = ∫ δ wdevice = (Tt 2 − Tt1 ) = ( Pt 2 vt 2 − Pt1vt1 ) K ′ ≠ 1
1 K ′ −1 (γ − 1) ( K ′ − 1)
(33)
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
62 J. Christians
As always when the modified energy transfer ratio is constant, the heat transfer in
the process can be calculated directly by the relation q12 = K′wdevice,12.
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
Teaching polytropic processes 63
Following the same procedure as was done previously (for equation 28), the ideal
device work can be expressed as:
γ −1 2
δ wdevice, rev = − vt dPt − M δq (40)
2
In order to develop an equation which relates nt, ηpoly,exp, K′, and M, the residual
δq term in equation 40 must be removed. This is accomplished by crafting a unique
expression for δq, originating with the following ratio:
δq ηpoly , exp K ′
=
γ −1 2 γ −1 2
δ wdevice, rev + M δq 1+ M ηpoly , exp K ′ (41)
2 2
which can be rewritten:
γ −1 2 ⎞
ηpoly , exp K ′ ⎛ δ wdevice , rev + M δq
⎝ 2 ⎠
δq = (42)
γ −1 2
1+ M ηpoly , exp K ′
2
Equation 38 can be rearranged in a way which will prove to be useful in light of
equation 42, thus:
⎛1 + η γ −1 2 ⎞ γ −1 2 ⎞
M δ q − ηpoly , exp ⎛ δ wdevice, rev + M δ q = c p dTt (43)
⎝ poly , exp
2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
Substituting in equations 40, 42 and 5 (in terms of total properties) gives a surpris-
ingly concise expression for the total polytropic exponent as a function of the poly-
tropic efficiency, Mach number, and modified energy transfer ratio:
− vt dPt (1 − γ ) ( K ′ − 1)
nt = = +1 (44)
Pt dvt ⎛ γ ⎡1 + γ − 1 M 2 ⎤ − 1⎞ K ′ + 1 − γ + γ
⎝ ⎢⎣ 2 ⎥⎦ ⎠ ηpoly, exp
Equation 44 applies instantaneously at each point in an irreversible process in an
open system where the Mach number is significant, along with some simplifying
assumptions related to gas properties. Fig. 3 shows the polytropic exponent versus
Mach number with contours of the modified energy transfer ratio for ηpoly,exp = 1.0
and 0.8. As expected, when the polytropic efficiency is 1, the process is reversible
and equation 44 collapses into equation 31.
Some interesting observations can be made with regard to the contour plots in
Fig. 3. Even when a process is irreversible, a modified energy transfer ratio of 0 (i.e.
adiabatic process) or 1 (i.e. constant-total-temperature process) gives a polytropic
process, regardless of the Mach number. In fact, when K′ = 1, the value of the poly-
tropic exponent is always 1, regardless of ηpoly,exp or Mach number. (This result
follows from the Pv = ZRT equation of state where Z, R, and T are constant.) When
the Mach number is small, an irreversible process with a constant modified energy
transfer ratio and a constant polytropic efficiency is polytropic.
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
64 J. Christians
(a)
(b)
Fig. 3 Polytropic exponent vs. Mach number, with contours of modified energy transfer
ratio for ηpoly,exp = 1.0 (a) and 0.8 (b) (γ = 1.4).
This result is not entirely surprising. With regard to system properties (ignoring
the properties of the surroundings), an irreversible expansion process can be envi-
sioned as a reversible expansion process where a fraction of the work is returned to
the system as heat. For a fixed polytropic efficiency, this fraction of work is fixed.
Therefore, if the modified energy transfer ratio is fixed for the irreversible process,
it is also fixed for the ‘equivalent’ reversible process. So, many of the conclusions
which have been made for reversible processes are also applicable to irreversible
processes with fixed polytropic efficiencies.
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press
Teaching polytropic processes 65
Note that the observations which have been made above for irreversible expansion
processes are also valid for irreversible compression processes.
As has been done for reversible processes, device work in an irreversible process
with a constant modified energy transfer ratio can be calculated by integrating
δwdevice directly. Note that this procedure is more convenient than integrating the
term −vdP − dke, which has a Mach number dependency. The result is given by
equation 33.
Summary
A process is polytropic if it can be characterized by a fixed polytropic exponent. The
polytropic exponent is closely connected to the energy transfer ratio. For example,
with some simplifying assumptions regarding gas properties, an internally reversible
process in a closed system is polytropic if the energy transfer ratio is constant. For
open systems, the polytropic exponent can be defined on the basis of either static or
total properties. In open systems, the energy transfer ratio can be modified to con-
sider device work instead of total work (i.e. device work plus flow work).
A thorough examination of the polytropic process equation can be presented to
the student through an approach which is centered around the energy transfer ratio.
It allows a complete and intuitive presentation, accompanied by formal derivations
from first principles in a number of different types of system. With a solid under-
standing of this fundamental topic, the student is more easily able to comprehend
more advanced concepts in thermodynamics.
References
[1] Y. Çengel and Michael A. Boles, Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 2nd edition (McGraw-
Hill, New York, 1994).
[2] J. D. Anderson, Jr, Modern Compressible Flow, With Historical Perspective, 2nd edition (McGraw-
Hill, Boston, 1990).
[3] J. D. Mattingly, Elements of Gas Turbine Propulsion (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996).
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Volume 40, Number 1 (January 2012), © Manchester University Press