FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

THE FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

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The first law of thermodynamics states that energy is neither created nor
destroyed, but is conserved. So this law states that, when a system is subjected
to a thermodynamic cycle , the heat given off by the system will be equal to
the work received by it, and vice versa.

That is, Q = W , where Q is the heat supplied by the system to the environment
and W is the work done by the environment to the system during the cycle.

A simple example would be: When removing the water contained in a

container with a drill , we are applying work to it, which is equal to the heat
that it emits to the environment when heated. In this case, the system can be
water, the medium would be the drill, the surrounding air and everything outside
the system that is not water (since what is outside will receive heat from the
system ).

THE FIRST LAW FOR A SYSTEM

In this case, the system could be the water contained in a container, and the
environment, everything that surrounds the container, which would be from the
kitchen where the container with water rests to the burner that supplies it with
heat, in short, the atmosphere and everything outside the container.

Suppose that we place a lid on top of this container, using only its weight. Let us
further assume that the container is supplied with heat from the stove burner
that contains it. As the water begins to boil, the lid begins to move faster and
FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

faster. The movement of the lid is then the displacement that represents the
work done by the system on the environment.

THE INTERNAL ENERGY

When the water is boiling , it makes the

lid of the container do the work. But this
is done at the cost of molecular
movement, which means that not all of
the heat supplied will be transformed into
work, but part is converted into an
increase in internal energy, which obeys
the kinetic energy of translation,
vibration and potential. molecular. So the
previous formula that we mentioned
would also have to include internal
energy.

FORMULATION OF THE FIRST LAW FOR A SYSTEM

The first law states that the heat supplied by the environment (the kitchen
burner) to a system (the water contained in the container) is equal to the
change in internal energy inside the liquid (water in this case) added to the
work that the water does when it
moves the lid against the
environment when boiling.

Therefore: the heat given by the

medium to the system will be equal
to the variation of the internal
energy inside the system (water)
plus the work done by the system
on the medium .
FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

SIGNS OF HEAT AND WORK

If the medium supplies heat to the system, the heat will be positive and if it
receives heat from the system it will be negative . If the medium does work on
the system, the work will be negative and if it receives work from the system,
the work will be positive .

CONSERVATION LAW

The first law of

thermodynamics is then
the law of conservation of
energy , which ensures
that energy is neither
created nor destroyed, but
is conserved.

This law has been

confirmed in numerous and
endless experiments and to
date there has not been a
single one that contradicts
it. This is why when a
person like Stephen
Hawking seeks to explain a
physical phenomenon, he
must ensure that his
conclusions do not violate
the first law of
thermodynamics .
FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATOR

A generator is a rotating electrical machine that transforms mechanical energy
into electrical energy. It achieves this thanks to the interaction of the two main
elements that make it up: the mobile part called the rotor, and the static part
called the stator.

When an electric generator is in operation, one of the two parts generates a

magnetic flux (acts as an inductor) so that the other transforms it into electricity
(acts as an armature).

Electric generators differ according to the type of current they produce. Thus,
we find two large groups of rotating electrical machines: alternators and
dynamos.

Alternators generate electricity in alternating current. The inductor element is

the rotor and the armature element is the stator. An example is the generators
of power plants, which transform mechanical energy into alternating electrical
energy.

Dynamos generate electricity in direct current. The inductor element is the

stator and the armature element is the rotor. An example would be found in the
light that a bicycle has, which works through pedaling.

Rotating electrical machines: generators

We call electrical machines devices capable of transforming electrical energy
into any other form of energy. Electric machines can be divided into:

Rotating electrical machines, which are made up of rotating parts, such

as dynamos, alternators and motors.
Static electrical machines, which do not have moving parts, such as
transformers.

Let's look at the group of rotating machines, which are made up of motors and
generators. Rotating electric machines are reversible, and they can work in two
different ways:

 As an electric motor: Converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

 As an electrical generator: Converts mechanical energy into electrical
energy.
FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

Electric machines can be divided into rotating and static. In this case we are
going to look at the group of rotating machines that are made up of motors and
generators.

All rotating machines are made up of a fixed part called the stator, which is
cylindrical in shape, and another mobile part called the rotor. The rotor is
mounted on a shaft that rests on two bearings. The air space that separates the
stator from the rotor, necessary for the machine to rotate, is called the air gap.

Normally, in both the stator and the rotor there are windings made with copper
conductors through which currents circulate, supplied or transferred to an
external circuit that constitutes the electrical system. One of the windings
creates a flux in the air gap and is called an inductor. The other winding
receives the flux from the first and is called the armature. Likewise, the inductor
could be placed in the stator and the armature in the rotor or vice versa.

Losses and efficiency of rotating electrical machines

Like any machine, the power output offered by rotating electric machines is less
than the power input supplied to them, power supplied. The difference between
the output power and the supplied power are the losses:

Therefore, the efficiency of an electrical machine determines the amount of

useful work it can produce, based on the total energy it consumes.

OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF AN ELECTRICAL

GENERATOR: FARADAY'S LAW
Representation of the experiment that Faraday carried out

The principle of operation of generators is based on the phenomenon of

electromagnetic induction.

Faraday's Law. This law tells us that the voltage induced in a circuit is directly
proportional to the change in magnetic flux in a conductor or loop. This means
that if we have a magnetic field generating a magnetic flux, we need a loop
through which a current circulates to generate the emf. (electromotive force).

This discovery, made in 1830 by Michael Faraday, allowed the creation of the
Faraday disk a year later. The Faraday disk consists of a U-shaped magnet,
with a copper disk twelve inches in diameter and 1/5 inch thick in the middle
placed on a shaft, which is rotating, inside a powerful electromagnet. By placing
a conductive band rubbing the outside of the disk and another band on the axis,
he verified with a galvanometer that electricity was produced by permanent
FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

magnets. It was the beginning of modern dynamos. That is, electrical

generators that work through a magnetic field. It was very inefficient and had no
use as a practical energy source, but it demonstrated the possibility of
generating electricity using magnetism and opened the door to commutators,
direct current dynamos and finally current alternators.

As observed in the chapter on electromagnetism, when within a magnetic field

we have a loop through which an electric current circulates, a pair of forces
appear that cause the loop to rotate around its axis. In the same way, if we
introduce a loop into a magnetic field and make it rotate, we will cause the
induced current. This induced current is responsible for the emf and will be
variable depending on the position of the loop and the magnetic field.

The amount of induced current or emf It will depend on the amount of magnetic
flux (also called lines) that the loop can cut, the higher the number, the greater
the flux variation it will generate and therefore the greater the electromotive
force...

By rotating the loop inside the magnet we will achieve a tension that will vary
depending on time. This voltage will have an alternate form, since from 180º to
360º the poles will be inverted and the voltage value will be negative.

The principle of operation of the alternator and the dynamo is based on the fact
that the alternator maintains the alternating current while the dynamo converts
the alternating current into direct current.

AC CURRENT GENERATOR: THE ALTERNATOR

Alternating current generators or alternators are machines that transform
mechanical energy, which they receive through the rotor, into electrical energy
in the form of alternating current. Most alternators are synchronous alternating
current machines, which are those that rotate at the synchronous speed, which
is related to the number of poles that the machine has and the frequency of the
electromotive force. This relationship causes the motor to rotate at the same
speed imposed by the stator through the magnetic field. This relationship is
given by the expression:

Where f is the frequency to which the machine is connected

and P is the number of pairs of poles.

Its structure is the following:

Stator: External fixed part of the machine. The stator is made up of a metal
casing that serves as a support. Inside we find the core of the armature, shaped
FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

like a crown and longitudinal slots, where the conductors of the induced winding
are housed.

Rotor: Mobile part that rotates inside the stator The rotor contains the inductor
system and the friction rings, through which the inductor system is powered.
Depending on the speed of the machine, there are two construction forms.

 Protruded pole rotor or pole wheel: Used for hydraulic turbines or thermal
engines, for low speed systems.
 Smooth pole rotor: Used for steam and gas turbines, these groups are
called turboalternators. They can rotate at 3000, 1500 or 1000 rpm
depending on the poles it has.

The alternator is a synchronous rotating electrical machine that requires an

excitation current in the inductor coil to generate the electric field and operate.
Therefore, its operating diagram is as follows:

THE SWITCHING IN THE DYNAMOS

Switching is the operation of transforming an alternating signal to a continuous

signal and is also known as signal rectification. Dynamos do this switching
because they have to supply direct current.

This switching in the dynamos is carried out through the sprocket collector. The
collector rings are cut because outside the loop the current always has to go in
the same direction.

When making this switch, there are different problems. When the generator
works with a load connected to its terminals, we find an internal voltage drop
and a reaction in the armature.
FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

The armature will create a magnetic flux that opposes that generated by the
magnet. This effect is called the counter electromotive force, which will displace
the neutral plane.

To solve this problem, various improvements can be made such as:

 Brush displacement: This method changes the brushes to their new

position, correcting the plane deviation. The problem is that the motor
can work from 0% of its total load to 100%, so the plane can change.
 Switching or auxiliary poles: the function of these auxiliary poles is to
compensate for the flux produced by the induced coils and compensate
for it. It is a very useful and economical solution.
 Compensation coils: When the generators are of high power, the
switching poles are not enough, in this case we use compensation coils.

ADVANTAGES OF THE ALTERNATOR COMPARED TO THE DYNAMO

The alternator has several advantages that make it a more widely used type of
machine, not only the fact that it produces electricity in alternating current,
which is how it is consumed, but also due to other advantages of the type of
use.

The advantages of the alternator over the dynamo are the following:

 In the electric alternator a greater range of rotation speed can be

obtained. The rotation speed can range from 500 to 7,000 rpm. The
dynamo at high rpm suffers from high wear and increased temperatures
on the collector and brushes.
 The rotor and stator assembly in the alternator is very compact.
 Alternators have a single element as a voltage regulator.
 Electric alternators are lighter: they can be between 40 and 45% less
heavy than dynamos, and 25 to 35% smaller.
 The alternator works in both directions of rotation without the need for
modification.
 The useful life of the alternator is longer than that of the dynamo. This is
because the electric alternator is more robust and compact, due to the
absence of the collector in the armature, and withstands high
temperatures better.
FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

 TEN THEORETICAL QUESTIONS WITH ALTERNATIVES

1. What does the first law of thermodynamics state?

a) Energy is not created or destroyed, but rather conserved.
b) Energy is not created but it is destroyed
c) Energy is created but not conserved
d) Energy is conserved and created
e) Energy is destroyed and conserved

2. What is internal energy?

a) It is the increase in heat

b) It is all the heat that is transformed into work
c) It is the increase in work and density
d) Heat and work increases the increase
e) Not all the heat is going to be transformed into work, but part is
converted into increase.

3. If you receive work from the system, what work will it be?

a) Negative
b) Work is increased
c) Reduces work
d) Positive
e) Positive and negative according to your system

4. Is the first law of thermodynamics also called?

a) The law of conservation

b) Gussay's law
c) boyle's law
d) The law of energy and work
e) The law of changes
FIRST LAW OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS II

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
http://www.mty.itesm.mx/etie/deptos/ie/profesores/jgomez/i

http://www.vix.com/es/btg/curiosidades/4383/la-primera-ley-de-la-
termodinamica

http://www.rinconeducativo.org/es/recursos-educativos/que-es-un-generador-
electrico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt-VcgnVmKM