Basic Concept of

Thermodynamics
 Thermodynamics
• comes from the Greek words: therme(heat) and
dynamis(power).
• the name heat-power is appropriate because
thermodynamics developed from efforts to explain the
conversion of heat into power by steam engines.
• in 1698, Thomas Savery invented a machine that
converts heat into mechanical power that is called steam
engine.
• the machine was used to pump water out of coal
mines, but the principles behind its operation were not
well-understood.
• in 1712, Thomas Newcomen built an improve steam
engine, but it was expensive to build and not very
reliable.
• James Watt invented the first inexpensive, reliable
steam enginein 1765. Watt's steam engine was more
than six times more efficient than Newcomen's.
• Watt's steam engine catalyzed the industrial revolution.
• in 1798, Count Rumford noticed that canons became
• Rumford showed that more heat was release in the
boring process than could have been originally
contained in the metal.
• He concluded that the mechanical boring process was
producing heat.
• In 1824, Carnot introduced ideal gas cycle analysis in
his work “Reflection on the Motive Power of Fire”
• In the 1840's Mayer, Joule and Helmholtz developed
the idea that energy would not be created nor
destroyed. It can only be conserved.
• This principle is now known as the 1st Law of
Thermodynamics
• Rudolf Clausins stated that no cycle can transfer heat
from a low temperature region to a high temperature
region with no other interaction with its surroundings.
• This principle is known as the 2nd Law of
Thermodynamics.