The Second Law

A fifty-minute summary of thermodynamics

The Zeroth Law

If A is in thermal equilibrium with B

And B is in thermal equilibrium with C

then A is in thermal equilibrium with C

where A, B and C could be devices like this

Not The Zeroth Law

If A is in chemical equilibrium with B

And B is in chemical equilibrium with C

then A is in chemical equilibrium with C

Not The Zeroth Law

If A is in chemical equilibrium with B and B is in chemical equilibrium with C
then A is in chemical equilibrium with C (Try putting A = sodium, B=oil, C=water)

Newcomen Steam Engine, 1717

Watts steam engine, 1775 Four times as efficient as Newcomens

Sadi Carnot, 1796-1832 French engineer

``Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire, 1824

Rudolf Clausius 1822-1888

Physicist and mathematician;

Formalised Carnots results.

The First Law

For any system going through a cycle, the net amount of work crossing the boundaries of the system is equal to the net amount of heat crossing the boundaries of the system
From this we deduce that there is a property known as energy, and that energy is conserved.

English units (pre-First Law)

1 hp

2500 BTU/hr

SI units (post-First Law)

750 W

750 W

Alternative statement of First Law:

If we define efficiency as
Efficiency = Energy Out/Energy In then every machine is 100% efficient

Apparent Consequence of First Law:

Since energy can never be destroyed,

there can never be an energy crisis

Another Statement of First Law:

Perpetual motion machines of the first kind are impossible

Reverend Robert Stirling, 1816

Stirling Engine Energy Balance

Heat In (QH)

Work Out (QH-QC)

Heat Out (QC)

The Second Law

Given a heat engine operating between a hot source at TH and a cold sink at TC, the efficiency of the engine cannot exceed:

= TH -TC

TH

Carnot Efficiency = TH -TC

TH

Alternative Statement of Second Law

High-Quality Heat

Useful Work

Low-Quality Heat

Alternative Statement of Second Law

``Perpetual motion machines of the second kind are impossible

The available energy of an energy source is the amount that can be converted to mechanical work.

For example, if we have 1 Joule of energy at 900 K, and the ambient temperature is 300 K, its availability is 0.67 Joules
Whereas if we have 1 Joule of energy at 350 K, its availability is 0.14 Joules

Heat Pump Energy Balance

Heat In (QC)

Work In (QH-QC) Heat Out (QH)

Heat Out = Heat In + Work In = Work In * TH/(TH-TC)

Use of Waste Heat for Co-generation

1,000 kW at 1,000 K

Power Station

500kW electricity

500kW at 500 K for space heating

A new word
A bathtub of warm water may contain the same energy as a gallon of gas, but it has higher entropy

From Xogens website:

``The technology is not conventional electrolysis as governed by the laws of electrolysis established by Michael Faraday in 1834, because the technology produces approximately 3 times more gas output for approximately 1/3rd the current required by conventional electrolysis.
The gas output is achieved without special water: only City of Calgary tap water was used.

Xogen Home Furnace

Hydrogen

Alberta Hydro

Xogen Cell

Furnace

Water

Heat

Xogen Home Furnace

Alberta Hydro

Xogen Cell

Furnace

Electrical energy

Chemical energy

Heat energy

Xogen Home Furnace

Alberta Hydro

Xogen Cell

Furnace

Electrical energy

Chemical energy

Heat energy

1J

100% 1J

100%

1J

Alternative Home Heating (1)

Alberta Hydro

Heat

1J

1J

Alternative Home Heating (2)

Alberta Hydro

Alberta Air

Heat Pump

Heat

1J

2J

3J

Xogen Automobile
Hydrogen

Battery

Xogen Cell

Water

Xogen Automobile

Battery

Xogen Cell

Electrical energy

Chemical energy

Mechanical energy

1J

1J

0.4J

Electric Automobile

Battery

Electric Motor

Electrical energy

Mechanical energy

1J

0.8J

Lessons from Alberta

1. Politicians may endorse policies that are obvious nonsense.
2. Science cant say `Yes to engineers 3. Science can say `No to engineers

Molecules in random motion

A wind in a box

Entropy is the opposite of order

``Recycling is not an option, because materials scattered through a landfill are more disordered than materials in a mine, and we cant beat the Second Law, which says that entropy must always increase

This argument is incorrect because

The Third Law

As the temperature approaches absolute zero, the entropy of a system in equilibrium goes to zero.

(only chemical engineers remember this law)

Heat death of the Universe

Maxwells Demon and the Second Law

Rules for the Demon

open

close

close

open

The result: entropy has decreased