HEAT AND WORK TRANSFER

Energy is transferred to or from a system by three forms: heat, work and mass
flow. For a closed system, the only two forms are heat and work since no mass crosses its
boundaries.
The terms heat and work refer to interactions in which energy is transferred. These
are not properties, and it is improper to speak of heat or work contained in a
system.
The magnitudes of heat and work depend on the arbitrary selection of boundaries
between interacting systems.
Heat and work transfers are the only mechanisms by which energy can be
transferred across the boundary of a closed system.
Heat transfer (Q)
Heat transfer is the energy interaction caused by a temperature difference
between a system and its surroundings. Heat transfer to a system (heat gain) will cause
the internal energy of the system to increase, and heat transfer from a system (heat loss)
will cause the internal energy of the system to decrease.

Sign Convention of Heat

Heat given into a system is positive
Heat coming out of the system is negative

Prepared by
S.Vijayakumar M.E (Thermal Engineering)

Work (W)
The energy interaction caused by a Force (Pressure) difference between a
system and its surroundings is work. Work transferred to a system will increase the
energy of the system, and work transferred from a system will decrease the energy of the
system.

Sign Convention of Work

Work done by the system on the surroundings is considered as positive work.
Work done on the system by the surroundings is taken as negative work.

Comparison of Heat & Work

Heat and work are both transient phenomena. Systems never possess heat or work.
Both heat and work are boundary phenomena. Both are observed only at the
boundary of the system, and both represent energy crossing the boundary.
Both heat and work are path functions and inexact differentials.

Prepared by
S.Vijayakumar M.E (Thermal Engineering)

Different modes of work

Moving System Boundary Work

Flow work
Work is needed to push the fluid into or out of the boundaries of a control volume
if mass flow is involved. This work is called the flow work (flow energy). Flow work is
necessary for maintaining a continuous flow through a control volume.

Prepared by
S.Vijayakumar M.E (Thermal Engineering)

Expansion & Compression Work

P-V Diagram

NOTE: Under P-v diagram- Work transfer

Work done by a system depends not only on the initial and final states but also on
the intermediate states path function.

Prepared by
S.Vijayakumar M.E (Thermal Engineering)