Adiabatic process

An adiabatic process is a process in which no heat transfer takes place. As no heat transfer takes
place into or out of the system it is an isentropic process. This process is of the form:
Pvk = constant --------------------------------------------------------------------------(1)
where,
P = pressure,
v = volume,
k = ratio of specific heats (Cp/Cv)
Polytropic process
A polytropic process is a variable entropy process in which heat transfer takes place during the
process. It is of the form:
Pvn = constant --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2)
where,
n = k for an adiabatic, isentropic process
= 1 for an isothermal process
= 0 for an isobaric process
= ∞ for an isochoric process
From equation (2) we may write for a polytropic process:
P1v1n = P2v2n = constant
where,
P1 = initial pressure,
P2 = final pressure,
v1 = initial volume,
v2 = final volume,
P2 / P1 = (v1/v2)n ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (3)
Also,
P1v1/T1 = P2v2/T2
v1/v2 = P2T1/P1T2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (4)
Using (4) in (3):
P2/P1 = (P2T1/P1T2)n
(P2/P1)(1-n) = (T2/T1)-n
Defining P2/P1 = rP and T2/T1 as rT we can write:
rT = rP(n-1)/n -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5)
Taking logarithm on both sides:
ln rT = (n-1)/n ln rP
n/(n-1) = (ln rP)/( ln rT) ----------------------------------------------------------------(6)

Polytropic head and Polytropic efficiency

Polytropic head is defined as the work output per mass of fluid. For a steady state, steady flow
process, the polytropic head is given by the following relationship:
HP = 1∫2 vdP ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- (7)
From equation (2):
Pvn = constant = Cn --------------------------------------------------------------------- (8)
 v = C/P1/n
Substituting v in (7) we have:
HP = 1∫2 C/P1/n dP
= C/(1-1/n)*P1-(1/n) 1│ 2
= CnP(n-1)/n/(n-1) 1│ 2
= Cn/(n-1) * [P2(n-1)n – P1(n-1)n]
= Cn P1(n-1)n/(n-1)*[(P2/P1)(n-1)/n - 1]
= Cn P1(n-1)n/(n-1)*[rP(n-1)/n - 1] --------------------------------------------------- (9)
From (8) we have:
Pvn = Cn
C = (Pvn)1/n = P11/n v1
Using the value of C in (9):
HP = nP11/n v1 P1(n-1)n/(n-1)*[rP(n-1)/n - 1]
= n/(n-1) * P1v1[rP(n-1)/n - 1] ------------------------------------------------------ (10)
From the ideal gas law:
P1v1 = RT1
where,
v = specific volume
R = gas constant = function (molecular weight)
= 8314/mol.wt
. Nm/kgK in metric system
Using this in equation (10) we have:
HP = n/(n-1) * RT1[rP(n-1)/n - 1] ----------------------------------------------------- (11)

Polytropic efficiency of a compression process is defined as the ratio of the work output to the
work input.
The work input per mass of fluid is the change of enthalpy of the gas.
w = ∆h
= cp(T2 - T1)
= cp T1(T2/ T1 - 1)
= cp T1(rT - 1)
Using (5) in the above equation:
w = cp T1(rP(n-1)/n - 1) ----------------------------------------------------------------- (12)

But,
cp = Rk/(k - 1)
Using this in (12):
w = Rk/(k - 1) * T1(rP(n-1)/n - 1) ------------------------------------------------------ (13)

Therefore, polytropic efficiency,

ηP = Hp/w
n /(n−1)∗RT 1 [r P(n−1)/n−1]
=
k /( k−1)∗RT 1(r P(n−1)/n−1)
 n/( n−1)
ηP = ----------------------------------------------------------------------------(14)
k /( k−1)
Dependence of polytropic efficiency on inlet and outlet conditions.
Combining equation (6) and (14) and assuming ‘k’ to remain constant under all circumstances,
we can say:
ηP α (ln rP)/( ln rT)
Therefore, the polytropic efficiency of a stage of a multi-stage centrifugal compressor is directly
proportional to the pressure ratio and inversely proportional to the temperature ratio of the given
stage. Thus, for a process with constant inlet pressure and temperature condition, best
polytropic efficiency will be achieved if maximum pressure rise can be achieved for a
minimum possible temperature rise.