Adiabatic process

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search

This article is about adiabatic processes in thermodynamics. For the adiabatic theorem in
quantum mechanics, see adiabatic theorem.

Thermodynamics

The classical Carnot heat engine

show

Branches

show

Laws

show

Systems

show

System properties

show

Material properties

show

Equations

show

Potentials
 show

 History
 Culture

show

Scientists

show

Other

 Category

 v
 t
 e

In thermodynamics, an adiabatic process (Greek: adiábatos, “impassable”) is a type

of thermodynamic process that occurs without transferring heat or mass between
the thermodynamic system and its environment. Unlike an isothermal process, an
adiabatic process transfers energy to the surroundings only as work.[1][2] As a key
concept in thermodynamics, the adiabatic process supports the theory that explains
the first law of thermodynamics.
Some chemical and physical processes occur too rapidly for energy to enter or leave
the system as heat, allowing a convenient "adiabatic approximation".[3] For example,
the adiabatic flame temperature uses this approximation to calculate the upper limit
of flame temperature by assuming combustion loses no heat to its surroundings.
In meteorology and oceanography, adiabatic cooling produces condensation of
moisture or salinity, oversaturating the parcel. Therefore, the excess must be removed.
There, the process becomes a pseudo-adiabatic process whereby the liquid water or
salt that condenses is assumed to be removed upon formation by idealized
instantaneous precipitation. The pseudoadiabatic process is only defined for expansion
because a compressed parcel becomes warmer and remains undersaturated. [4]

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiabatic_process