Energy Interactions

Dr. Mayur D Kevat

Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
Faculty of Technology & Engineering
The M S University of Baroda
A closed system and its surrounding can interact in two ways:
Work Transfer and/or Heat Transfer
These may be called energy interactions and it brings the changes in the properties or
characteristics of the system and thermodynamic mainly focus on associated changes in the
properties of the system with this kind of the energy interactions
Work Transfer
Work is considered as one of the basic modes of energy transfer. The work is done by a force as
it acts upon a body moving in the direction of the force

An effect such as the raising of a weight through a large distance or a large force through a small
distance. The product of force and distance is the same to accomplish the same effete. The
product of force and distance is the same to accomplish the same effect

In thermodynamics, the work transfer is considered as occurring between the system and
surrounding. Work is said to be done by the system if the sole effect on things external to the
system can be reduced to the effect external to the system would be the raising of a weight
The unit of work is Nm or
Joule and the rate at
which work is done by the
system or on the system is
called Power
pdv-work or displacement work

dW = F  dl
dW = p  a  dl ( F = p  a)
dW = p  dV ( a  dl = dV )
2
W1− 2 =  pdV
1
Path function and Point function
Thermodynamic properties are considered as point function as it has definite value at
particular state whereas the change in a thermodynamic property of a system in a change of
state is independent of the path the system follows during the change of state, and depends
only on the initial and final states of the system
The differentials of point functions are exact or perfect differentials and it is not true for the
path function and would be considered as inexact or imperfect differentials
V2

 dV = V2 − V1
V1
 dV = 0,  dp = 0,  dT = 0 Point functions
differentials
as exact or perfect

 dW  W
1
2 − W1
Path function and hence inexact or imperfect differentials
2

 dW = W
1
1− 2 or 1W2
 pdv-work on various quasi-static processes
(1) Constant pressure process (Isobaric process)

V2

W1− 2 =  pdV = p(V

V1
2 − V1 )

(2) Constant volume process (Isochoric process)

V2

W1− 2 =  pdV = 0
V1
pdv-work on various quasi-static processes
(3) Process in which pV=constant (4) Process in which pVn=constant
V2

V2 W1− 2 =  pdV
W1− 2 =  pdV V1

V1 pV n = p1V1n = constant
pV = p1V1 = constant p1V1n
p= n
V
p1V1
p= V2
V V2 n 1
pV W1− 2 = p1V1n 

V2
p1V1 W1− 2 = 1 1
dV dV
W1− 2 = 
V1
V
dV
V1
V n
V1
V n

V2
V2 V 
− n +1
p1V1n 1− n
W1− 2 = p1V1 ln
V1
W1− 2 = pV 
1 1
n

− +  W1− 2 =
1− n
(V2 − V11− n )
 n 1 V1
OR
p2V2n  V21− n − p1V1n  V11− n p1V1 − p2V2
W1− 2 = p1V1 ln
p1 = W1− 2 =
p2 1− n n −1
Indicator diagram

mean effective pressure, pm =

ad
K  N 
 K= indicator spring constant,  cm travel 
 
2
ld cm
work done in one cycle = ( pm  A )  L ( just like p  dV )

A= c/s area of the piston =  D 2 ( D = diameter of cylinder )
4 ( L = stroke length )
 for 2-stroke engine, W.D in one min. = ( pm  A )  L  N
( N = revolution per minute, rpm )
for 4-stroke engine, W.D in one min. =
( pm  A)  L  N
2
( pm  A)  L  ( N or N 2
) n
Indicated power developed inside the engine = kW
60
2 TN ( n = No. of cylinders )
BP= power developed at crank shaft = kW
60
B.P
mech = 100%
I .P
Other types of Work Transfer
1) Electrical work
2) Shaft work
3) Paddle-wheel work or stirring work
4) Flow work
5) Work done in stretching a wire
6) Work done in changing the area of surface film
7) Magnetisation of paramagnetic solid
 Flow work
The flow work, is significant only in a flow process or an
open system, represents he energy transferred across the
system boundary as a result of the energy imparted to the
fluid by a pump, blower or compressor

W.D on imaginary piston by external pressure,

dV is the volume of fluid element enters in the system

 flow work at inlet is ( dW flow )in = p1v1dm1

Flow work is analogous to displacement, if Pressure is imparted p1 on a normal area A1, then
acting force is p1A1 and flow with this force, the distance travelled by the piston=V1 × dτ
𝑚
( × 𝑠𝑒𝑐), where V1 is velocity and d is time,
𝑠𝑒𝑐
 work done =force  distance=p1 A1  V1 per unit time
 flow work at outlet is ( dW flow )out = p2 v2 dm2
. V1 A1 dm1
now m = = 1V1 A1 =
v1 d
Free expansion with zero work transfer
Heat Transfer
The work depends on the two end states, for consistency with the principle of work transfer,
some other type of energy transfer must be considered due to temperature difference between
system and surrounding and it is identified as heat transfer
Thus, heat is defined as the form of energy that is transferred across a boundary by virtue of
a temperature difference
Heat transfer is classified as Conduction, Convection and Radiation and it is denoted by the
symbol Q
A process in which no heat crosses the boundary of the
system is called an adiabatic process
Thus, an adiabatic process is one in which there is only
work interaction between system and surrounding
A wall which is permits the flow of heat is a diathermic
wall
The unit of heat is also Joule as unit of work transfer
The rate of heat transfer or work transfer is called power
and its unit is W or kW
Heat Transfer- A Path function

2 2
W1− 2 =  pdV Q1− 2 =  Tdx
1 1

2 2

 dQ  Q2 − Q1  dQ = Q1−2 or 1Q2
Path function and hence inexact or imperfect
differentials
1 1
Important Points regarding Work and Heat Transfer
1) Heat transfer and work transfer are the energy interactions. A closed system and its
surroundings can interact in two ways.; by heat transfer and by work transfer.
Thermodynamic studies how these interactions bring about property changes in a system
2) The same effect in a closed system can be brought about either by heat transfer or by work
transfer. Whether heat transfer or work transfer has taken place depends on what
constitutes the system
3) Both heat transfer and work transfer are boundary phenomena. Both are observed at the
boundaries of the system, and both represent energy crossing the boundaries of the system
4) It is wrong to say ‘total heat’ or ‘heat content’ of a closed system, because heat or work is
not a property of the system. Both heat and work are the energy is transit
5) Heat transfer is the energy interaction due to temperature difference only. All other energy
interactions may be termed as work transfer
6) Both heat and work are path functions and inexact differentials. The magnitude of heat
transfer or work transfer depends upon the path the system follows during the change of
state