Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics-I

CH3401 CETD-I UNIT I

Thermodynamics:
1. Thermodynamics deals with energy and its transformation.
2. The term, Thermo means “heat" and Dynamics relates to "power". This science was born to
explain how heat is converted into power.
3. The flow of energy is of great importance to engineers involved in the design of the power
generation and process industries.
Scope:
1. It can tell us whether a chemical reaction is possible or not.
2. It deals with the direction of change and equilibrium; it enables one to calculate the
equilibrium conditions for both physical and chemical changes.
3. It can tell us about the driving force.
4. It can also helps us in selecting the optimum conditions for the reaction such as the
temperature, pressure, concentration of reactants etc.
Limitations of Thermodynamics:
1. Thermodynamics does not give information about the rate of any process.
2. Thermodynamics cannot say whether a possible reaction will actually occur or not.
Applications:
1. Thermodynamics principles are extensively applied to different flow processes like
venturimeter, nozzle, ejectors, compressors, throttling valves etc.,
2. Numerous chemical industries like petroleum, food and beverage, textile, pigments, dye and
rubber.
Terminologies of Thermodynamics:
System:
System is a region of space, under consideration for the analysis.
Ex: Shell and tube heat exchanger.
Surroundings:
Anything outside the thermodynamic system is called the surroundings.
Ex: When the steam condensing in a shell and tube heat exchanger is treated as the
system, the cooling water to which the latent heat of vaporisation is transferred may be
treated as the surroundings.
Boundary:
The system is separated from the surroundings by the boundary.
Universe:
The system and surroundings together constitute an universe.
The thermodynamic system can be better classified on the basis of the nature of the boundary and
quantities flowing through it.
Open System:
An open system is one in which both mass and energy can be transferred from the system to
the surroundings and vice versa. Fig.1.1
Control Volume:
1. An open system is often called as control volume.

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 UNIT I
2. Actually the region in the space selected for the analysis of an open system is known as the
control volume. Fig.1.2

3. Consider a compressor as shown in fig.1.2.

4. Here, mass flows into and out of the service, and this can be analyzed as the control volume.
5. In this device, an arbitrary region in space can be identified as the control volume.
Closed System:
1. A closed system is basically of fixed mass, and one in which there is no mass transfer across
the boundary.
2. Only the energy can be transferred into or out of the system as shown in fig.1.3
3. The closed system is also known as control mass.

Isolated System:
1. A system is said to be isolated if it can exchange neither energy nor mass with its
surroundings.
2. There is no interaction between the system and the surroundings is shown in fig.1.4
3. The system is of constant mass and energy.
Composite System:
1. A composite system consists of several subsystems.
Homogeneous System:
1. A system is considered to be homogeneous when the properties are uniform throughout.
2. It contains necessarily only one phase.
3. A good instance of this type of system is liquid water in a container.
Heterogeneous system:
1. A system is referred to as heterogeneous when the properties are not uniform throughout the
system.
2. It consists of more than one phase.
3. It requires the presence of at least two distinct homogeneous phases in order to proceed.
4. Ex. A mixture of water and toluene. Here, toluene and water are two immiscible liquids.

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CETD-I UNIT I
State and Path functions:
State functions:
1. The measurable properties of a system which describe the present state of the system are
known as state functions.
2. The changes in such state functions are independent of how the change is brought about.
3. These depend only upon the initial and final states of the system. Hence, the state functions
are fixed for a particular state of a system.
4. Ex. Internal energy, enthalpy, entropy, temperature, pressure etc, are state functions.
Path functions:
1. The path function is defined as one whose magnitude depends on the path followed during a
process as well as on the end-states.
2. Ex. Heat and work.
Property:
1. A property is any quantity whose numerical value depends on the state but not the history of
the system.
2. The value of a property is determined in principle by some type of physical operation or test.
Extensive properties:
1. Extensive properties depend on the quantity/size of the system. Ex: Volume, mass, energy,
and entropy.
2. An extensive property is additive in the sense that its value for the whole system equals the
sum of the values for its parts.
Intensive properties
1. Intensive properties are independent of the quantity/size of the system. Ex: Pressure and
temperature.
Equilibrium:
Equilibrium means a condition of balance. In thermodynamics the concept includes not only
a balance of forces, but also a balance of other influences. Each kind of influence refers to a
particular aspect of thermodynamic (complete) equilibrium.
i. Thermal Equilibrium: If there are no temperature differences, then the system is said to be
in thermal equilibrium.
ii. Mechanical Equilibrium: If there are no pressure differences, then the system is said to be in
mechanical equilibrium.
iii. Chemical Equilibrium: If there are no chemical potential differences, then the system is said
to be in chemical equilibrium.
Thermodynamic process:
1. A thermodynamic process has occurred when the system changes from one state (initial) to
another state (final).
2. The operation by which this change of state occurs is called a process. Ex: Vaporization,
freezing, sublimation, expansion and compression.
Types of thermodynamic processes:
i. Isothermal process: The temperature of the system is kept constant during a process. Here,
T = Constant (or) dT = 0.

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ii. Isobaric process: The pressure of the system is kept constant during a process.
Here, P = Constant (or) dP = 0.
iii. Isochoric process: The volume of the system is kept constant during a process.
Here, V = Constant (or) dV = 0.
iv. Isentropic process: The entropy of the system is kept constant during a process.
v. Adiabatic process: It is the process in which there is no exchange of heat can flow from the
system to the surroundings. Here, Q = Constant (or) dQ = 0.
vi. Cyclic process: It is the process in which a system, having undergone a change, returns to
its initial state at the end of the process. Here the path of the process is called a cycle. For a
cycle, the initial and final states are identical.
vii. Quasi – static process: It is the process in which takes place very slowly and with
infinitesimal driving forces or when a process proceeds in such a way that the system
remains infinitesimally close to an equilibrium state at all times.
Quantities of thermodynamics:
Force:
1. According to Newton’s second law of motion, the force acting on a body is directly
proportional to the time rate of change of momentum.
2. For a body of constant mass, Newton’s law reduces to
F = cma − − − − − (1.1)
3. Where ‘F’ is the force, ‘m’ is the mass of the body, ‘a’ is the acceleration and ‘c’ is
proportionality constant.
4. In the SI system, the constant ‘c’ is unity and we have
F = ma − − − − − −(1.2)
5. SI unit of force is Newton. It is denoted by N.
6. One N is defined as the force required accelerating a mass of 1 Kg at a rate of 1 m/s2, i.e.
1N = 1Kg − m / s 2
Problem 1:
A man circling the earth in a spaceship weighed 300 N at allocation where the local
gravitational acceleration was 4.5 m/s2. Calculate the mass of the man and his weight on the earth
where the gravitational acceleration is 9.81 m/s2.
Solution:
Force is equal to the product of mass and acceleration, i.e.
F = ma
300 = m * 4.5
Therefore,
300
m= = 66.67 kg
4.5
The weight on the earth is the force acting on the object on the earth.
W = 66.67 * 9.81 = 654N
Pressure:
1. Pressure is defined as the normal force exerted by the fluid per unit area. It is a scalar
quantity. Mathematically,
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 UNIT I

F
P= − − − − − − − −(1.3)
A
Where,
F = Force normal to the area
A = Area of the surface
P = Pressure
2. In SI System, the unit of pressure is Newton per square metre (N/m2), i.e.,
3. One Newton force acting on one square metre area. This is also called Pascal (Pa).
4. Most of the pressure gauges indicate pressure relative to the atmospheric pressure.
5. The pressure measured by gauge is called the gauge pressure. The relation is
Absolutepressure = Gaugepressure + Atmosphericpressure
Pabsolute = Pgauge + Patmospheric - - - - - - - - - (1.4)
Work:
1. Work is a form of energy.
2. It is defined as the product of the force and the displacement in the direction of the applied
force.
3. The work done can be mathematically expressed as
dW = FdZ − − − − − − − (1.5)
Where,
‘F’ is the applied force and ‘dZ’ is the displacement.
4. That is why the unit of work is Newton-metre (N-m). It is also called joule. 1 N-m = 1J.
5. In SI unit, the unit of work done is kilo joule. 1KJ = 103 J.
6. The British unit of work if ft-lbf.
7. As per the sign convention of work, work done by the system is treated as a positive
quantity because of the displacement in the same direction, while the work done on the
system by an external agent is regarded as a negative quantity.
8. When the system performs positive work, its surrounding will perform an equal amount of
negative work.
Therefore, in any process
WSystem + Wsurroundings = 0 − − − − − − − (1.6)
Heat:
1. Heat is the form of energy caused by the internal motion of molecules.
2. Whenever temperature difference exists between two regions, heat is transferred from the
higher temperature region to the lower temperature region.
3. The flow of heat continues until the difference in temperature is equalized.
4. Heat is the energy in transit.
5. Like other forms of energy, heat cannot be completely converted into work.
There are three modes of heat transmission. There are
➢ Conduction
➢ Convection

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 UNIT I
➢ Radiation

Fig.1.5
6. Heat that flows into a system is regarded as a positive quantity and heat that flows out of the
system is treated as a negative quantity.
7. Like work, heat is a path function and an inexact differential.
8. In the SI system, the unit of heat is Joule (J).
1 J = 1 N – m, 1 cal = 4.2 J
9. In English engineering system of unit, the unit of heat is ft - lb.
1 ft - lb = 1.3558 J , 1 British Thermal Unit (BTU) = 1055.04 J
Energy and its classification:
1. Energy can be defined as a property which can be transformed into or produced from work.
2. Energy in the form of heat or work can be exchanged between the system and surroundings.
3. It is available in numerous forms, such as chemical, electrical, mechanical, electromagnetic,
radiant and internal energy.
4. The total energy E of a system comprises the following two forms. These are
a. Macroscopic form and
b. Microscopic form.
Macroscopic form of energy:
1. It includes the energies that a system possesses with respect to the external reference plane,
such as kinetic energy and potential energy.
2. This mode of energy is concerned with motion and influence of some external effects, viz.
Electricity, magnetism, surface tension and gravity.
a. Kinetic energy: The energy possessed by a system by virtue of its motion is called kinetic
energy. Consider a system of mass ‘m’ moving at the velocity V; then the kinetic energy
of the system is given by
1
K .E = E K = mu 2 − − − − − − − (1.7)
2
b. Potential energy: The energy possessed by a system by virtue of its elevation with
reference to an arbitrary reference plane is called potential energy. Consider a system of
mass ‘m’ is at elevation Z from the earth’s surface, then the potential energy of the system
is given by
P.E = EP = mgZ − − − − − − − −(1.8)

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 UNIT I
Where, ‘g’ is the acceleration due to gravity.
Microscopic form of energy:
It includes the energies that are related to the molecular structure of a system, such as
internal energy.
Internal Energy:
1. Every system has a certain amount of energy with itself. This is known as internal energy.
2. Internal energy is nothing but the sum of all the microscopic forms of energy. It is denoted
by U.
3. Other forms of energy can also be stored within the system. These are electrical, magnetic,
surface energy, etc.
4. These energies can be neglected except in some cases. Hence, the total energy E of a system
can be represented as
E = EK + EP + U − − − − − − − (1.9)
Where,
EK = Kinetic energy
EP = Potential energy
U = Internal energy
Power:
1. Power is defined as the rate at which work is done or the ratio of work done to unit time. It
can be expressed as
Workdone Joule
Power = = = Watt (W ) − − − − − (1.10)
Time sec ond
2. The SI unit of power is kJ/s or kW.
3. The most familiar unit of power is horse power (hp). 1 hp = 745.7 W.
General sign conversion for heat and work:
Process Sign
Heat added to the System + 𝑣𝑒
Heat rejected by the system − 𝑣𝑒
Work done by the system + 𝑣𝑒
Work done on the system − 𝑣𝑒
Problem 2:
The potential energy of a body of mass 10 kg is 1.5 kJ. What is the height of the body from
the ground? If a body of mass 10 kg is moving at a velocity of 50 m/s. What is the kinetic energy?
Solution:
The potential energy (PE) is given by Eq. (1.8)
P.E = mgZ

1.5 *10 3
1.5 *10 3 = 10 * 9.8067 * Z  Z =
10 * 9.8067
Z = 15.3m
Thus the elevation, Z = 15.3 m.
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 UNIT I
The Kinetic energy (KE) is given by Eq. (1.7)

mu 2 = *10 * (50) = 12500 Nm = 12.5kJ

1 1
K .E =
2

2 2
Problem 3:
A man whose weight is 600 N takes 2 min for climbing up a staircase. What is the power
developed in him, if the staircase is made up of 20 stairs each 0.18 m in height?
Solution:
Total vertical displacement = 20*0.18 = 3.6 m
Work done = Force * Displacement = 600 * 3.6 = 2160 N m (=2160 J)
Work done 2160
Power developed = = = 18 J / s(= 18W )
Time 2 * 60
Problem 4:
Nitrogen gas is confined in a cylinder and the pressure of the gas is maintained by a weight
placed on the piston. The mass of the piston and the weight together is 50 kg. The acceleration due
to gravity is 9.81 m/s² and the atmospheric pressure is 1.01325 bars. Assume frictionless piston.
Determine:
(a).The force exerted by the atmosphere, and the weight on the gas if the piston is 100 mm
in diameter.
(b).The pressure of gas.
(c).If the gas is allowed to expand pushing up the piston and the weight by 400 mm, what is
the work done by the gas in J?
(d).What is the change in potential energy of the piston and the weight after the expansion in
part (c)?
Solution:
(a) The force exerted by the atmosphere = Pressure *Area

= 1.01325 * 10 5 *
4
(
* 100 * 10 −3 )
2

= 795.805 N
Force exerted by the piston and weight = m*g = 50 * 9.81 = 490.5 N
Total force acting on the gas = 795.805 + 490.5 = 1286.305 N

= 1.6378 *10 5 N / m 2 (= 1.6378bar )

Force 1286.305
(b) Pr essure = =
(
Area ( 4) * 100 *10 −3 )
2

(c) Workdone = Force * Displaceme nt = 1286.305 * 400 *10 −3 = 514.5J( )

(d) Change in the potential energy, Δ(PE) = mgΔz = 50*9.81*(400*10-3) = 196.2 J
Problem 5:
A spherical balloon of diameter 0.5 m contains a gas at 1 bar and 300 k. The gas is heated
and the balloon is allowed to expand. The pressure inside the balloon is found to vary linearly with
the diameter. What would be the work done by the gas when pressure inside reaches 5 bar?
Solution:
Since the pressure varies linearly with the diameter of the balloon,
P
= cons tan t
D

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 UNIT I
Where ‘P’ is the pressure inside the balloon and ‘D’ is the diameter. Since these are
respectively, 1*105 N/m2 and 0.5 m initially, P = 2 *10 5 (or ) P = 2 *10 5 D . As the final pressure is
D
5
5*105 N/m2, the final diameter would be 5 *10 5 = 2.5m .
2 *10
 
Workdone =  PdV =  (2 *10 )
D d  D 3
5

6
That is,

(
W =  PdV = 2 *10 5 D )2 
0.5
2.5
D 3 dD =

4
( )
*10 5 2.5 4 − 0.5 4 = 30.6305 *10 5 Nm = 30.6305 *10 5 J

Zeroth Law of thermodynamics:

1. This law was coined and formulated by R.H.Fowler in 1931.
2. The law states: If two objects are in thermal equilibrium with a third object, then they are
also in thermal equilibrium with each other.
3. If two cups of coffee are at thermal equilibrium with the room, then the two cups are in
thermal equilibrium with each other. Fig.1.6.

4. The two cups of coffee have the same temperature. If the two cups are put in contact with
each other no heat will flow.
Phase:
A phase is defined as a physically distinct but homogeneous part of a system separated
from other parts by a boundary surface.
Phase rule:
1. The phase rule is a qualitative treatment of systems in equilibrium. It was formulated by
J.W.Gibbs in 1876.
2. The phase diagram is fundamentally based on the phase rule.
3. The number of independent variable in multicomponents and multiphase systems is clearly
indicated by the phase rule.
F = C − P + 2 − − − − − −(1.11)
Where,
F = Degrees of freedom
C =Number of components
P=Number of phases
4. In the above formulations, 2 are taken into consideration due to the fact that two variables T
and P must be specified to describe the state of equilibrium.
5. This rule is widely used for the study of different types of systems in equilibrium. For
instance, in a water system

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 UNIT I
Phase Diagram of Water:
Fig.1.7

Ice  Liquidwater  watervapour

Here, P = number of phases =3, and C = number of components = 1
6. Substituting the value of P and C in the above equation we have, F = 1 − 3 + 2 = 0 , i.e., ice,
liquid water and water vapour are in equilibrium. Hence, degrees of freedom are determined
for the system in equilibrium.
Reversible and irreversible process:
Reversible expansion of gas

Fig.1.8
1. A process is said to be reversible if both the system and the surroundings can be restored to
their respective original states by reversing the direction of the process.
2. A reversible process is one in which the properties of the system at every instant remain
uniform when the process takes place.
3. Consider the following examples, (i) Vaporization of a liquid in a closed vessel at a constant
temperature. (ii) Chemical reaction in a galvanic cell.
4. The characteristics of a reversible process are a reversible process proceeds with no driving
force through a succession of equilibrium steps.
5. A reversible process can be restored to its original state at the end of the reverse process.
6. The process undergoes an infinitesimal change towards completion.
7. During a reversible process the properties of the system remain uniform at every instant.
8. In the reversible process, the magnitude of the thermodynamic quantities at different stages
will be the same as in the forward process but opposite in direction.
Irreversible process:
1. A process which does not satisfy the criterion of a reversible process.

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 UNIT I
2. In this process, change occurs very rapidly and there is no chance of attainment of
equilibrium of the system.
3. All spontaneous processes occurring in nature are irreversible.
4. They cannot be reversed by the help of any external agency.
5. For example, the flow of heat from one body to another, free expansion of gas, and rusting
of iron in presence of atmospheric oxygen are irreversible processes.
The following factors are responsible for the irreversibility of a process:
i. Friction
ii. Mixing of two fluids
iii. Unrestrained expansion
iv. Heat transfer across a finite temperature difference
v. Electrical resistance
vi. Inelastic deformation of solids
vii. Chemical reaction.
Problem 6:
Two kilograms of CO2 gas is contained in a piston-cylinder assembly at a pressure of 6.5 bars and a
temperature of 300 K. The piston has a mass of 5000 Kg and a surface area of 1 m². The friction of the piston
on the walls is significant and can be ignored. The atmospheric pressure is 1.01325 bars. The latch holding
the piston in position is suddenly removed and the gas is allowed to expand. The expansion is arrested when
the volume is double the original volume. Determine the work appearing in the surroundings. Will it be the
same as the work done by the gas?
Solution:
The initial volume of the gas is evaluated assuming that the gas follows the ideal gas
equations, PV = nRT .
Mass 2
Number of moles of the gas ‘n’ = = = 0.0455kmol
Molecularw eight 44
nRT 0.0455 * (8.314 *10 3 ) * 300
Initial volume, V = = 5
= 0.1746m 3
P 6.5 *10
Final volume = 2V = 0.3492 m3
Change in the volume, V = 2V − V = 0.1746m 3
Pressure on the surroundings = Atmospheric pressure + Pressure due to the weight of the
piston
5000 * 9.8067
= 1.01325 *10 5 +
1
= 1.50359 *10 5 N .m 2
Work done on the surroundings = PΔV = (1.50359*105)*0.1746=0.2625*105 J.
Since the pressure of the gas is changing continuously, the work done by the gas cannot
be evaluated as  PdV . This work would be greater than the work appearing in the surroundings
because of the irreversible nature of the process.
Practice:
Five kilograms of CO2 gas is contained in a piston-cylinder assembly at a pressure of 7.5 bars and
a temperature of 300 K. The piston has a mass of 6000 Kg and a surface area of 1 m². The friction of the

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 UNIT I
piston on the walls is significant and cannot be ignored. The atmospheric pressure is 1.01325 bars. The latch
holding the piston in position is suddenly removed and the gas is allowed to expand. The expansion is
arrested when the volume is double the original volume. Determine the work appearing in the surroundings.
(Ans: 6.073×102 J).
Temperature Scale:

1. The temperature of a substance is such a thermal property that indicates the direction of flow
of heat.
2. There are several temperature measuring devices used in laboratories and industries, such as
mercury-in-glass thermometer, optical pyrometer, resistance thermometer, radiation
pyrometer and thermocouple.
3. But the mercury-in-glass thermometer is of common use in measuring temperature. This
thermometer consists of an uniform glass tube filled with mercury.
4. On application of heat, the liquid inside the thermometer expands along the length of the
tube and indicates the temperature.
5. The ideal gas temperature scale is developed on the basis of an ideal fluid. This scale is
identical with the Kelvin scale. The constant-volume gas thermometer is used to measure the
temperature on this scale.
6. In the Celsius scale (also called the centigrade scale), the ice point is 0 and the steam point is
100, and temperature is denoted by °C (degrees Celsius).
7. The calibration of a thermometer is done by first immersing it into an ice point, and then
again immersing it into boiling water and adjusting it with the boiling point.
8. In the Kelvin scale, an ideal gas is used as the thermometric fluid, and the symbol of
temperature is K.
9. The relation between the Kelvin temperature scale and the Celsius temperature scale can be
expressed as
T ( K ) = T (C ) + 273.15 − − − − − −(1.12)
10. Apart from the Celsius and Kelvin scales, there are two other thermometer scales used
chiefly in the United States. These are the Rankine scale and the Fahrenheit scale.
11. The Rankine scale is an absolute scale in which the temperature is denoted by R, and the
empirical relationship between the Rankine and Kelvin scales is given by

T ( R) = 1.8 T ( K ) − − − − − − − (1.13)
12. The Fahrenheit scale has a relation with Rankine scale that can be expressed as
T ( F ) = T ( R) − 459.67 − − − − − − − (1.14)
The following relation exists between the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales:
T ( F ) = 1.8 T (C ) + 32 − − − − − − − (1.15)
A comparative study between the Celsius, Kelvin, Fahrenheit and Rankine scales has been
presented in Fig.1.9.

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 UNIT I

University Questions:
1. Define and explain: Point and path functions. NOV 2013 & R8
Define Point function and Path function. (2) May 2013 & R7, Nov 2015 & R8
Mention the differences between path and point function with examples.(2) Nov 2011 & R8
What is heat capacity? Is it a path function? (2) May 2011 & R8
Givs some examples for point functions and path functions. (2) Nov 2010 & R7
Define the following: (i) Point function (ii) Path function (iii) Intensive property (iv)
Extensive property (v) Work (vi) Phase rule (vii) Kinetic energy (viii) Potential energy
May 2016 & R8
2. Explain State and path functions. Nov 2012 & R8
Distinguish between state function and path function.(2) NOV 2013 & R7
What is state and path function? (2) May 2014 & R8
What do you mean by state function? What would be the change in a state function in a
cyclic process? Nov 2015 & R13
3. Define and explain: Intensive and Extensive properties. NOV 2013 & R8, MAY 2015& R7
Explain Intensive and extensive properties.(4) Nov 2012 & R8, May 2017 & R13, Nov
2017 & R13
Explain intensive property. May 2014 & R8
Differentiate the Intensive and extensive properties of the system. (2) Nov 2010 & R7

4. Define and explain: Work and heat. NOV 2013 & R8, Nov 2017 & R13
Estimate heat and work effects in an isothermal process involving ideal gases.(2) NOV 2013
& R7
Differentiate work and heat. (2) Nov 2012 & R7, May 2017 & R13
Give the sign convention for work and heat. (2) May 2014 & R8
Compare heat and work. (6) May 2011 & R8, NOV 2014 & R8, May 2015 & R13
Show that heat and work are path functions.(10) May 2013 & R7
How are heat, internal energy and thermal energy related to each other? Nov 2015 & R8
Show that heat and work are path functions.(8) May 2016 & R8

5. Define and explain: Reversible and irreversible properties. NOV 2013 & R8
Explain Reversible and irreversible processes.(4) Nov 2012 & R8, Nov 2017 & R13
Explain reversible process. May 2014 & R8
With an example from Reversible expansion of a gas and another from reversible chemical
reaction explain the concept of Reversible process. (12) May 2013 & R7
Explain the reversible and irreversible processes in detail.(8) Nov 2010 & R7

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 UNIT I
Define "Irreversible process". (2) Nov 2012 & R7
Give examples for reversible process (2) Nov 2011 & R8
Distinguish Reversible and irreversible processes. (2) Nov 2011 & R8, May 2015& R13,
Nov 2017 & R8
List the essential characteristics of a reversible process MAY 2015& R7, May 2017 & R8
What are the factors responsible for the irreversibility of a process? (2)May 2016 & R8
Differentiate reversible and irreversible process. (8) May 2016 & R8, May 2017 & R13

6. Explain the various basic terminologies used in Thermodynamics.(8) Nov 2010 & R7
7. Define the following terminologies of thermodynamics, with suitable examples (i)
Reversible and irreversible processes (6) (ii) State functions and path functions (6) (iii)
Thermodynamic equilibrium (4) NOV 2016 & R13

8. Explain Thermodynamic equilibrium Nov 2012 & R8

Define the terms steady state and equilibrium.(2) NOV 2014 & R8, Nov 2012 & R8

9. Explain open and closed system. May 2014 & R8, May 2015& R13
How systems are classified? (2) May 2013 & R7
Delineate the system, surrounding and boundary schematically using a piston cylinder
assembly. (2) May 2012 & R7
Define various systems with examples.(2) Nov 2011 & R8
How will you classify the systems based on composition? (2) May 2011 & R8
List the different types of systems. (2) May 2016 & R8
Distinguish between 'Open system' and 'Closed system' with examples. (2) NOV 2016 &
R13
Define system.(2) May 2017 & R13
Differentiate system and surroundings. (4) May 2017 & R13
Explain system and surroundings. (4) Nov 2017 & R13

10. What are thermodynamic systems and surroundings? And indicate the type of system for the
following cases (i) Motor car battery, (ii) Solution of NH3 in water, (iii) Boiler in steam
power plant and (iv) Water plus oil. (8) NOV 2014 & R8, May 2011 & R8

11. Discuss on various energy classifications. (8) Nov 2011 & R8

What is energy in transition?(2) NOV 2013 & R8
How energy is classified? Give some examples. Nov 2015 & R8

12. Explain phase rule. May 2014 & R8

What is phase rule and state its significance?(4) May 2013 & R7
Write phase rule.(2) NOV 2014 & R8, NOV 2013 & R8, May 2016 & R8
The phase rule variables are ----- properties. The minimum number of degrees of freedom
for any system is---- (2) May 2012 & R7

13. Write a note on Zeroth law of thermodynamics and physical significance of entropy. (6)
Nov 2012 & R7

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State Zeroth law of Thermodynamics. (2) May 2014 & R8, Nov 2017 & R13
Explain how Zeroth law of thermodynamics is employed in the determination of absolute
temperature. (13) May 2017 & R13

14. Compute the degree of freedom if (i) System made up by liquid solution of alcohol and
liquid water in equilibrium with its vapor. (ii) System consisting of solid carbon, CO, C02.
02 in chemical equilibrium. (iii) System made by partial decomposition of NH4Cl and (iv) A
mixture of N2, H2 and NH3 exits in chemical equilibrium at elevated temperature.
NOV 2014 & R8, May 2011 & R8

15. Explain how ideal gas temperature scale is devised. (16) May 2015& R13
What is the importance of the ideal - gas temperature scale? (2) Nov 2015 & R13

16. Explain the following: (i) Macroscopic properties (ii) State variables (iii) Intensive
properties (iv) reversible and irreversible processes (v) Open and closed system (vi) System
and surroundings (16) Nov 2015 & R13
17. What is thermal reservoir? Nov 2017 & R13
18. What is the number of degrees of freedom when a binary liquid mixture is in equilibrium
with its vapour? May 2017 & R8
Derivations:
1. Derive an expression of the work done in a constant-temperature process.(8) May 2011 &
R8
Problems:
1. Compute the work done when 10 kg of water is evaporated at atmospheric pressure until a
volume of 1.25m3 is occupied. (10) NOV 2014 & R8, May 2011 & R8

2. An elevator with a mass of 2500 kg rest at a level of 7.5 m above the base of the elevator
shaft. It is raised to 75 m when the cable holding it breaks. It falls freely to the base where it
is brought to rest by a strong spring. Assume that the acceleration due to gravity is
9.81 m/s2, neglecting the effect of friction, calculate (i) The potential energy of the elevator
in its initial position.(ii) The potential energy of the elevator in its highest position. (iii) The
work done in raising the elevator. (iv) The kinetic energy arid velocity of the elevator just
before it strikes the spring and the potential energy of the spring when the elevator rests on
it. NOV 2013 & R8

An elevator with a mass of 3 tons rests at a level 15 m above the base of an elevator shaft. It
is raised to 125 m above the base of the shaft. The elevator falls freely to the base of the
shaft and strikes a spring and comes to rest. Calculate (i) The potential energy of the
elevator in its initial and final position (ii) Work required to raise the elevator (iii) The
velocity and kinetic energy of the elevator before it strikes the spring (iv) The potential
energy of the compressed spring (v) If the elevator and spring is considered as a system,
calculate the energy of the systems at different conditions mentioned above. State your
assumptions and explain the inference. (3+3+3+3+4) NOV 2013 & R7, May 2012 & R7

3. Consider 1 kg of water in a waterfall which is flowing down from a height of 100 m. At the
bottom of the fall it joins a river the downstream velocity of which may be assumed

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CETD-I UNIT I
negligible. Neglecting any energy exchange between the water and the surroundings,
calculate: (i) The potential energy at the top of the falls (ii) The kinetic energy just before
the water strikes the bottom (iii) The change in temperature of the water when it enters the
river. NOV 2013 & R8, MAY 2015& R7, May 2016 & R8

4. An astronaut weighs 730 N in Houston, Texas, where the local acceleration due to gravity is
g = 9.792 ms-2. What are the astronaut's mass and weight on the moon, where g = 1.67 ms-2.
May 2013 & R7

5. A spherical balloon of diameter 0.5 m contains gas at 1 bar and 300 K. The gas is heated and
the balloon is allowed to expand. The pressure inside the balloon is directly proportional to
the square of the diameter. What would be the work done by the gas when the pressure
inside reaches 5 bar? (8) Nov 2012 & R7

6. Nitrogen gas is confined in a cylinder and the pressure of the gas is maintained by a weight
placed on the piston. The mass of the piston and the weight together is 100 kg. The
acceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m/s2 and the atmospheric pressure is 1.01325 bars.
Assume frictionless piston. Determine, (i) The force exerted by the atmosphere, the piston
and the weight on the gas if the piston is 200 mm in diameter. (ii) The pressure of the gas.
(iii) If the gas is allowed to expand pushing up the piston and the weight by 500 mm, what is
the work done by the gas in KJ? (iv) What is the change in the potential energy of the piston
and the weight after the expansion in part(3)? (16) Nov 2012 & R8, MAY 2015& R7, May
2015& R13

7. The potential energy of a body of mass 20 kg is 3.5 kJ. What is the height of the body from
the ground? (2) Nov 2012 & R8

8. Calculate the volume of 28kg of N2 at 25°C and 1 bar pressure. (2) Nov 2011 & R8

9. Quantify the potential energy stored in a static system of mass 100 Kgs at an elevation of
100 m. (2) NOV 2016 & R13.

10. Five kilograms of CO2 gas is contained in a piston-cylinder assembly at a pressure of 7.5
bars and a temperature of 300 K. The piston has a mass of 6000 Kg and a surface area of 1
m². The friction of the piston on the walls is significant and cannot be ignored. The
atmospheric pressure is 1.01325 bars. The latch holding the piston in position is suddenly
removed and the gas is allowed to expand. The expansion is arrested when the volume is
double the original volume. Determine the work appearing in the surroundings. (8) NOV
2016 & R13

11. A special manometer fluid has a specific gravity of 3.65 and is used to measure a pressure of
1.25 bar at a location where the barometric pressure is 760 mm Hg. What height will the
manometer fluid register? NOV 2016 & R13

12. A gas is enclosed by a frictionless piston in a 0.3 m diameter cylinder and a metal block is
placed on the piston. The weight of the piston and the block rested on it together equal 100

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kg. The atmospheric pressure and the acceleration due to gravity are 1.013 bar and 9.792
m/s2 respectively.
i. Calculate the force exerted by the atmosphere, the piston and the weight on the gas
and the pressure of the gas in kPa.
ii. If the gas expands on application of heat, the piston moves upward along with the
weight by 0.5 m, then what is the work done by the gas in kJ?
iii. What is the change in potential energy of the piston and the weight after the expansion
of the gas? NOV 2017 & R13

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