ME 231

Thermodynamics-I

Lecture 3
Fall 2016
 Process
Any change that a system undergoes from
one equilibrium state to another is called,
process.

The series of states that a system passes

during a process is known as path of the
process.

A complete process is defined by the initial and final

states, path followed and interaction with
surroundings. 2
Quasi-Equilibrium
Process
When a process proceeds in such a manner that the
system remains infinitesimally close to an equilibrium
state at all times, it is called a quasi-static, or
quasi-equilibrium, process.

A quasi-equilibrium process is an idealized

process and is not a true representation of an
actual process.

They are approximated because, easy in

analyzing and maximum work is obtained from
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 Process Diagram
Process diagrams plotted by employing
thermodynamic properties as coordinates.
These are very useful in visualizing the processes.
Some common properties
used are;
Temperature T
Pressure P
Volume V (or specific
The prefix iso- is often used if a
volume v).property
particular remains
constant.
isothermal process (T=Constant)
isobaric process (P=Constant)
isochoric (isometric) process 4
Flow Variables
Pressure

Velocity

Temperature

Density

All flow variables are functions of space

(x, y, z) & time (t).

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 Steady flow process
A process during which
the fluid properties do
not change with time is
known as a steady flow
process.

The devices running for

longer period of time are
assumed to have steady
flow processes. For
example, turbine,
compressor, boilers,
condensers, heat 6
 Steady flow process
(2)
The fluid properties can change from point
to point within the control volume, but at
any fixed point they remain the same during
the entire process.

If the fluid properties do not change with

location, the process is known as uniform flow
process.
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Temperature and Zeroth Law of
Thermodynamics
The degree of hotness and coldness of a
body is known as temperature.

If two bodies are in thermal equilibrium with

a third body, they are also in thermal
equilibrium with each other.
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