# Calculating Work and State Variables for an ideal Stirling Engine

1. Mar 28, 2013

### WalkTex

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Consider the ideal Stirling cycle working between a maximum temperature Th and min temp Tc, and a minimum volume V1 and a maximum volume V2. Suppose that the working gas of the cycle is 0.1 mol of an ideal gas with cv = 5R/2.

A) what are the heat flows to the cycle during each leg? Be sure to give the sign. For which legs is the heat flow positive?

B) What work is done by the cycle during each leg?

2. Relevant equations

W = Integral from Vi to Vf of PdV
W = QH-QC

3. The attempt at a solution

My attempt at a solution is given in the pdf below. My main problem was identifying some of these quantities without defined values for Vi, Vf, Qh, Qc or mass. I simply assumed some values that were gave in part C, but it was unclear to me if this is what was to be done, or if there was a way to calculate it without these values. For instance, in leg ii of the cycle, no mass is given for know data. How may I then calculate heat? Thanks in advance.

#### Attached Files:

• ###### 4.3and4.4 (1).pdf
File size:
137.5 KB
Views:
59
Last edited: Mar 28, 2013
2. Mar 28, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

For part (b), do not use any numerical values. Just derive the formulas for the work.

I don't understand why you write $W=Q_H - Q_C$ for individual legs. During the cycle, the working substance is imagined to be in contact with either the hot or the cold reservoir one at a time. I would use $\Delta U = W + Q$, with $U$ the energy of the working substance.

3. Mar 28, 2013

### WalkTex

Thank you for the tip. For part A, does one not need the mass of the working substance to solve for heat?

#### Attached Files:

• ###### Untitleddocument.pdf
File size:
116.3 KB
Views:
64
Last edited: Mar 28, 2013
4. Mar 29, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

No. Until you reach the point where you have to calculate actual values, such as efficiency, you should keep everything in generic terms.

I looked at your solution, and first I must say that your notation is confusing. For the volumes, you use $V_\mathrm{min}$ and $V_\mathrm{max}$ and $V_\mathrm{i}$ and $V_\mathrm{f}$, while the problem states $V_1$ and $V_2$. You should be also careful with the sign convention. When using $\Delta U = Q + W$, $W$ is in terms of the work done on the working substance, while for an engine, you usually want the work produced by the working substance to be positive. You get $W$ correct at then end, but because you dropped a minus sign along the way.

The efficiency you get is indeed low. You should check your calculation of $Q_\mathrm{pos}$ again (don't confuse $C_V$ and $c_V$...).