How to Prove Thermal Efficiency for an Imaginary Ideal Gas Cycle?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving the thermal efficiency of an imaginary ideal gas cycle, with a focus on deriving the efficiency formula using constant heat capacities and the relationships between temperature, volume, and pressure in the cycle.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationships between temperature, volume, and pressure in the context of an ideal gas cycle. There are attempts to manipulate equations related to adiabatic processes and thermal efficiency.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on applying the ideal gas law and manipulating fractions to relate different variables. There is an ongoing exploration of algebraic rearrangements needed to connect the derived equations to the thermal efficiency formula.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with an imaginary cycle and have referenced a diagram for clarification. There is an assumption of constant heat capacities and adiabatic processes, which influences the discussion.

jrklx250s
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Homework Statement


Given an imaginary ideal-gas cycle. Assuming constant heat capacities, show that the thermal efficiency is

η = 1 - γ[((V1/V2)-1)/((P3/P2)-1)]

Since i can't show you the cycle we are shown that

l Qh l = which is absolute value of the heat at high temperature = Cv(T3-T2)
l QL l = which is absolute value of the heat at low temperature = Cp(T1-T2)
Cp/Cv = γ

The Attempt at a Solution



Ok so subing in these equations for thermal efficiency
which is

η = 1 - l QL l / l Qh l

we get...

η = 1 - γ(T1 - T2)/(T3 - T2)

η = 1 - γ((T1/T3) - 1)

This imaginary cycle only has a power stroke and we are assuming that its adiabatic...from this we concluded that

T1V1^(γ-1) = T3V2^(γ-1)
T1P2^((1-γ)/y)=T3P3^((1-γ)/y)

divide each equation we get

V1^(γ-1)/P2^((1-γ)/y) = V2^(γ-1)/P3^((1-γ)/y)

Now I am not sure how to rearrange from here to make T1/T3 = (V1/V2)/(P3/P2)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciative.
Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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Since no one has replied I'm assuming some are confused as to what I'm talking about so here is the ideal gas cycle that I need to calculate the thermal efficiency from.
Here is the link to the picture of the cycle
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/411/img1048u.jpg/
 
Last edited:
Hi jrklx250s! :smile:

Did you already try to apply the ideal gas law PV=RT?
 
Hi Serena,

Yes I believe so when i calculated the adiabatic processes for the power stroke... which i concluded that they were

T1V1^(γ-1) = T3V2^(γ-1)
T1P2^((1-γ)/y)=T3P3^((1-γ)/y)

And Since I need to make T1/T3 = (V1/V2)/(P3/P2)

This means that T1 = (V1*P2)

and T3 = (V2*P3)

not sure how to conclude these from the two equations above. And I know its a simple alegbraic rearrangement that I am missing here.
 
Careful. Let's start with (V1/V2)/(P3/P2).
With some fraction manipulations this is equal to (P2*V1) / (P3*V2).

Looking at the diagram you posted I can see that P1=P2 and that V1=V3.
Furthermore you have that for instance P1*V1 = R*T1.

Perhaps you can use that?
 
Haha wow...thank you serena I was making this so much more complicated than it was.

Yea of course you can just conclude that since
P1=P2
V2=V3

so therefore...
P1V1=nRT1
P3V3=nRT3

P2V1=nRT1
P3V2=nRT3

solving for both T's

T1=P2V1/nR
T3=P3V2/nR

sub this in my previous equation and we get...
η= 1 - ((V1/V2)-1)/((P3/P2)-1)

Thank you.
 

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