Overunity from Heating and Cooling

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The discussion centers around the kinetic energy of gas molecules, specifically steam, and the implications of cooling steam to achieve an overunity efficiency, which suggests a gain of energy exceeding the input. The kinetic energy formula presented is (3/2)kTN/M, where k is Boltzmann's constant, T is temperature, N is Avogadro's number, and M is molecular weight. The calculation indicates that cooling steam from 373K to 40C could yield an unrealistic energy gain, raising questions about the assumptions made in the derivation. Overunity, defined as achieving greater than 100% efficiency, is considered a violation of the conservation of energy law and is deemed a fringe topic. The thread concludes with a note that discussions on overunity are not permitted on the forum.
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The kinetic energy of gas molecules or atoms is: (3/2)kTN/M where k is Boltzman constant, T is absolute temperature, N is avogadros number and M is molecular weight. The formula is derived from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_theory.
Assume that the gas is steam with M = 18 kg/mol at 373K, it is equivalent to approximately 260 J/kg but suppose i cool the steam up to 40C based on Cdt + Lf (C is specific heat, dt is change in temperature and Lf is latent heat of vaporization), it becomes an overunity of 10420 more effective. From what assumption or derivation I am wrong? or if I'm right where does the excess energy came from?
 
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That is the AVERAGE kinetic energy! It is a statistical ensemble derived via Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution!

Zz.
 
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yes i compute the average kinetic energy of the molecules and then i multiply it with the total number of molecules using avogadros number and molecular weight so i computed the total kinetic energy1 kg steam of approximately 260 J, which is very small.
 
I actually computed the total kinetic energy since the average kinetic energy is only equal to kT/2.
 
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etherist said:
The kinetic energy of gas molecules or atoms is: (3/2)kTN/M where k is Boltzman constant, T is absolute temperature, N is avogadros number and M is molecular weight. The formula is derived from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_theory.
Assume that the gas is steam with M = 18 kg/mol at 373K, it is equivalent to approximately 260 J/kg but suppose i cool the steam up to 40C based on Cdt + Lf (C is specific heat, dt is change in temperature and Lf is latent heat of vaporization), it becomes an overunity of 10420 more effective. From what assumption or derivation I am wrong? or if I'm right where does the excess energy came from?
What is overunity? I've never heard the term before.
 
It means that efficiency is greater than 1 or 100%, there is a gain of energy which violates law of conservation of energy.
 
Chestermiller said:
What is overunity? I've never heard the term before.

It's when you get more out than you put in - so very near the fringe of what's acceptable on PF.

Suffice to say that someone with the time and inclination could find the flaw in the OP but there are better things to do with your time than chase things like that.
 
Yes, overunity processes are on the banned topics list of the PF. Thread is closed.
 
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