Pressure or volume for state thermodynamics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a thermodynamics problem involving a piston-cylinder arrangement containing CO2 gas. Participants explore how to determine the work done during a polytropic process, given initial and final states of pressure, volume, and temperature. The conversation includes various approaches to solving the problem, including the use of the universal gas equation and specific volume tables.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about how to start solving the problem without knowing the pressure or volume at state 2.
  • Another participant identifies the process as polytropic and provides a formula for calculating work done based on pressure and volume.
  • A suggestion is made to use the universal gas equation to find the final state pressure-volume product, emphasizing the need for absolute units.
  • One participant notes the challenge of solving for state 2 without knowing either pressure or volume, indicating a dependency on additional information.
  • Another participant discusses the importance of specific volume and suggests using tables or a computer program for calculations, acknowledging a lack of access to the necessary tables.
  • One participant proposes an alternative method using the universal gas equation to derive the work done, leading to a specific numerical result.
  • Another participant reflects on the need for two properties to specify the specific volume at a state, indicating a limitation in the information provided.
  • There is a question raised about the relationship between polytropic and adiabatic processes, with some clarification provided regarding specific values of n.
  • Another participant adds that all processes are polytropic, but there are special cases for certain values of n, suggesting a nuanced understanding of the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the methods to solve the problem, with some advocating for the use of tables while others suggest alternative approaches. There is no consensus on a single method or solution, and several participants highlight the challenges posed by incomplete information.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific volume tables for CO2, which some participants rely on for calculations. Additionally, the discussion reveals dependencies on assumptions regarding the nature of the process and the values of n in polytropic processes.

JSBeckton
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Dont know how to start this one without a pressure or volume for state 2-

A piston cylinder arrangement (cylinder facing up with a piston pushing down) contains C02 at 300kpa and 100 deg C with vol of .2m^3. Weights are added such that the gas compresses according to PV^1.2= constant to final temp of 200 deg C. Determine work done.

This problem was in the book but not assigned, we didn't do anything like it but I wouldn't put it past him to put it on the test anyways. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Anwser -80.4 kJ
 
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This is a polytropic process.

[tex]P=CV^{-n}[/tex]

[tex]W_b = \int^2_1 PdV = \int^2_1 CV^{-n} dV = C \frac{ V_2^{-n+1} - V_1^{-n+1}}{-n +1} = \frac{P_2V_2 - P_1V_1}{1-n}[/tex]

Try and work it out now.
 
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Suggestion: Can the universal gas equation be of use to get the final state pressure volume product(i.e P2V2).

Note: Be sure that you are using absolute units.
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
This is a polytropic process.

[tex]P=CV^{-n}[/tex]

[tex]W_b = \int^2_1 PdV = \int^2_1 CV^{-n} dV = C \frac{ V_2^{-n+1} - V_1^{-n+1}}{-n +1} = \frac{P_2V_2 - P_1V_1}{1-n}[/tex]

Try and work it out now.

Thats what I was trying to do but can't solve it because I don't have P2 or V2, if I had one I could solve for the other.
 
You are given:[itex]Gas=CO_2[/itex], [itex]P_1 =300kPA[/itex], [itex]T_1 = 100C^o[/itex], [tex]V_1 = 0.2m^3 [/itex], and [itex]T_2 = 200 C^o[/itex].<br /> <br /> From the initial state you know that:<br /> <br /> [tex]V=vm[/tex]<br /> <br /> This means the initial mass, which is your total closed system, is equal to: [tex]\frac{V}{v} = m[/tex]<br /> <br /> You can find [itex]v_{1,100C^o}[/itex] from your tables.<br /> <br /> You can also find [itex]v_{2,200C^o}[/itex] from your tables.<br /> <br /> From there you can find [tex]V_2 = v_2 m[/tex]<br /> <br /> Now you can use:<br /> <br /> [tex]PV^n = C[/tex]<br /> <br /> to find the pressure at state two.<br /> <br /> Edit: If you don't want to use your tables you can also use EES, which will do all this lookup work and calculations for you. It's a very nice and very powerful equation solver.[/tex]
 
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Thanks, I don't have tables for CO2 so they probabally wanted me to use the computer program that was with the book. Thankfully that question was not on the test.
 
Are you using Cengel and Boles? Does it have a picture of the sunset on it? Its a VERY good book. I would tell you to go buy it if you have the cash and throw away your currenet book.
 
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You can do it without tables by using universal gas equation.

P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2 or P2V2 = P1V1T2/T1

So P2V2 = 300 kPa x 0.2 cu.m x 473 K/373 K (based upon the answer 300 kPa seems to be absolute pressure).

So, P2V2 = 76.08 kJ

So work done is (76.08 - 60)/(-0.2) = -80.4 kJ (negative sign indicates work done on the system)
 
Nice. Did not see that. That is a lot easier.

BAH! I am looking at my tables now, I forgot that you need two properties to specify the specific volume at a state. So knowing just the temperature is not enough. The Pv=RT relation is the ONLY way to solve it.
 
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  • #10
How about: W= R (T2-T1)/n-1

Am i too late??
 
  • #11
Is polytropic the same as adibatic? (PV^n)
Edit: i think i have the answer: it is adibatic if n=cp/cv, isobaric if n=0 and isothermal if n=1. But that raises another question of course, what if 0<=n<=1?
 
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  • #12
All process are polytropic, but there are same special casess for n=0, n=1 etc so I thing that for 0<n<1 it is a polytropic process.
 

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