Thermal efficiency of a heat engine

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around deriving the thermal efficiency of an ideal-gas cycle with specific processes involving constant pressure cooling, constant volume heating, and adiabatic expansion. The user attempts to apply the first law of thermodynamics and the properties of adiabatic processes to express thermal efficiency. They face challenges in manipulating the equations to eliminate variables and achieve the desired form of the efficiency equation. Suggestions include using the ideal gas law to relate temperature and volume changes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of careful algebraic manipulation to arrive at the correct expression for thermal efficiency.
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Homework Statement



A possible ideal-gas cycle operates as follows:
(i) from an initial state (p1,V1), the gas is cooled at constant pressure to (p1,V2)
(ii) the gas is heated at constant volume to (p2,V2)
(iii) the gas expands adiabatically back to (p1,V1).
Assuming constant heat capacities, show that thermal efficiency is given by:

1 - γ\frac{(V_1/V_2) - 1}{(p_2/p_1) - 1}

2. Homework Equations


For adiabatic processes:
PV^γ = constant

The Attempt at a Solution



For a cyclic process, ΔU = 0, so denoting Q_h as heat coming in system and Q_l as heat leaving system,

W = Q_h - Q_l

Thermal efficiency is defined as

η = W/Q_h = 1 - \frac{Q_l}{Q_h}

(i) has heat flowing out of the system, (ii) has heat flowing in the system, (iii) is adiabatic so heat is zero.

For (i), p is constant and I assume ideal gas

W = -p(ΔV) = -nR(T_2 - T_1)

ΔU = nC_VΔT

By first law,

Q_l = nC_VΔT + nR(T_2 - T_1) = n(R + C_V)(T_2 - T_1) = nC_p(T_2 - T_1)

For (ii) V is constant so work must be zero. That means change in internal energy is equal to heat gained,

Q_h = nC_V(T_3 - T_2)

Here's where I'm getting stuck. If I stick this in into my definition of thermal efficiency,

η = 1 - \frac{C_p(T_2 - T_1)}{C_V(T_3 - T_2)}

I'm aware that since (iii) is adiabatic, it is true that

T_3V^{γ-1}_2 = T_1V^{γ-1}_1

I've tried using the above to write an expression for T3 to eliminate it in my expression for thermal efficiency, but it ends up being a huge mess and I don't see how I can take out gamma from the exponent into a multiplying factor as is seen in the result I'm supposed to get to, leading me to think one of my steps is wrong. Would appreciate any help/insight in this.

EDIT: Fixed a step where I mixed U - W with W - U. Had a negative sign that didn't belong.
 
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Mangoes said:
η = 1 - \frac{C_p(T_2 - T_1)}{C_V(T_3 - T_2)}

Good so far. Don't forget the ideal gas law. :smile:
 
Well, my goal is pretty much getting from

\frac{T_2 - T_1}{T_3 - T_2}

to

\frac{(V_1/V_2) - 1}{(P_2/P_1) - 1}

Applying ideal gas law would make my expression in terms of different Δ(PV). I'm not sure if there's something obvious with the algebra I'm missing. I'm not really seeing how I can express T3 in terms of either the second or first state.
 
Mangoes said:
\frac{T_2 - T_1}{T_3 - T_2}

Divide numerator and denominator by T2.
 
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