Thermodynamic Properties Fixing the State

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the thermodynamic properties of a combustion process involving separated zones of burned and unburned ideal gas mixtures. It is established that knowing the pressure and equivalence ratio (ER) allows for the determination of all thermodynamic properties of the unburned mixture. The confusion arises from the relationship between ER and the ideal gas law, specifically regarding the unknowns of temperature (Tunburned) and volume (Vunburned). Ultimately, it is clarified that the thermodynamic state is fully defined by two independent, intensive properties.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of ideal gas law (pV = nRT)
  • Knowledge of equivalence ratio (ER) in combustion
  • Familiarity with thermodynamic properties of gases
  • Basic principles of combustion processes
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of the ideal gas law in thermodynamic systems
  • Research the role of equivalence ratio in combustion efficiency
  • Explore intensive and extensive properties in thermodynamics
  • Examine case studies of combustion processes with separated zones
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Students and professionals in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and thermodynamics, particularly those focusing on combustion processes and gas mixtures.

Saladsamurai
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I am reading through a thesis paper and it says that for a combustion process in which we have separated the chamber into 2 zones: burned and unburned ideal gas mixtures, if we know the pressure and equivalence ratio (ER) for the unburned ideal gas mixture, we can find all of its thermodynamic properties.

Doesn't the ER just allow us to find the number of moles of each species? And thus knowing pressure and ER (moles) we are still left with two unknowns (Tunburned and Vunburned) in the ideal gas relation:
pV = nRT.

Am I missing the obvious here? Any thoughts are appreciated.
 
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Saladsamurai said:
I am reading through a thesis paper and it says that for a combustion process in which we have separated the chamber into 2 zones: burned and unburned ideal gas mixtures, if we know the pressure and equivalence ratio (ER) for the unburned ideal gas mixture, we can find all of its thermodynamic properties.

Doesn't the ER just allow us to find the number of moles of each species? And thus knowing pressure and ER (moles) we are still left with two unknowns (Tunburned and Vunburned) in the ideal gas relation:
pV = nRT.

Am I missing the obvious here? Any thoughts are appreciated.

Well, I'm not inclined to give an opinion without reading the paper. However, I will say that the thermodynamic state of a simple compressible system is completely specified (i.e. fixed) by two independent, intensive properties.

CS
 
Thanks stewartcs. I believe that I have sorted it out. It was poorly worded and I took the statement as a "standalone" statement when I should not have.
 

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