Thermodynamics -- Temperature of a Heat Source?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of heat sources, sinks, and temperatures in the context of thermodynamics, particularly focusing on the Carnot cycle and phase change processes. Participants explore the definitions and relationships between the temperatures of heat sources, systems, and reservoirs, as well as the implications for heat transfer and entropy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about the distinction between the temperature of the heat source and the system temperature during the isothermal processes in a Carnot heat engine.
  • Others clarify that during the isothermal heating segment of the Carnot cycle, the temperature of the heat source and the system are the same.
  • A participant questions whether the heat source and system temperatures are different in general, suggesting that the Carnot cycle is a special case.
  • There is a request for practical examples to illustrate the concepts of source, sink, and system temperatures.
  • Participants discuss the heat transfer directions in different segments of the Carnot cycle and how they relate to the temperatures of the reservoirs and the gas.
  • Some participants inquire about the determination of temperature during phase change operations and how it relates to the heat source or sink.
  • There is mention of the need for the hot reservoir temperature to be slightly higher than the saturation temperature of the working fluid for reversible phase changes.
  • Participants discuss the practical meaning of heat quantities, such as ##Q_h## and ##Q_c##, in the context of a refrigerator's operation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express confusion and seek clarification on the relationships between heat source, system, and reservoir temperatures. Multiple competing views remain regarding the definitions and implications of these concepts, particularly in the context of the Carnot cycle and phase changes.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions involve assumptions about the conditions under which heat transfer occurs, such as the need for temperature gradients for heat transfer and the specific definitions of heat quantities in different thermodynamic processes. There are also unresolved mathematical steps related to heat transfer calculations.

Rahulx084
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TL;DR
2nd law of thermodynamics and Carnot heat engine
In heat engine we define a heat source from where heat is transferred to the system, we say that heat source has a temperature ##T_h## , When we define a Carnot heat engine, the first process we have is an isothermal expansion and we say heat has to come in system through this process and here the ##T_h## is the constant temperature of that isothermal process .Are they both same? I'm getting confused in getting what actually is the source and sink in both cases and what are their temperature? Also in the entropy equation $$\oint dQ_r/T=0$$ what is the temperature T?
 
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The temperature of the heat source and the system temperature are both the same value in the isothermal heating segment of the Carnot cycle. In the "entropy equation" that you have written, T is the hot reservoir temperature (and system temperature) during the isothermal heating (expansion) segment, and T is the cold reservoir temperature (and system temperature) during the isothermal cooling (compression) segment.
 
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That mean heat source and system temperature are two different cases, but the Carnot heat engine is a special case where both reservoir and system temperature are same? Can you give me one practical example sir to elaborate this source ,sink ,system and their temperature concept.
Thanks in advance
 
Rahulx084 said:
That mean heat source and system temperature are two different cases, but the Carnot heat engine is a special case where both reservoir and system temperature are same? Can you give me one practical example sir to elaborate this source ,sink ,system and their temperature concept.
Thanks in advance
Please describe for me in your own words the details of what is happening in each of the 4 segments of the Carnot cycle.
 
In the first segment : Reversible Isothermal expansion
2nd: Reversible adiabatic expansion
3rd:Reversible Isothermal compression
4th: Reversible adiabatic compression
 
How do the constant gas temperatures in steps 1 and 3 compare? What is the direction of heat transfer in step 1, and what is the direction of heat transfer in step 3? How do the amounts of heat transferred in steps 1 and 3 compare?
 
I don't get what is meant by constant gas temperature comparison of step 1 and 3 . Rest of it is as follows:
Heat is getting into the system in step 1
Heat is getting out of system in step 2
We can find the heat transfer in step 1 and 3 using the work done formula, as in reversible isothermal process heat transfer = work done
$$Q=W=nRTln(V_2/V_1)$$
 
In step 1, the temperature of the hot reservoir (and the gas) are higher than in step 3 where the temperature of the cold reservoir (and the gas) are lower. Actually, in step 1, the temperature of the hot reservoir is slightly higher than the average gas temperature and, in step 3, the temperature of the cold reservoir is slightly lower than the average gas temperature; that way, heat can be transferred. Is this what you were wondering about.

So for the cycle, $$\Delta S_{gas}=\frac{Q_{hot}}{T_{hot}}-\frac{Q_{cold}}{T_{cold}}=0$$ Is this what you were asking?
 
We know that during a phase change operations ##\Delta S##= ##m\lambda / T_{sat}##
Where ##dQ=m\lambda##
How we have determined that T here? Like what's the source here or the sink ?
 
  • #10
Rahulx084 said:
We know that during a phase change operations ##\Delta S##= ##m\lambda / T_{sat}##
Where ##dQ=m\lambda##
How we have determined that T here? Like what's the source here or the sink ?
You are aware that, in the standard Carnot cycle, there is no change of phase, right?

For a reversible expansion involving a working fluid phase change, to be reversible, the hot reservoir temperature must be slightly higher than the saturation temperature of the working fluid at the pressure of the expansion. Is that what you are asking?
 
  • #11
Rahulx084 said:
We know that during a phase change operations ##\Delta S##= ##m\lambda / T_{sat}##
Where ##dQ=m\lambda##
How we have determined that T here? Like what's the source here or the sink ?
I means let's not consider any carnot cycle here , just for a reversible phase change process .
 
  • #12
Rahulx084 said:
I means let's not consider any carnot cycle here , just for a reversible phase change process .
For the change to be reversible, the temperature of the source must be slightly higher than the saturation temperature of the working fluid that is changing phase; otherwise, if the hot reservoir temperature is higher than this, there will be temperature gradients within the working fluid (giving rise to entropy generation), and $$\Delta S_{fluid}=\frac{m\lambda}{T_{sat}}>\frac{m\lambda}{T_h}$$ where ##Q=m\lambda##. So, for the irreversible case, the change in entropy of the working fluid will be greater than the heat transferred from the hot reservoir divided by the hot reservoir temperature. In the application of the Clausius inequality, you always use the temperature at the boundary between the system and the surroundings to divide the heat transferred at the boundary. In the present case, this is the same as the hot reservoir temperature.
 
  • #13
Thank you so much sir , I get it now , one final doubt , I'm attaching a picture, I don't want to know the solution of it , just tell me that what will be the ##Q_h## here , like the practical meaning of it , like ##Q_c## is the heat removed from refrigerator.
 

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  • #14
Rahulx084 said:
Thank you so much sir , I get it now , one final doubt , I'm attaching a picture, I don't want to know the solution of it , just tell me that what will be the ##Q_h## here , like the practical meaning of it , like ##Q_c## is the heat removed from refrigerator.
##Q_h## is the heat rejected to the room, and is equal to $$Q_h=Q_c+W=5\ kW + W$$

If you look under the refrigerator, you will see a set of tubular coils over which room air is blown by a fan to remove the heat. The heat transfer occurs at the room air temperature.
 
  • #15
Correct me If I'm wrong ,
Lets say a refrigerator is working at 5 degree Celsius and we need it at 3 degree Celsius, so heat required to be removed to bring 5 to 3 degree Celsius is the ##Q_c## and for to remove this heat we have to do some work that's W so ##Q_c## + W is the ##Q_h## and this ##Q_h## is the one what we feel warm outside a refrigerator .
 
  • #16
Rahulx084 said:
Correct me If I'm wrong ,
Lets say a refrigerator is working at 5 degree Celsius and we need it at 3 degree Celsius, so heat required to be removed to bring 5 to 3 degree Celsius is the ##Q_c## and for to remove this heat we have to do some work that's W so ##Q_c## + W is the ##Q_h## and this ##Q_h## is the one what we feel warm outside a refrigerator .
If you wanted to lower the temperature inside the refrigerator from 5 C to 3 C, you would have to increase ##Q_c## above 5 kw, and this would require a proportional increase in both W and in ##Q_h##. Regarding ##Q_h##, it is what you feel when you put your hand in the air stream coming from the outside coils.
 
  • #17
Okay sir , thank you very much again :)
 

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