Van der Waal expansion and delivered work

  • #1

Homework Statement


Assume that one mole of an ideal van der Waals fluid is expanded isothermally, at temperature [itex]T_h[/itex] from an initial volume [itex]V_i[/itex] to a final volume [itex]V_f[/itex]. A thermal reselvoir at temperature [itex]T_c[/itex] is available. Apply [tex]
dW_{RWS} = \left ( 1 - \frac{T_{RHS}}{T} \right ) (-dQ) +(-dW) [/tex]
to a differential process and integrate to calculate the work delivered to a reversible work source (RWS). RHS is reversible heat source. Corroborate by overall energy and entropy conservation.

Hint: remember to add the direct work transfer [itex]pdV[/itex] to obtain the total work delivered to the reversible work source.

Homework Equations


Van der Waal equations:
[tex]
u + a/v = cRT
[/tex]
where [itex]u, a, v, c, R, T[/itex] are, respectively, energy per mole, constant, volume per mole, another constant, temperature.
[tex]
p = \frac{RT}{v-b} - \frac{a}{v^2}
[/tex]

The entropy is
[tex]
S = NR\log [ (v-b)(cRT)^c] + Ns_0
[/tex]
where [itex]N[/itex] is the number of moles and [itex]b[/itex] is another constant.

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
Using the first equation with [itex]T=T_h, T_{RHS} = T_c[/itex] and [itex]-dW = pdV[/itex] and integrating we get
[tex]
W_{RHS} = - \left ( 1- \frac{T_c}{T_h} \right) Q + RT_h \log \left ( \frac{v_f-b}{v_i - b} \right) + \frac{a}{v_f} - \frac{a}{v_i}
[/tex]
Also energy conservation gives
[tex]
\Delta u + W + Q =0
[/tex]
and entropy conservation
[tex] R \log \left ( \frac{v_f-b}{v_i - b} \right) + \frac{Q}{T_c} = 0
[/tex]
Finally the energy change is
[tex]
\Delta u = \frac{a}{v_i} - \frac{a}{v_f}
[/tex]
Everything seems to work out except that fraction [itex] T_c/T_h[/itex] is the wrong way round and I see no way of dealing with this. Help would be appreciated.
 
Last edited:

Answers and Replies

  • #2
I see my problem: there are two Qs. The first equation was the heat from the subsystem and the energy and entropy the heat RHS.
 

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