Adiabatic Process

No heat transfer between system and surroundings

dq = 0.

First law gives

dE = −dW = − pdv

Since for any process dE = CvdT we have

C v dT = − pdv

From the ideal gas law pv = RT

dv
C v dT = − RT
v

dT R dv
=−
T Cv v

Cp Cv + R
From =k=
Cv Cv

R
= 1+
Cv
or

R
= k −1
Cv

Substituting for

R
Cv

we obtain

dT dv
= −(k − 1) ln
T v

This equation can be integrated when k is assumed constant. For an ideal gas, this is
equivalent to the assumption that the heat capacities are themselves constant. This is the only
way that the ratio k and the difference Cp – Cv = R can both be constant.

Integration gives

Adiabatic Process.doc/221-JSG/05.10.2005/mw
 T2 v
ln = −(k − 1) ln 2
T1 v1

or

k −1
T2 ⎛ v1 ⎞
=⎜ ⎟
T1 ⎜⎝ v 2 ⎟⎠

From the ideal gas law

pv = RT

p1v1 = RT1

p 2 v 2 = RT2

p1v1 p 2 v 2
=
T1 T2

v1 p T
= 2 1
v2 p1 T2

k −1
T2 p 2 v 2 ⎛ v1 ⎞
= =⎜ ⎟
T1 p1 v1 ⎜⎝ v 2 ⎟⎠

k −1
T2 ⎛ p 2 ⎞ k
=⎜ ⎟
T1 ⎜⎝ p1 ⎟⎠

From
k −1
T2 ⎛ v1 ⎞
=⎜ ⎟
T1 ⎜⎝ v 2 ⎟⎠
and
k −1
T2 ⎛ p 2 ⎞ k
=⎜ ⎟
T1 ⎜⎝ p1 ⎟⎠

we obtain

k −1
k −1
⎛ v1 ⎞ ⎛p ⎞ k
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜ 2 ⎟⎟
⎝ v2 ⎠ ⎝ p1 ⎠

or

Adiabatic Process.doc/221-JSG/05.10.2005/mw
 p1 v1k = p 2 v 2k = pv k = constant

Adiabatic Compression

2
W = ∫ vdp
1

pvk = constant ( ≡ b) for an adiabatic process:

1/ k
⎛b⎞
v = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ p⎠

2
W = ∫ b1 / k p −1 / k dp
1

dxn = nxn-1dx from calculus

P2
k ⎡ k ⎤
k −1

W =b 1/ k
⎢ p ⎥
k −1 ⎣ ⎦P 1

p1v1k = b

and
(p v )k 1/ k
1 1 = b1 / k

We select to eliminate v2

k ⎡ k ⎤
k −1 k −1

W = p1v1k ( ) 1/ k
⎢ 2
k −1 ⎣
p − p1
k
⎥
⎦

⎡ k −1
⎤
⎛ kk−1 ⎞ k ⎢⎛ p 2 ⎞ k
= (p v )
k 1/ k
1 1
⎜ p1 ⎟
⎜
⎜ ⎟
⎟ k − 1 ⎢⎜ p ⎟ − 1⎥
⎥
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ 1⎠
⎣⎢ ⎥⎦

1 1 k
+1−
p1k k
v1k = p1v1

Adiabatic Process.doc/221-JSG/05.10.2005/mw
 ⎡ k −1
⎤
k ⎢⎛ p 2 ⎞ k
⇒ W = p1v1 ⎜ ⎟ − 1⎥
k − 1 ⎢⎜⎝ p1 ⎟⎠ ⎥
⎢⎣ ⎥⎦

OK for k ≠ 1

Units in Adiabatic Compression

[ ]
2
W = ∫ vdp, v m 3 / mol
1

⎡ k −1
⎤
k ⎢⎛ p 2 ⎞ k
W [J / mol ] = p1v1 ⎜ ⎟ − 1⎥
k − 1 ⎢⎜⎝ p1 ⎟⎠ ⎥
⎣⎢ ⎥⎦

1 ⎡ J kg mol ⎤
W ×m× = [J / s ] = [W ]
M ⎢⎣ mol s kg ⎥⎦

W = WORK, [W] = [Watt]

Real gas law (Ideal gas law with z added)

V
pV = znRT , p = zRT
n

pv = zRT

We note that V is volume and v is specific volume.

Adiabatic Process.doc/221-JSG/05.10.2005/mw