Thermodynamics basics

Thermo - from a Greek word meaning hot, or heat,

and,

Dynamics - the study of matter in motion - again from a Greek word

meaning power, or Powerful.

Energy transformations mostly involve heat and work movements

The Fundamental law is the conservation of energy principle-- energy

cannot be created or destroyed, but can only be transformed from one
form to another.

Thermal energy to mechanical energy

An example of this energy conversion process is the motor car
engine.
Fuel is burned to produce thermal energy which the engine then
converts into the mechanical energy needed to move the car along
the road
Mechanical energy to thermal energy
The reverse process occurs when a moving car is stopped by
applying the brakes.
The mechanical energy of the car is absorbed by the brakes and
converted into thermal energy, evidenced by the fact that the
brakes become hot after application
Thermal energy to electrical energy
In a power station fuel such as coal or oil is burned to produce
thermal energy. This is used to produce steam which drives the
machinery that produces electrical energy
Electrical energy to thermal energy
Electrical energy can be turned into thermal energy, as in the case
of a domestic electric kettle
An interesting comparison is the use of electrical energy to remove
thermal energy, as in the case of a refrigerator (or air-conditioning
unit). A refrigerator removes the thermal energy from the food
stored inside the insulated box
Electrical energy to mechanical energy
Electrical energy supplied to a motor causes the motor shaft to
rotate. The resulting mechanical energy can, for example, be used
to drive a machine tool or propel a vehicle
Mechanical energy to electrical energy
 The rotating shaft of an internal combustion engine can be used to
drive an electrical generator, thus providing a portable power source
for use in remote areas
Regenerative braking

So, thermodynamics means the study of heat related to matter in motion.

Much of the study of engineering (or applied) thermodynamics is
concerned with work producing or utilising machines such as engines,
turbines and compressors together with the working substances used in
such machines.

The working subitances are, in general, fluids which are capable of

deformation ln that they can readily be expanded and compressed. The
working substance also takes part in energy transfer.

For example it can receive or reject heat energy or it can be the means by
which work is done. Common examples of working substances used in
thermodynamic systems are air and steam.

System: A quantity of matter or a region in space chosen for study.

Surroundings: The mass or region outside the system

Boundary: The real or imaginary surface that separates the system from
its surroundings.
Type of system:

Isolated system neither mass nor energy can cross the selected
boundary

Example (approximate): coffee in a closed, well-insulated thermos bottle

Closed system only energy can cross the selected boundary

Examples: a tightly capped cup of coffee

Open system both mass and energy can cross the selected boundary

Example: an open cup of coffee

Properties of a system

Properties of a system is a measurable characteristic of a system that is in

equilibrium.

Properties may be intensive or extensive.

Intensive Are independent of the amount of mass:

e.g: Temperature, Pressure, and Density,

Extensive varies directly with the mass

e.g: mass, volume, energy, enthalpy
Properties of a system

Specific properties The ratio of any extensive property of a system to

that of the mass of the system is called an average specific value of that
property (also known as intensives property)

Phase

When a substance is of the same nature throughout its mass it is said to

be in a phase. Matter can exist in three phases, solid, liquid and vapour or
gas.
If the matter exists in only one of these forms then it is in a single phase.

lf lwo phases exist together then the substance is in the form of a two-
phase mixture. Examnles of this are when a solid is being melted into a
liquid or when a liquid is being transformed into a vapour.

In a single phase the substance is said to be homogenous.

And two-phase it is said to be heterogenous.

A heterogenous mixture of three phases can exist.

This is discussed under the heading of the Triple Point during the
discussion on steam.