The Polytropic Process Ideal Gas

Definition of a polytropic process:

p2 V1

p1 V2

If the fluid is an ideal gas,

n

p2 V1 mRT1 / p1

p1 V2 mRT2 / p2
This leads to two additional relationships for ideal gases,
T2 p2

T1 p1
1

n 1 / n

and

T2
T1

2
V

V1

1 n

The Polytropic Process Ideal Gas

The work done during a polytropic process is,
W12

V2
V1

p1 V1 n
p2 V2 p1 V1
dV
n
V
1 n

for n 1

If the fluid is an ideal gas,

mR T2 T1
W12
1 n

for n 1

For the case where n = 1,

W12

V2
V1

p1 V1
V2
dV p1 V1 ln
V
V1

Ideal Gas Entropy f(T,V)

For the ideal gas, recall that
Pv RT , du cv dT , and dh c p dT

Then from the first Gibbs equation,

s2 s1

u2
u1

du

v2
v1

P
dv
T

T2

T1

dT
cv

v2
v1

RT dv

v T

T2

T1

dT
v2
cv
R ln
T
v1

Furthermore, if the heat capacity can be assumed constant,

s2 s1 cv ln

T2
v
R ln 2
T1
v1

Notice that the entropy of an ideal gas is a function of both

temperature and specific volume (or pressure).
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Ideal Gas Entropy f(T,P)

For the ideal gas, recall that
Pv RT , du cv dT , and dh c p dT

Then from the second Gibbs equation,

s2 s1

h2
h1

dh

P2
P1

v
dP
T

T2

T1

dT
cp

P2
P1

RT dP

P T

T2

T1

P2
dT
cp
R ln
T
P1

Furthermore, if the heat capacity can be assumed constant,

s2 s1 c p ln

T2
P
R ln 2
T1
P1

Notice that the entropy of an ideal gas is a function of both

temperature and pressure.
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