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Reversible and Irreversible Process

The document discusses reversible and irreversible processes. A reversible process is one where the system and surroundings can be returned to their initial states. An irreversible process cannot undo the process. All natural processes are irreversible due to factors like heat transfer through a temperature difference, chemical reactions, friction, and mixing of substances. Irreversibility can occur internally within a system or externally in its surroundings.

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Nafisa Anika
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612 views20 pages

Reversible and Irreversible Process

The document discusses reversible and irreversible processes. A reversible process is one where the system and surroundings can be returned to their initial states. An irreversible process cannot undo the process. All natural processes are irreversible due to factors like heat transfer through a temperature difference, chemical reactions, friction, and mixing of substances. Irreversibility can occur internally within a system or externally in its surroundings.

Uploaded by

Nafisa Anika
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reversible and Irreversible

process
Process
 The way in which a system changes its
states is known as process. The second Law of
thermodynamics enables us to divide all process
into two classes:
 Reversible or Ideal process. A reversible
process for a system is defined as a process
that once having taken place can be reversed
and in so doing leave no change in either
system or surroundings i.e both the system and
the surroundings can be returned to their initial
states.
Reversible or Ideal process

 A reversible process is one in which every


point along some path is an equilibrium state.

 Net work and net heat transfer must be zero.

 A reversible process is an ideal that we


never achieve – all processes are irreversible.
Examples of Reversible Processes

• Frictionless mass-spring or pendulum


• Adiabatic expansion or compression in friction-less
piston cylinder
• Stable equilibrium states
Irreversible Process (Natural/Real)
 Irreversible Process (Natural/Real). A
process is irreversible if there is no way to undo
it. That is, there is no means by which the
system and its surroundings can be exactly
restored to their respective initial state after the
process has occurred.
 All natural processes are known to be irreversible.
Irreversible Process (Natural/Real)
Where do we find irreversible processes?

Pretty much everywhere, damn it!..


And we are not getting any younger either!..
You can’t possibly run
that movie back…
Losing, breaking,
destroying, saying stupid
things….
Example: Irreversibility of Friction
Factors that Render Processes
Irreversible
 Heat transfer through a finite temp
difference.
 Unrestrained expansion of a gas or a liquid
to a lower pr.
 Spontaneous chemical reaction.
 Spontaneous mixing of matter at different
composition or state.
 Friction- sliding friction as well as friction in
the flow of fluids.
Factors that Render Processes
Irreversible
 Electric current flow through a resistance.
 Magnetization or polarization with
hysteresis.
 Inelastic deformation.
Factors that Render Processes
Irreversible
 Heat transfer through a finite temp difference.
 A system at a high temp body and a High Temp
low temp body, let heat be transferred
from TH to TL .
 The only way to bring the system
back to TL is to cool it by refrigerator. Q Q
 The refrigerator requires work from
the surrounding W input.
Low Temp
 The net effect is extra heat rejected
to the surrounding equal in magnitude to
the work. Ref W
 Hence it is an irreversible process.
T1 > T2
Q
Factors that Render Processes
Irreversible
 Unrestrained expansion of a gas or a
liquid to a lower pr.

 Unrestrained expansion means W=0


 To bring the gas back to its initial pr and temp,
work must be supplied by surrounding.
 Hence irreversible process.
Factors that Render Processes
Irreversible
 Spontaneous chemical reaction.
Factors that Render Processes
Irreversible
 Spontaneous mixing of matter at different
composition or state.

O Once mixed, particles cannot be re-segregated on their


own.
O Work should be supplied from the surrounding to
separate the two gases.
O Hence, irreversible process.
Factors that Render Processes
Irreversible
 Friction- sliding friction as well as friction in
the flow of fluids.

Energy is dissipated and cannot be recovered


later in the cycle
Factors that Render Processes
Irreversible
 Work is done to raise the block and overcome
friction.
 Block is getting hotter due to friction.
 In the reverse process, the block is getting
even hotter due to friction.
 Heat should be rejected to the surrounding to
bring it back to its initial position.
 Hence, irreversible process.
Factors that Render Processes
Irreversible
 Electric current flow through a resistance.

O I2 R loss encountered in electrical


circuits.
O Energy is dissipated and cannot be
recovered later in the cycle.
 Magnetization or polarization with
hysteresis.
 Inelastic deformation.
Types of Irreversibility

 Internal. Are those that occur within


the system.

 External. Are those that occur within


the surroundings, often the immediate
surroundings.
Reversible and Irreversible
Processes, cont
 A real process that is a good approximation
of a reversible one will occur very slowly
 The system is always very nearly in an
equilibrium state
 A general characteristic of a reversible
process is that there are no dissipative
effects that convert mechanical energy to
internal energy present
 No friction or turbulence, for example
Reversible vs. Irreversible
• A process is called irreversible if the system
and all parts of its surroundings cannot be
exactly restored to their initial values
• A Process is reversible if both the system
and surroundings can be returned to its initial
states.
• An irreversible process may be returned to
initial state but not if combined with
surroundings
• All real-world processes are irreversible
How to Prove Irreversibility
• The proof is typically by contradiction
• First suppose the process is reversible
• Put together a series of additional reversible
processes to form a thermodynamic cycle
• Show that existence of such a cycle would
violate the Kevin-Planck Statement
• Example: Heating due to Friction

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