How to Solve the Polytropic Process Problems?

Typically the polytropic problems are based on the polytropic compression or expansion process and can be solved by using the following polytropic work equation:

W= (P­­­2V2 – P1V1)/ (n-1)……………Eq.1

However, before attempting to solve any such problem you must understand that all the polytropic process are governed by the following equation:

PVn = C…………………………………….Eq.2

Also, you will require the following ideal gas equation:

PV=mRT………………………………….Eq.3

Where:

W – Work done by the polytropic process

P1 – Initial pressure

V1 – Initial volume

P2 – Final pressure

V2 – Final volume

n – Polytropic index (a real number)

C – Constant

m – Mass of the gas

R – Gas constant

Now, as you know all the necessary equations, let’s try to apply the equations for solving a typical problem.

 

 

Problem statement: Some amount of inert gas is entrapped in a piston cylinder. The volume of the inert gas is 0.05 cubic meters at the temperature of 140 degree centigrade and 125 KPa pressure.  The pressure of the inert gas changed to 105 KPa at the temperature of 110 degree centigrade. Assume that the system is behaving polytropically.

You have to find out the work done by the system during the expansion of the entrapped gas.

 

Solution:

  • Given data:

P1 = 125 KPa

V1=0.05 Cubic Meter

T1=140 Deg C.

 

P2=105 KPa

T2=110 Deg C.

 

  • By converting the temperature from centigrade to Kelvin:

T1=413 K

T2=383 K

  • By using the Eqn.3, V2 can be calculated as

V2=0.0552 Cubic Meter

  • By using the Eqn.2, n can be calculated as

n=1.762199

 

  • Finally, the Eqn.1 is used for calculating the work done by the system as

W=0.59564 KJ

 

The methodology used by the above sample problem can be used for solving any similar polytropic work equation problem related to polytropic fluid compression or expansion process.

 

References

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/thermo.html

http://www.taftan.com/thermodynamics/POLYTROP.HTM

 

Shibashis Ghosh

Hi, I am Shibashis, a blogger by passion and an engineer by profession. I have written most of the articles for mechGuru.com. For more than a decades i am closely associated with the engineering design/manufacturing simulation technologies. I am a self taught code hobbyist, presently in love with Python (Open CV / ML / Data Science /AWS -3000+ lines, 400+ hrs. )

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Daniel

    Nice working out, really easy to follow your steps and understand. (insert sarcasm here)

    1. Deepak Dashnitrkl

      R u mad or what total calculation is wrong

      1. MechGuru

        Deepak,
        If you think something is wrong, please do suggest corrections.

  2. Saif

    please can solve this:-

    A mass of air occupying 0.5 m3 at 2 bar and 200oC is compressed reversibly and adiabatically to 5 bar and then it
    undergoes isobaric expansion so that it gives out 45 kJ of work. If the system
    is to be brought back to its initial state what should be the polytropic index
    ? calculate the network interaction of this cycle. Sketch the cycle on a p-V
    diagram. Also compute the power developed if the number of cycles executed per
    minute is 300.

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