6. Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
6.7 Specific entropy of a state
6.7.1 Determining the specific entropy of pure substances by using thermodynamic tables
The specific entropy of a pure substance can be found from thermodynamic tables if the tables are available. The procedures are explained in Section 2.4. In addition to the P−vP−v and T−vT−v diagrams, the T−sT−s diagram is commonly used to illustrate the relation between temperature and specific entropy of a pure substance. Figure 6.7.1 shows the T−sT−s diagram for water.

Example 1
Fill in the table.
Substance | T, oC | P, kPa | v, m3/kg | Quality x | s, kJ/kg-K | Phase |
Water | 250 | 0.02 | ||||
R134a | -2 | 100 |
Solution:
Water: T = 250 oC, vv = 0.2 m3/kg
From Table A1: T = 250 oC, vfvf = 0.001252 m3/kg, vgvg = 0.050083 m3/kg
Since vf<v<vgvf<v<vg, water at the given state is a two phase mixture; the saturation pressure is Psat = 3976.17 kPa, and sfsf = 2.7935 kJ/kgK, sgsg = 6.0721 kJ/kgK
The quality is
x=v−vfvg−vf=0.02−0.0012520.050083−0.001252=0.383936x=v−vfvg−vf=0.02−0.0012520.050083−0.001252=0.383936
The specific entropy is
s=sf+x(sg−sf)=2.7935+0.383936×(6.0721−2.7935)=4.0523 kJ/kgKs=sf+x(sg−sf)=2.7935+0.383936×(6.0721−2.7935)=4.0523 kJ/kgK
R134a: T = -2 oC, P = 100 kPa
From Table C1: by examining the saturation pressures at 0 oC and – 5 oC, we can estimate that the saturation pressure for T = -2 oC is about 270 kPa; therefore, R134a at the given state is a superheated vapour.
From Table C2,
P = 100 kPa, T = -10 oC, vv= 0.207433 m3/ kg, ss = 1.7986 kJ/kgK
P = 100 kPa, T = 0 oC, vv= 0.216303 m3/ kg, ss = 1.8288 kJ/kgK
Use linear interpolation to find vv and ss at T = -2 oC.
∵v−0.2074330.2160303−0.207433=s−1.79861.8288−1.7986=−2−(−10)0−(−10)
∴v=0.214529 m3/kg and s=1.8228 kJ/kgK
In summary,
Substance | T
oC |
P
kPa |
v
m3/kg |
Quality x | s
kJ/kg-K |
Phase |
Water | 250 | 3976.17 | 0.02 | 0.383936 | 4.0523 | two-phase |
R134a | -2 | 100 | 0.214529 | n.a. | 1.8228 | superheated vapour |
Example 2
A rigid tank contains 3 kg of R134a initially at 0oC, 200 kPa. R134a is now cooled until its temperature drops to -20oC. Determine the change in entropy, ΔS, of R134a during this process. Is ΔS=Sgen?
Solution:
The initial state is at T1 = 0oC and P1 =200 kPa. From Table C2 in Appendix C,
s1 = 1.7654 kJ/kgK, v1 = 0.104811 m3/kg
The tank is rigid; therefore, v2 = v1 = 0.104811 m3/kg.
From Table C1, at T2 = -20oC:
vf = 0.000736 m3/kg, vg = 0.147395 m3/kg
sf = 0.9002 kJ/kgK, sg = 1.7413 kJ/kgK
Because vf<v2<vg, the final state is a two-phase mixture.
x2=v2−vfvg−vf=0.104811−0.0007360.147395−0.000736=0.70964
s2=sf+x2(sg−sf)=0.9002+0.70964×(1.7413−0.9002)=1.4971 kJ/kgK
The total entropy change is
ΔS=m(s2−s1)=3×(1.4971−1.7654)=−0.8049 kJ/K
It is important to note that ΔS≠Sgen in general. The total entropy of R134a decreases in this cooling process, but the entropy generation is always greater than zero in a real process.
6.7.2 Determining the specific entropy of solids and liquids
The specific entropy of a solid or a liquid depends mainly on the temperature. The change of specific entropy in a process from states 1 to 2 can be calculated as,
s2−s1=CplnT2T1
where
s: specific entropy, in kJ/kgK
Cp: specific heat, in kJ/kgK. Note that for solids and liquids, Cp=Cv. Table G2 and Table G3 list the specific heats of selected solids and liquids, respectively.
T: absolute temperature, in Kelvin
6.7.3 Determining the specific entropy of ideal gases
The specific entropy of an ideal gas is a function of both temperature and pressure. Here we will introduce a simplified method for calculating the change of the specific entropy of an ideal gas in a process by assuming constant specific heats. This method is reasonably accurate for a process undergoing a small temperature change.
s2−s1=CplnT2T1−RlnP2P1
s2−s1=CvlnT2T1+Rlnv2v1
where
Cp, Cv and R are the constant-pressure specific heat, constant-volume specific heat, and gas constant, respectively, in kJ/kgK. Table G1 lists these properties of selected ideal gases.
T: absolute temperature, in Kelvin
P: pressure, in kPa
s: specific entropy, in kJ/kgK
v: specific volume, in m3/kg
Example 3
Air is compressed from an initial state of 100 kPa, 27oC to a final state of 600 kPa, 67oC. Treat air as an ideal gas. Calculate the change of specific entropy, Δs, in this process. Is Δs=sgen?
Solution:
From Table G1: Cp = 1.005 kJ/kgK, R = 0.287 kJ/kgK
Δs=s2−s1=CplnT2T1−RlnP2P1=1.005ln273.15+67273.15+27−0.287ln600100=−0.3885 kJ/kgK
It is important to note that Δs≠sgen in general. The specific entropy decreases in this process, but the rate of entropy generation is always greater than zero in a real process.
6.7.4 Isentropic relations for an ideal gas
If a process is reversible and adiabatic, it is called an isentropic process and its entropy remains constant. An isentropic process is an idealized process. It is commonly used as a basis for evaluating real processes. The concept of isentropic applies to all substances including ideal gases. The following isentropic relations, however, are ONLY valid for ideal gases.
Pvk=constant and P2P1=(v1v2)k=(T2T1)k/(k−1)
where
k=CpCv: specific heat ratio. The k values of selected ideal gases can be found in Table G1.
T: absolute temperature, in Kelvin
P: pressure, in kPa
v: specific volume, in m3/kg
It is noted that the isentropic relation Pvk=constant for ideal gases is actually a special case of the polytropic relation Pvn=constant with n=k=CpCv.
Example 4
Derive the isentropic relation Pvk=constant
Solution:
For an ideal gas undergoing an isentropic process,
Δs=s2−s1=CplnT2T1−RlnP2P1=0
Substitute Cp=kRk−1 in the above equation and rearrange,
∵kk−1lnT2T1=lnP2P1
∴ln(T2T1)kk−1=lnP2P1
∴P2P1=(T2T1)kk−1
Combine with the ideal gas law, Pv=RT,
∴P2P1=(T2T1)kk−1=(P2v2P1v1)kk−1
∴P2P1=(v1v2)k
∴Pvk=constant and P2P1=(v1v2)k=(T2T1)kk−1
Practice Problems
Media Attributions
- T-s diagram for water © Kaboldy is licensed under a CC BY-SA (Attribution ShareAlike) license
An isentropic process refers to a process that is reversible and adiabatic. The entropy remains constant in an isentropic process.