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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 PvPv and TvTv diagrams, the TsTs diagram is commonly used to illustrate the relation between temperature and specific entropy of a pure substance. Figure 6.7.1 shows the TsTs diagram for water.

 

T-s diagram for water
Figure 6.7.1 T-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=vvfvgvf=0.020.0012520.0500830.001252=0.383936x=vvfvgvf=0.020.0012520.0500830.001252=0.383936

The specific entropy is

s=sf+x(sgsf)=2.7935+0.383936×(6.07212.7935)=4.0523 kJ/kgKs=sf+x(sgsf)=2.7935+0.383936×(6.07212.7935)=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.

v0.2074330.21603030.207433=s1.79861.82881.7986=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=v2vfvgvf=0.1048110.0007360.1473950.000736=0.70964

s2=sf+x2(sgsf)=0.9002+0.70964×(1.74130.9002)=1.4971 kJ/kgK

The total entropy change is

ΔS=m(s2s1)=3×(1.49711.7654)=0.8049 kJ/K

It is important to note that ΔSSgen 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,

 

s2s1=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.

s2s1=CplnT2T1RlnP2P1

s2s1=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=s2s1=CplnT2T1RlnP2P1=1.005ln273.15+67273.15+270.287ln600100=0.3885 kJ/kgK

 

It is important to note that Δssgen 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/(k1)

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=s2s1=CplnT2T1RlnP2P1=0

Substitute Cp=kRk1 in the above equation and rearrange,

kk1lnT2T1=lnP2P1

ln(T2T1)kk1=lnP2P1

P2P1=(T2T1)kk1

Combine with the ideal gas law, Pv=RT,

P2P1=(T2T1)kk1=(P2v2P1v1)kk1

P2P1=(v1v2)k

Pvk=constant   and   P2P1=(v1v2)k=(T2T1)kk1

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