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An adiabatic process is a process in which no heat transfer takes place. As no heat transfer takes
place into or out of the system it is an isentropic process. This process is of the form:
Pvk = constant --------------------------------------------------------------------------(1)
where,
P = pressure,
v = volume,
k = ratio of specific heats (Cp/Cv)
Polytropic process
A polytropic process is a variable entropy process in which heat transfer takes place during the
process. It is of the form:
Pvn = constant --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2)
where,
n = k for an adiabatic, isentropic process
= 1 for an isothermal process
= 0 for an isobaric process
= ∞ for an isochoric process
From equation (2) we may write for a polytropic process:
P1v1n = P2v2n = constant
where,
P1 = initial pressure,
P2 = final pressure,
v1 = initial volume,
v2 = final volume,
P2 / P1 = (v1/v2)n ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (3)
Also,
P1v1/T1 = P2v2/T2
v1/v2 = P2T1/P1T2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (4)
Using (4) in (3):
P2/P1 = (P2T1/P1T2)n
(P2/P1)(1-n) = (T2/T1)-n
Defining P2/P1 = rP and T2/T1 as rT we can write:
rT = rP(n-1)/n -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5)
Taking logarithm on both sides:
ln rT = (n-1)/n ln rP
n/(n-1) = (ln rP)/( ln rT) ----------------------------------------------------------------(6)
Polytropic efficiency of a compression process is defined as the ratio of the work output to the
work input.
The work input per mass of fluid is the change of enthalpy of the gas.
w = ∆h
= cp(T2 - T1)
= cp T1(T2/ T1 - 1)
= cp T1(rT - 1)
Using (5) in the above equation:
w = cp T1(rP(n-1)/n - 1) ----------------------------------------------------------------- (12)
But,
cp = Rk/(k - 1)
Using this in (12):
w = Rk/(k - 1) * T1(rP(n-1)/n - 1) ------------------------------------------------------ (13)