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TYPES OF THERMODYNAMIC PROCESS
SUMMARY
When examining thermodynamic processes some simplifying assumptions may

be applied to help describe and analyse a given system. These simplifications

can be viewed as 'ideal' thermodynamic processes and include adiabatic,

isenthalpic, isentropic, isobaric, isochoric, isothermal, isentropic, polytropic

and reversible processes. This article provides a brief overview of each process
type and suitability to a given thermodynamic system.

1. DEFINITIONS
C

: Constant

: Polytropic index

: Enthalpy

: Ratio of specific heats (isentropic exponent) C

: Mass flow

: Pressure

: Heat flow

: Entropy

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p /Cv

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: Temperature

: Volume

: Efficiency

Subscripts:
a

: Actual or adiabatic process

: Isentropic process

: Initial state

: Final state

2. SUMMARY OF PROCESS TYPES

Each type of thermodynamic process presented in this article has the
simplifying characteristic that one or more property is held constant while the

process takes place. The table below summarises the constant properties for
each type of thermodynamic process.
Process

Properties Held Constant

Adiabatic

Heat Energy

Isenthalpic

Enthalpy

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Process

Properties Held Constant

Isentropic

Entropy, Equilibrium, Heat Energy

Isobaric

Pressure

Isochoric

Volume

Isothermal

Temperature

Isotropic

Direction

Polytropic

PV

Reversible

Entropy, Equilibrium

= C

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3. THERMODYNAMIC PROCESS DESCRIPTIONS

3.1 Adiabatic
An adiabatic process is one in which no heat or mass is transferred between
the system and its surroundings

(m = 0,Q = 0)

. In practice this

assumption is most often used for rapidly acting systems (i.e. the
thermodynamic process occurs in a short period) or as a method for obtaining
conservative results. For example:

Analysing the stroke of a piston where heat transfer outside of the

system can be minimal due to the short period of time analysed.

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Analysis of a combustion reaction using the adiabatic assumption to

give an upper limit (conservative) estimate of the flame temperature

(referred to as the adiabatic flame temperature).

3.2 Isenthalpic
An isenthalpic process is one in which there is no transfer of heat energy to or
from the surroundings as if the system were surrounded by a perfect insulator
(h = 0)

. Essentially and isenthalpic system is an adiabatic system that is

irreversible and extracts no work.

The isenthalpic assumption is typically applied to determine the maximum

temperature change in a system with changes in pressure. For example:

Calculating the temperature of a gas after it passed through a safety

relief valve to ensure downstream components are suitably rated for the
discharge temperature.

3.3 Isentropic
An isentropic process is one in which entropy remains constant

(s = 0)

Since no energy is dissipated as heat an isentropic process is both adiabatic

and reversible.

Steady state fluid systems are often best represented as adiabatic, but to give

an estimation of the efficiency of the process the isentropic performance of a

system is often related to the adiabatic or actual performance. This is referred
to as the adiabatic or isentropic efficiency:

For systems where pressure decreases, such as turbines and nozzles:

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h1 h2a

=
h1 h2s

For systems where pressure increases, such as pumps and compressors:

h2s h1
=
h2a h1

3.4 Isobaric
An isobaric process is one in which the pressure is held constant

(P = 0)

Assuming that the quantity of gas in an isobaric process remains constant the
work done by the system is directly promotional to the change in volume or
temperature of the system.

The ratio of heat capacity of a gas in an isobaric system with the heat capacity
of the gas in an isochoric system makes up the ratio of specific heats for gases
k = Cp /Cv

3.5 Isochoric
An isochoric system is one in which volume is held constant

(V = 0)

Isochoric processes can also be referred to as isometric or isovolumetric. For

Example:

In calorimetry the energy of a reaction may be measured in a "bomb

calorimeter". This device does not change volume during the reaction so

that the temperature change can be measured as a single variable, and used
to calculate the energy released.

3.6 Isothermal

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3.6 Isothermal
An isothermal process is one in which there is no temperature change

. There may be energy flow into and out of the system, however

(T = 0)

only the amount required to keep the temperature of the system constant. For
Example:

Phase changes - melting solids and boiling liquids of pure substances

requires substantially energy transfer, but does not change temperature.

3.7 Isotropic
An isotropic system is not strictly a thermodynamics system, however it may
easily be confused for one from the name. Isotropic systems are uniform
regardless of direction. For example:

Radiation may be isotropic when the the observed intensity is the

same in all directions from the source.

A fluid may be called isotropic if the relationships between stress and

rate of strain is the same in all directions.

3.8 Polytropic
A polytropic fluid system follows the relationship:
PV

= C

From this relationship we can arrive at relationships for several other types of
thermodynamic process:

When n = 0, the process is isobaric

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When n = 1, the process is isothermal

When n = k, the process is isentropic
When n = , the process is isochoric

3.9 Reversible
A reversible process is one which is performed as if it were always at
equilibrium, and without the production on entropy. This system is purely

hypothetical since entropy is increased by any process occurring in a finite

time.

A reversible process is always at equilibrium as the process progresses and

thus represents the maximum efficiency that is possible in the conversion

between work and energy for the system.

4. FURTHER READING
1. Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook, Eighth Edition
2. Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, 7th Edition
3. Fundamentals of Thermodynamics
Article Created: July 1, 2015
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ARTICLE TAGS
Adiabatic Isenthalpic Isentropic Isobaric Isochoric Isothermal
Isotropic Polytropic Reversible Thermodynamics

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