Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME 322 – Mechanical Engineering

Thermodynamics

Lecture 22

Second Law Analysis of Open Systems

Isentropic Device Efficiency
 Isentropic Efficiency of Devices
• Performance index of a device
• Comparison of device performance relative
to an isentropic process
– The isentropic process is reversible + adiabatic
– The isentropic process represents the limiting
performance of the device
• Not achievable in the real-world
• A great benchmark for design and analysis
• Limiting value = 100%!
• No general expression
– Device specific
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 Isentropic Efficiency of Devices
Pout  Pin
Diffusers d 
in out
Pout ,s  Pin

The exit of the isentropic diffuser is at the same velocity as

the irreversible diffuser

2
KEout Vout
Nozzles in out n   2
KEout , s Vout , s

The exit of the isentropic nozzle is at the same pressure as

the irreversible nozzle

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 Isentropic Efficiency of Devices
Wt
Turbines 1 Wt
t 
Wt , s

2 P1
P2
T h
1

wt
wt , s
P1 2

1 2s
P2

2
2s

s s
SP / m SP / m

4
 Isentropic Efficiency of Devices
2

Wc , s
Compressors
Wc c 
Wc

1
T
P2
2
2s
P1

s
SP / m

5
 Isentropic Efficiency of Devices
2
Wp , s
Pumps p 
1 Wp
Wp

T P1

L 2
P2

2s
L+V

s
SP / m

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 Isentropic Efficiency of Devices
What about throttling processes and heat exchangers?

Throttling Process
There is no ‘reversible’ analog to a throttling process. Specifying an
‘isentropic’ throttling results in an enthalpy change across the device. As a
result, we do not define an isentropic efficiency for such a device.

Heat Exchangers
Heat exchangers operate by virtue of a temperature difference between the
fluids. By definition, this is irreversible heat transfer. In a reversible
process, there is no temperature difference driving the heat transfer. As a
result, we do not define an isentropic efficiency for a heat exchanger.

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 Example – air turbine w/Air Tables
Air expands in an air turbine from a pressure of 450 kPa and a
temperature of 550 K to an exhaust pressure of 150 kPa.
Assume the process is reversible and adiabatic, with negligible
changes in kinetic and potential energy.

a) Sketch the system & boundary and classify the system.

b) Show initial state and final state isobars on both Pv and
Ts diagrams. Sketch this process on both diagrams.
Visualize and forecast sign of work as well as heat transfer.
c) Use the air tables to find initial and final state conditions.
d) Write the conservation of energy for this process.
e) Write the entropy balance for this process.
f) What is the specific work of air flowing through the turbine?
g) What is the specific entropy production for this turbine?

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 Example – steam turbine
A steam turbine receives steam at a pressure of 1 MPa, 300 C. The
steam leaves the turbine at a pressure of 15 kPa. The work output
of the turbine is measured and found to be 600 kJ/kg of steam flowing
through the turbine.

a) Sketch the system & boundary and classify the system.

b) Show initial state and final state isobars on a Ts diagram.
Sketch the ideal and real process on the Ts diagram.
c) Use the steam tables to find real and ideal final state conditions.
d) What is the quality at the turbine outlet (both real and ideal)?
e) Write the conservation of energy for this process.
f) What is the specific work for an ideal turbine with these conditions?
g) What is the isentropic efficiency of the turbine?
h) What is the specific entropy production for the real turbine?