Reversible and Irreversible Expansion/Compression Processes: Summary
Key points from this module:
- Irreversible expansion does less work than a reversible expansion process that starts at the same conditions and ends at the same pressure.
- Irreversible compression requires more work than a reversible compression for a process that has the same initial conditions and the same final pressure.
- The entropy always increases for an irreversible adiabatic process.
- The final temperature is higher for an irreversible adiabatic process than for a reversible adiabatic process that starts at the same initial condition and ends at the same pressure.
From studying this module, you should now be able to:
- Irreversible expansion does less work than a reversible expansion process that starts at the same conditions and ends at the same pressure.
- Irreversible compression requires more work than a reversible compression for a process that has the same initial conditions and the same final pressure.
- The entropy always increases for an irreversible adiabatic process.
- The final temperature is higher for an irreversible adiabatic process than for a reversible adiabatic process that starts at the same initial condition and ends at the same pressure.