Reversible and Irreversible Expansion/Compression Processes: Summary



Key points from this module:
  1. Irreversible expansion does less work than a reversible expansion process that starts at the same conditions and ends at the same pressure. 
  2. Irreversible compression requires more work than a reversible compression for a process that has the same initial conditions and the same final pressure.
  3. The entropy always increases for an irreversible adiabatic process.
  4. 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:
  1. Irreversible expansion does less work than a reversible expansion process that starts at the same conditions and ends at the same pressure. 
  2. Irreversible compression requires more work than a reversible compression for a process that has the same initial conditions and the same final pressure.
  3. The entropy always increases for an irreversible adiabatic process.
  4. 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.
https://sites.google.com/a/learncheme.com/learncheme/student-resources/interactive-module-raoult-s-law-and-vapor-liquid-equilibrium/interactive-module-raoult-s-law-intro                                          Interactive Module Fugacity Single Component Intro                                       

Prepared by John L. Falconer and Kimberly R. Bourland

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder