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The term “thermodynamics” refers to the study of energy transfers that take place between molecules or between collections of molecules. We refer to the particular item or collection of items that we are interested in (which could be as small as a cell, or as large as an ecosystem) as the system, and everything that is not included in the system we have defined is referred to as the surroundings when we are discussing thermodynamics.
To get around in our daily lives, we rely on automobiles and bicycles. To keep them running, we fill them with gasoline or diesel, depending on the vehicle’s design. The gasoline or diesel in the vehicle undergoes combustion inside the engine, which is an excellent example of a thermodynamic system in action. Thermodynamic processes are used in the system that involves the processing of heat and the conversion of that heat into useful work. Thermodynamics is used in the production of nuclear power, electronic heat sinks, and rocket launches.
It is the branch of science that deals with heat and temperature, as well as the interconversion of heat and other forms of energy, that is called thermodynamics. Temperature dynamics is referred to as macroscopic science because it is concerned with the bulk system and does not concern itself with the molecular constitution of matter.
The washing machine, refrigerator, and air conditioner are just a few examples of thermodynamic systems to consider. Essentially, an air conditioner is a closed system that circulates refrigerant within it, altering the pressure of the refrigerant at various points in order to promote the transfer of heat. A refrigerator is a closed system that absorbs heat from a closed space and transfers it to a warmer area, which is called an open system. In this article, we will go over the thermodynamic system and the different types of thermodynamic systems.
The Thermodynamic System and Its Different Types
A thermodynamic system is a system that is delimited from its surroundings by real or hypothetical boundaries and can be described as follows: It is the thermodynamic system that is being studied, and the surrounding universe is the rest of our universe that serves as the system’s surroundings. Everything else, including the system, is contained within the environment. The universe is made up of the system and its surroundings taken together.
The universe is made up of the system plus its surroundings
It is a thermodynamic system that is embedded in its environment or surroundings, which it can exchange heat with and work on through the use of these channels. Through the use of a boundary, it exchanges heat with its surroundings. The boundary is the line that divides a system from its surrounding environment. Heat exchangers and thermodynamic systems are capable of exchanging energy or matter with their surroundings while also undergoing internal transformations.
Thermodynamic systems can be divided into three categories:
open system, closed system, and closed system.
- A system that is closed
- Separately operated system
- Start the system
As long as the thermodynamic system has the capability of exchanging material as well as energy with its surroundings, it is considered to be an open system.
Consider the following scenario: a beaker is in the presence of reactants in an open beaker. The boundary in this case is an imaginary surface that surrounds the beaker and reactants.
As an illustration, consider a steam turbine or a pool filled with water, where water can enter and exit the pool.
System with a closed loop
A closed system is a system that has the ability to exchange only energy with its surroundings and does not have the ability to exchange matter.
Consider the following example: Reactants placed in a closed vessel made of metals such as stainless steel, copper, and silver are an excellent example of a closed system because the material of the vessel is naturally conducting.
A closed system, such as a cylinder with the valve closed, is an illustration of this. No matter how much the cylinder is heated or cooled, it retains all of its original mass.
Isolated System An isolated system is defined as a system that is unable to exchange matter or energy with its surroundings. This is known as the Zeroth law of thermodynamics, which states that thermodynamic processes have no effect on the total energy of a system.
Consider the reaction taking place in a thermos flask or an insulated vessel where neither energy nor matter is exchanged with the surrounding environment.
As an illustration, if the piston and cylinder arrangement in which a fluid such as air or gas is compressed or expanded is insulated, the system is referred to as an isolated system.
Conclusion
According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed in form. When analysing an open system using the first law of thermodynamics, the amount of energy that enters the system equals the amount of energy that leaves the system (or vice versa).
