Differentials and small changes in thermodynamics

Question

This may seem like an elementary question, but I'm a bit confused right now about this. From the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and from the definition of enthalpy (per unit mass), we have the equation (as an example, and at constant pressure): $$ dh=c_p dT. $$ But I often come across this other form: $$ \Delta h=c_p\Delta T, $$ but from the sources I've seen, it's not made clear that these deltas represent incremental changes. That is the case? The second expression ought to be written $$ \Delta h = \int_{T_i}^{T_f}c_p dT, $$ right? In any case I'm not sure I understand that second form, because $c_P$ is measured at which temperature, $T_i$ or $T_i+\Delta T$?

Answer 1

For a perfect gas, $c_p$ is actually independent of temperature, so both equations are equivalent. Some real gases actually show behavior very close to temperature independence of $c_p$, e.g. ammonia.

In addition, because the coefficients of temperature dependence of $c_p$ of most gases are not that large, over a small temperature rise it is valid to approximate the first equation with the second form.

Or you may just be reading about some approximate or computational method.

Answer 2

This is the case when you take Heat Capacity as Constant.

But there are cases when the temperature dependence of heat capacities are to be taken into account. There are many empirical equations of heat capacities which relates it to temperature and they can be used for more accurate results.

For example:

where a,b,c and d are specie-dependent constants. Now you can replace Cp in the above equation with this expression and the integrate from T_1 to T_2

Answer 3

Such an approximation is valid in two cases:

1. Assuming that there is no change in phase, as it incurs more heat loss or gain.
2. When the value of C$^{p}$ is independent of the temperature rise.

These are the basic two cases taken , regardless of the system being a gas or liquid or solid.

Answer 4

Physicists regard perfect gases (aka ideal gases) as fluids for which the enthalpy (and internal energy) are functions only of temperature and for which the heat capacities are constant, independent of temperature.

Engineers, on the other hand, regard ideal gases as fluids which match the limiting behavior of real gases in the limit of low pressures. As such their enthalpy (and internal energy) are likewise functions only of temperature but their heat capacities are functions of temperature which match those of the specific gas under consideration in the low pressure limit.

So, using the engineering definition, we have $$\Delta h=\int_{T_i}^{T_f}{C_p(T)dT}$$ In practice, this will, of course, be more accurate in matching real gas behavior at low pressures.