An ideal gas within a pistoncylinder assembly undergoes a th

An ideal gas within a piston-cylinder assembly undergoes a thermodynamic cycle consisting of three processes in series: process 1-2 is a constant temperature compression from the initial state 1 to a new state 2; process 2-3 is a cooling from state 2 to another new state, state 3, for which P_3 = 140 kPA and V_3 = 0.028 m^3; process 3-1 is a constant pressure expansion that takes the gas back to its original state, state 1. 10.5 kJ of work is done during the constant pressure expansion. Find the net work done by the gas and the net heat transfer to the gas for this cycle. Can this be a power cycle? A refrigeration cycle?

Solution

Work done during a compression

W1 = PXV

= 140 X 0.028 = 3.92 kJ

Total work done = 3.92 kJ + 10.5 kJ = 14.42 kJ

Net heat transfer = p*V = 3.92 kJ

In power cycle heat should be added. So this should be referred as refrigeration cycle.