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4 months ago in Thermodynamics By Usha K
Can a multi-gas cycle have too many second-law rules to satisfy?
I'm modeling a cycle with two different real gases exchanging heat. There are only three state variables—but every process has its own second-law inequality. Is it possible to over-constrain the system?
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By Sourabh Answered 2 months ago
Yes, and that's exactly what happens. Each process must satisfy the Clausius inequality, and heat transfer between gases adds extra constraints. You can easily end up with more second-law equations than free variables. The result? Most mathematically possible cycles are thermodynamically impossible. Only those that satisfy all entropy conditions simultaneously are realizable. The second law doesn't just limit efficiency; it prunes the universe of possible cycles.
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