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Enthalpy (/ ˈ ɛ n θ əl p i / ⓘ) is the sum of a thermodynamic system's internal energy and the product of its pressure and volume. [1] It is a state function in thermodynamics used in many measurements in chemical, biological, and physical systems at a constant external pressure, which is conveniently provided by the large ambient atmosphere.
Enthalpy and isochoric specific heat capacity are very useful mathematical constructs, since when analyzing a process in an open system, the situation of zero work occurs when the fluid flows at constant pressure. In an open system, enthalpy is the quantity which is useful to use to keep track of energy content of the fluid.
In an isobaric process, the pressure remains constant, so the heat interaction is the change in enthalpy. [2] In an isenthalpic process, the enthalpy is constant. [2] A horizontal line in the diagram represents an isenthalpic process. A vertical line in the h–s chart represents an isentropic process.
In an isenthalpic process, system enthalpy (H) is constant. In the case of free expansion for an ideal gas, there are no molecular interactions, and the temperature remains constant. For real gasses, the molecules do interact via attraction or repulsion depending on temperature and pressure, and heating or cooling does occur.
Many thermodynamic equations are expressed in terms of partial derivatives. For example, the expression for the heat capacity at constant pressure is: = which is the partial derivative of the enthalpy with respect to temperature while holding pressure constant.
Thermodynamic processes are named based on the effect they would have on the system (ex. isovolumetric: constant volume, isenthalpic: constant enthalpy). Even though in reality it is not necessarily possible to carry out an isentropic process, some may be approximated as such.
A corresponding expression for the difference in specific heat capacities (intensive properties) at constant volume and constant pressure is: = where ρ is the density of the substance under the applicable conditions.
The isoenthalpic-isobaric ensemble (constant enthalpy and constant pressure ensemble) is a statistical mechanical ensemble that maintains constant enthalpy and constant pressure applied. It is also called the N P H {\displaystyle NPH} -ensemble, where the number of particles N {\displaystyle N\,} is also kept as a constant.