[Physics] Demonstration of Clausius theorem for irreversible cycles

entropyreversibilitythermodynamics

If we have a generic reversible cycle, we can approximate it with $n$ reversible Carnot cycles like in the pic, and we obtain: $$\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{Q_{i}}{T_{i}}=0$$
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When $n \rightarrow \infty$: $$\int_{Rev-cycle}{\frac{\delta Q}{T}}=0$$
That's ok, this is Clausius equation. But if we have a not reversible cycle (you can't draw it in the PV plane) how can you approximate it and say that:
$$\int_{Irr-cycle}{\frac{\delta Q}{T}}<0~?$$
So, where does Clausius inequality come from?
And also, in this case, what do $T$ $\delta Q$ represent?

Best Answer

This is basically the application of the Clausius inequality to an irreversible cycle. The zero on the right hand side of the equation represents the change in entropy of the working fluid over the cycle, which is equal to zero (since the initial and final states around a complete cycle are the same). On the left-hand side, the $T_i$ represents the temperature at the interface between the working fluid and its surroundings, at which the heat transfer $Q_i$ is occurring. The proper statement of the Clausius inequality always requires you to use the temperature at the interface where the heat transfer is occurring.

ADDENDUM During an irreversible cycle, all the entropy generated within the system (by irreversibility) in each cycle $\delta$ is transferred from the system to the surroundings, so that the change in entropy of the system in each cycle is zero. The entropy transferred from the surroundings to the system during a cycle is given by $\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{Q_{i}}{T_{i}}$, so the entropy transferred from the system to the surroundings during the cycle is $\left(-\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{Q_{i}}{T_{I}}\right)$ That means that $$\delta =\left(-\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{Q_{i}}{T_{I}}\right)$$or, equivalently, $$\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{Q_{i}}{T_{I}}=-\delta$$Since the irreversible generation of entropy is always positive, this means that the left hand side of this equation for a cycle is negative, or $$\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{Q_{i}}{T_{I}}\leq0$$