ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T.

Sundararajan

Chapter 6 I Law for Control Volume

6.1 Introduction

In Chapter 1, ‘Control Volume’ was defined as a fixed volume on which attention is

focused. Apart from energy interactions in the form of heat or work with the
surroundings, it can also admit in-flow (mi) or out-flow of mass (me) through inlet or
exit, respectively. Practical devices involving the flow of a fluid, such as a turbine, pump,
compressor, nozzle, valve, boiler, condenser, etc. can be modeled as CV. The form of I
Law for a Control Volume is different from that of a system, on account of the fact that
there is mass exchange. Moreover, in addition to the internal energy, forms of energy
storage such as the kinetic energy and potential energy could be important in many
cases.

Surroundings

W
mi Control
Volume
me
Control Volume
Q

Fig. 6.1 Control Volume Analysis

Let us now turn our attention to the modes of work interaction. For a control volume,
the work interaction W cannot include displacement work (i.e. work of expansion or
compression). This is because of the fact that the volume of CV remains constant. Other
forms such as electrical work, magnetic work, shaft work etc. could be included in W.
Some authors call this W as ‘external work’, implying that there is also some internal
work within the fluid. For instance, the incoming mass mi pushes the fluid ahead of it,
like a piston. Similarly, the outgoing mass me also pushes the fluid ahead of it. This form
of work is known as the ‘flow work’ and it is given by the expression (m.p.v), where p
and v are the local pressure and the local fluid specific volume. More explanation on flow
work is provided subsequently.

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

6.2 Derivation of I Law for a CV

Let us now derive the energy balance (I law) principle for a control volume. For
the sake of simplicity, let us consider a single inlet and single outlet situation, although
the energy balance can be generalized later on, to the case of multiple inlets and
outlets. For obtaining the I law for CV, we shall use the familiar I law for a system over
a small time interval t. In other words, we shall consider two time instants ‘t’ and
‘t+t’, when a system of given mass occupies the control volume as shown in Fig. 6.2.

At time t
Q W
(a) dmi pi

zi
ze

MCV(t)

At time t+t
Q
W

(b)
pe dme

MCV(t+t)

Fig. 6.2 Energy balance for fixed mass over time interval t

The same mass (Fig. 6.2 a) which consists of dmi + MCV(t) at time ‘t’, occupies the
configuration dme + MCV(t+t) at time ‘t+t’ (Fig. 6.2 b). Here, dmi and dme are the
masses that enter into or exit from the control volume over the time interval t. Also,
MCV(t) and MCV(t+t) are the masses that occupy the control volume at time ‘t’ and time
‘t+t’ respectively.

Now, the total energy of the system at time ‘t’ is equal to :

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

Vi 2
ECV (t )  dmi (u i   g zi )
2

where ECV(t) is the total energy (internal + kinetic + potential energy) stored in the
control volume at time ‘t’. Also, the second term represents the total energy (internal +
kinetic + potential energy) brought by the incoming mass dmi. Here, Vi is the inlet flow
velocity and zi is the elevation of the inlet. Similarly, the total energy of the system at
time ‘t+t’ can be written as

Ve2
ECV (t  t )  dme (u e   g ze ) .
2

The first and second terms of the above expression represent the energy stored in the
CV at time ‘t+t’ and the total energy carried away by the out-going mass dme.

Now, applying I law for the system (fixed mass under consideration), we can write:

Heat added – Work done = Change in total energy.

The work interaction consists of the work W done across the CV boundary and also the
flow work at the inlet and the flow work at the exit. The flow work at the inlet is
negative, because fluid which is flowing towards the CV is doing work on the system
under consideration. This work can be evaluated as:

Flow work at the inlet = - pi . dVi .

Here dVi is the volume of fluid flowing against the resisting pressure of pi at the inlet
(Fig. 6.2 a), within the time interval of ‘t’ and ‘t+t’ . The volume dVi can be calculated
as dmi.vi , where vi is the specific volume of fluid in the inlet region. Thus, the flow work
at inlet can be expressed as – dmi (pivi). Similarly, the flow work at the outlet is given as
+ dme (peve). Now, application of I law for the system under consideration gives:

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

Ve2
Q – {W + dme (peve) - dmi (pivi)} = { ECV (t  t )  dme (u e   g ze ) } -
2
Vi 2
{ ECV (t )  dmi (u i   g zi ) }
2

After rearranging the terms, we get:

Ve2
Q  W  ECV (t  t )  ECV (t )  dme {ue  pe ve   g ze }
2
Vi 2
 dmi {ui  pi vi   g zi }
2

Since specific enthalpy h = u + pv, this expression can be simplified as

Ve2 Vi 2
Q  W  ECV (t  t )  ECV (t )  dme {he   g z e }  dmi {hi   g zi }
2 2
Ve2 Vi 2
 dECV  dme {he   g z e }  dmi {hi   g zi }
2 2

Now, dividing the above energy balance expression by the time interval t and taking
the limit as t  0, results in the equation

  dECV Ve2 Vi 2
Q W   m e {he   g z e }  m i {hi   g zi } . (6.1)
dt 2 2

The terms on the left hand side of Eq. (6.1) refer to the rate of heat addition and the
rate of work done across the control volume boundary. The first term on the right hand
side refers to the rate of total energy storage in the CV. The second term on RHS
includes the rate of total energy carried by the out flow and the rate of flow work done
at the exit. Remember that enthalpy h includes the internal energy ‘u’ and the flow work
‘pv’ per kg of flow. The last term on RHS represents the rate of total energy brought by

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

the inflow and the rate of flow work done at the inlet. In the case of a problem with
multiple inlets and exits, the equation (6.1) can be modified to a more general form

dECV Ve2 Vi 2
 
Q W    m e {he   g ze }   m i {hi   g zi } . (6.2)
dt e 2 i 2

Here the summations are taken over all the exits ‘e’ and the inlets ‘i’. The applications of
I law for a CV can be brought under two major classifications, namely, those of steady
flow devices and unsteady flow devices. In the case of a thermal power plant which
carries out energy conversion from heat to work, many of the sub-components can be
modeled as Control Volumes, as discussed below. The steam generator or boiler, takes
in heat input and converts water into steam at high pressure and temperature. A steam
turbine is a device in which the high pressure steam impinges on the blades and
produces rotary motion (i.e. generates shaft work). In the condenser, steam (after
transferring part of its energy as work in the turbine) is condensed back to water. A
pump raises the pressure of the condensed water and sends it back to the steam
generator (Fig. 6.2 a). Since a power plant operates in a continuous mode, except for
some occasional shut-downs, it is meaningful to analyze the associated components as
steady flow devices.
Steam
Steam
Turbine

Wturbine
Steam
generator
Qinput

Water

Pump Condenser
Winput
Water Steam
Qrejected

Fig. 6.2 a Schematic of Thermal Power Plant

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

In a typical aero-engine, atmospheric air which enters at a high relative velocity

(because of the high speed of the aircraft) is slowed down in a diffuser, which converts
the kinetic energy into pressure. The air is further compressed in a compressor and sent
to the combustor where it burns with a fuel and produces heat. The hot products of
combustion expand in a turbine producing mechanical (shaft) work. Finally, the hot
combustion products are further expanded in a nozzle, generating a high speed jet
exhaust. The high momentum jet generates forward thrust according to Newton’s III
law (Fig. 6.2 b). During the continuous operation of the engine, steady flow analysis
could be carried out for each component, using the I law for a CV.

Fuel
Combustor

Compressor Gas Turbine

Diffuser Nozzle

Air Exhaust

Fig. 6.2 b Schematic of Aero-engine system

6.3 Steady Flow Devices

Let us now consider the steady flow operation of various devices. Under the steady flow
assumption, accumulation of mass or energy within the CV is taken to be zero. In other
words, at every instant, the rate of inflow of mass to the CV is equal to the rate of out-
flow from the CV. Also, the rate at which energy enters the CV (as heat, work or energy

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

of the flowing mass) is equal to the rate at which it leaves the control volume. Thus for
steady state, we can set

dECV
0
dt

With this simplification, equation (6.1) for a single inlet- single outlet device can be
rewritten as:

2 2
V V
Q  W  m e {he  e  g ze }  m i {hi  i  g zi }
2 2
V  Vi
2 2
 m {he  hi  e  g ( ze  zi )}
2 (6.3)

where m  m e  m i  mass flow rate through the device.

Now let us look at further simplifications for specific devices.

(i) Adiabatic devices:

We came across devices such as steam turbine, gas turbine, compressor, pump, nozzle,
diffuser, etc. in our discussions about the steam power plant and the aero-engine. In
ideal situations, these devices are supposed to be adiabatic. For example, an ideal
steam turbine is supposed to convert the energy contained in steam into useful
mechanical work, without any heat losses to the surroundings. Therefore, we can set
rate of heat transfer = 0 for the turbine. Furthermore, for any device dealing with gas
flow, the potential energy difference can be neglected. (The potential energy term will
be important only for devices handling liquid flows, especially when the height
differences are significant.) Thus, we can neglect the term of g.(ze – zi). In many cases,
even the kinetic energy term may be negligible. Then I law for a steam turbine simplifies
as

 W  m
 (he  hi )  W  m
 (hi  he ) (6.4a)

The above expression implies that the power developed by the turbine is equal to the
product of steam mass flow rate and the decrease of steam enthalpy from the inlet to

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

the outlet. When the kinetic energy change is important, the I law for the turbine can be
written as

 Ve2  Vi 2
W  m
 {(he  hi )  } (6.4b)
2
Equations (6.4a) or (6.4b) are valid also for a gas turbine, which operates with the
combustion product gas as working fluid. One can assume the product gas to be an
ideal gas and calculate the properties using ideal gas relations. The steam turbine and
gas turbine are positive work producing devices. The expressions (6.4a) and (6.4b) can
be used for the analyzing the compressor also. In the example shown in Fig. 6.2b, the
compressor compresses the air (air density, pressure and temperature will increase
because of compression) by taking work input from the turbine. Just as a compressor
increases the pressure of a gas, a pump will increase the pressure of a liquid with the
help of work input. The increase in pressure will result in the increase of enthalpy from
the inlet to the outlet of the pump. Thus, Eq. (6.4a) is valid for a pump also. Normally,
the change in kinetic energy can be neglected for a pump, because of low velocities.
Also, the change in potential energy can be neglected because the height differences
between the inlet and outlet are usually small.

From the above discussion, it is clear that W> 0 for a turbine, while W < 0 for a pump
or a compressor. In adiabatic devices such as nozzle or diffuser, heat as well as work
interactions are zero. Consider an adiabatic nozzle with steady flow, as shown in Fig.
6.5a.

Vi Ve
Fig. 6.5a Adiabatic nozzle

Since both heat transfer and work done are zero, the I law simplifies to the form:

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

Vi 2 Ve2
hi   he  (6.5)
2 2
Often, the inlet kinetic energy may be neglected and this leads to the simplification

Ve  2(hi  he ) (6.6)

for the nozzle exit velocity. For steady flow, we can also apply the mass balance
principle as follows:

 i   iVi Ai  m
m  e   eVe Ae  m
 (6.7)

The above expression implies that the mass flow rates at the inlet and the outlet are
both equal to the overall flow rate of m
 through the nozzle. Also, the mass flow rate is
given as the product of the density, velocity and flow area at the inlet or outlet. It is
evident from the above discussion that the purpose of a nozzle is to accelerate a flow
(increase kinetic energy) at the cost of its enthalpy. A diffuser does exactly the opposite
function as that of a nozzle. Flow will enter a diffuser at higher kinetic energy and leave
with a lower kinetic energy, with the difference being converted into flow enthalpy. In
effect, the pressure and temperature of the flow will increase because of the conversion
from kinetic energy to enthalpy.

Vi Ve
Fig. 6.5b Adiabatic diffuser

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

Finally, we consider the device of throttle valve which is used for controlling the flow
rates in pipe lines and other fluid equipment. The heat and work interactions for a
throttle valve may be taken as zero. Moreover, the changes in kinetic energy and
potential energy are also negligible. This leads to the expression

hi  he (6.7)

Enthalpy being constant does not mean that the states of the flow before and after the
throttle valve are exactly the same. In fact, as shown in Fig. 6.6, the fluid rapidly
expands across the valve without having contributed any useful work.

Fig. 6.6 Flow through a Throttle Valve

This type of rapid flow expansion across a valve is known as a ‘throttling process’ and
since enthalpy is constant, it is also called as an ‘isenthalpic process’. So far, we have
discussed applications in which steady flow assumption can be applied to devices that
are adiabatic (heat transfer is zero). We shall now look at steady flow devices which
involve heat transfer.

(ii) Heat exchange devices:

Devices such as steam generator (boiler), condenser , evaporator in a refrigerator etc.

are examples of heat exchange devices. In a steam generator, water enters in liquid
phase and due to heat addition, it is converted into steam at high temperature. No
external work is done in the device and the changes in kinetic energy & potential energy
are usually negligible. Therefore, the I law for steam generator can be simplified to the
form

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

Q  m
 (he  hi ) (6.8)

The above form of I law is applicable to the condenser also. In a condenser, as seen
from Fig. 6.2a, steam at low p and T is condensed back as water, by the removal of
heat. Thus, Q > 0 for boiler while Q < 0 for condenser. Correspondingly, the enthalpy
increases across the boiler while it decreases across the condenser. In a refrigerator, the
refrigerant fluid evaporates by absorbing heat from food stuff, in the evaporator. Thus,
Eq. (6.8) can be applied for the evaporator also, with a positive value of Q.

In devices like boiler or condenser, the heat addition or heat removal is not done
directly. Usually, another fluid is used for this purpose. For example, in the case of
boiler, the combustion gases generated from the burning of coal in air are circulated
around tubes carrying water. Therefore, heat is transferred from the hot combustion gas
to the water, for producing steam. Also, in the case of the condenser, sea water may
circulated around tubes carrying steam for cooling purposes. There is no direct heat
transfer between the surroundings and the CV in such cases. Thus, we can analyze
these situations as devices with multiple inlet and exit streams, as shown in Figs. 6.7a
and 6.7b.

Steam

Water Steam

Combustion
gas

Cooling Cooling
water outlet water inlet

6.7b Condenser

Combustion
gas

6.7a Boiler
Water

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras

ME1100 Thermodynamics Lecture Notes Prof. T. Sundararajan

The first law for these devices can be expressed as:

 m h   m h
e
e e
i
i i 0 (6.9)

between the different inlet and exit streams. In such an analysis, the heat transfer with
the surrounding has been assumed as zero and the kinetic and potential energy changes
are neglected.

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras