MMAN2700

Thermodynamics

Problem Sheet 6: The First law of thermodynamics– Steady flow

In the following, please assume where necessary: atmospheric pressure, patm = 1.013 bar; air properties cp =
1.005 kJ kg-1 K-1, R = 0.287 kJ kg-1 K-1; water properties cp = cv = 4.18 kJ kg-1 K-1, ρ = 1000 kg m-3; universal gas
constant 𝑅𝑅� = 8.314 kJ kmol-1 K-1. All pressures quoted are absolute pressures.
For gases, use the ideal gas equations and not the steam tables.
Note that for an ideal gas du = cvdT and dh = cpdT

Foundation
Show that for a steady-state, flow process the energy balance may be written as:

1
𝑄𝑄̇ − 𝑊𝑊̇ = 𝑚𝑚̇ �(ℎ2 − ℎ1 ) + (𝑐𝑐22 − 𝑐𝑐12 ) + 𝑔𝑔(𝑧𝑧2 − 𝑧𝑧1 )�
2

Standard
1. The purpose of a nozzle is to produce a high velocity stream of fluid at the expense of its pressure. A
smooth converging nozzle accelerates air from 2 m s-1 to 80 m s-1. If the air (static) temperature is
initially 400 K, estimate the temperature at the nozzle exit.

2. A smooth diffuser decelerates air from 250m s-1 to 20m s-1. The air (static) temperature is initially
600 K. Estimate the temperature at the diffuser exit.

3. Saturation vapour ammonia enters an insulated nozzle at 803.5 kPa with a low velocity and the
steady rate of 0.01 kg/s. The ammonia exits at 290.8 kPa (𝜌𝜌𝑓𝑓 = 651 kg/m3) with a velocity of 450 m/s.
Determine the quality and the exit area of the nozzle.

4. Air at 0.83 bar and 5°C enters the diffuser of a jet engine. The air decelerates in the diffuser to a
negligible velocity, while its pressure increases to 1.27 bar. This process can be assumed to be
adiabatic and reversible, i.e. according to the relation:
𝑝𝑝𝑉𝑉 𝑘𝑘 = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 where 𝑘𝑘 = 𝑐𝑐𝑝𝑝 /𝑐𝑐𝑣𝑣
Calculate the final temperature of the air and hence the velocity as it enters the diffuser.

5. Air enters a turbine at p1 = 10bar, T1 = 453 K, c1 = 150 m s-1. The air leaves at a pressure p2 = 0.8 bar
and c2 = 250 m s-1. An expansion index of n = 1.29, describes the expansion adequately. The process
can be assumed to be adiabatic. Estimate air density at inlet and outlet. Estimate the work output
per unit mass of air.

6. Air-enters a compressor at p1 = 1 bar, T1 =303 K, c1 ~ 0 m s-1. The mass flow rate is 0.5 kg s-1 and the
index of compression is n = 1.19. The exit condition is c2 = 50m s-1; p2 = 10 bar. The process can be
assumed to be adiabatic. Estimate the power requirement, the exit air temperature and density.

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MMAN2700
Thermodynamics

7. Consider the simple steam power plant show below.

Some of the properties of the working fluid at different locations in the plant are as follows:

Neglecting changes in KE and PE, determine the following quantities per kg of working fluid flowing
through the plant:
a. the turbine work, assuming that the expansion process is adiabatic
b. the heat transferred from the condenser,
c. the heat transferred to the boiler if the adiabatic pump absorbs 4 kJ/kg of work,
d. the heat transferred in the line between the boiler and the turbine,
e. compare the turbine and the pump work and comment on the results.

Also find the mass flow rate through the plant in kg/s if the power developed by the turbine
is 3000 kW.

8. Saturated ammonia vapour at 1237 kPa is mixed with liquid ammonia at 1237 kPa and 10°C in a
steady flow process. The mass flow rate of liquid ammonia is twice the mass flow rate of the
saturated vapour. It is found that after mixing the pressure is 119.6 kPa and the quality is 0.75.
a. Write the 1st law of thermodynamics for a steady flow process with multiple inlets and exits
and simplify it for this system.
b. Determine the heat transfer per kg of the resulting mixture and the temperature of the
mixture.

9. A small steam turbine operating at part load produces 75 kW of output with a flow rate of 0.17 kg/s.
Steam at 1.5 MPa, 250°C is throttled to 1 MPa before entering the turbine. The exhaust pressure is
10 kPa. Find the quality at the turbine outlet.

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Thermodynamics

10. Refrigerant 12 is throttled from a saturated liquid at 35°C to a temperature of -20°C. Determine the
final pressure and the final specific volume.

11. Dry air enters an air conditioning system at 30°C and 110 kPa at the volume flow rate of 1.2 m3/s.
The air is cooled by exchanging heat with a stream of refrigerant 12 which enters the heat
exchanger at -10°C and a quality of 0.2. Assume the heat transfer takes place at constant pressure
for both flow streams. The refrigerant 12 leaves as a saturated vapour and 22 kJ/s of heat is
removed from the air. Calculate the flow rate of refrigerant 12 required and the temperature of the
air leaving the heat exchanger.

12. In a liquefaction plant, air flows through an expansion engine at the rate of 0.075 kg/s. The pressure
and temperature of the air entering the expansion engine are 1.5 MPa and -60°C and on leaving the
pressure and the temperature are 170 kPa and -110°C. The heat transfer to the air as it flows
through the expansion engine is equal to 10% of the power output of the expansion engine.
Determine the power output and the heat transfer from the expansion engine.

13. A gas turbine engine powering a 747 on take-off processes 750 kg/s of air. The air enters with a
velocity and temperature of 250 km/h and 25°C respectively and leaves with a velocity and
temperature of 1430 km/h and 400°C. Assuming the process to be adiabatic, determine the power
that must be added to the air.

Numerical solutions
1. 397 K
2. 631 K
3. 0.944, 8.77x10-6 m2
4. 313.9 K, 268.6 m/s
5. 7.69 kg m-3, 1.09 kg m-3, 177 kJ kg-1
6. -68.6 kW, 438 K, 7.96 kg m-3
7. 638.4 kJ/kg, -2175.6 kJ/kg, 2832.5 kJ/kg, -22.5 kJ/kg, 4.7 kg/s
8. 423.6 kJ/kg, -30°C
9. 0.958
10. 150.9 kPa, 0.033 m3/kg
11. 0.176 kg/s, 15.6°C
12. 4.19 kW, 0.42 kW
13. 340 MW