School of Engineering

ES190 Energy Balance Laboratory

(ES190 coursework re-sit: ES190A16)

Data for the laboratory report:

Please refer to data in table 2 and 3 at the back of this document
This handout and other supporting material published on the ES190 moodle page
contains information to support your report writing

Preparing the laboratory report (use the provided template without format change):
Read all Sections of this handout and follow how the experiment would unfold
Perform all relevant calculations according to advice in this material
Read the Safety sheets for the laboratory on the ES190 moodle pages
Submit table 2 and 3 (tables with filled data) with your laboratory report

Summary

This lab aims to study by experiment some basic principles of thermodynamics (especially
the 1st law) and the way in which heat and energy interconvert. You should identify and
quantify uncertainty of individual measurements to provide a statement if the energy
balance is fulfilled within reasonable limits. Observation during the experiment should be
noted and suggestions to improve apparatus and method should be provided as
appropriate.

1. Background
The laboratory will introduce the application of the 1st law of thermodynamics, which
states that energy stays constant in any isolated system. It can be expressed for the
present case simply as: The increase in internal energy of a closed system is equal to the
difference of the heat supplied to the system and the work done by the system. Hence, all
heat taken in and work applied to the system must be rejected at another point of the
closed system working in a stable cycle. You will realize by experimentation that heat and
energy can interconvert with each other within that system. In addition to this fundamental
scientific content you will develop further important engineering skills:

1. Quantify experimental scatter and identify dominant sources: For fundamental principle
reasons, does any measurement have unavoidably uncertainty. Skill of engineers is
Prof. van Veen, Jun 2022
ES190 Energy Balance Laboratory 1/7
minimizing the magnitude of uncertainty applying best practice: Careful work, use of mean
values from repetitive readings and robust design of experimentation. You are required to
quantify the extent of uncertainty and you should realize that the negative impact of
scatter can be minimized averaging repetitive readings where appropriate. You should
make use of fundamental physical principles to interrelate data for consistency
checks, e.g. use relations derived from the law of ideal gas law in our case.

2. Learn the essential use of units rather than dimensionless numbers: You will realize that
each measurement will be performed to quantify a property in convenient units. However,
extracting knowledge from the experiment requires capturing the units in order to allow
calculation of meaningful derived properties, which are ideally expressed in SI units.

2. Safety aspects for this lab

There are some safety issues with this lab that should be read and understood:

Potential hazard Consideration / precaution

Moving parts Both the installation and the hand-held airflow meter have fast
rotating parts. Do not attempt to obstruct movement by inserting
objects or fingers – danger of injury.
Water and The installation uses electric propulsion for the compressor
electricity engine requiring high voltage supply (230 V) – also to power other
meters and indicators. Do not switch on the installation if damage
to any electric lead is apparent by visible inspection. Flowing
water is present in the installation. Watch out for any apparent
leakage and stop using the installation if water leakage or
projection has occurred. Contact demonstrators and/or qualified
staff members before continuing experiments.
Hot surfaces Some sections of the installation have hot surfaces during
operation. This applies especially to the compressor and hot
refrigerant circuit. Temperatures as high as 80°C or even above
are attained. Do not remove thermal insulation placed at the
respective locations. Do not touch surfaces of the installation
unless you ensured that the temperature level is safe.
Compressed The refrigerant cycle contains a non-flammable and non-toxic
liquefiable gas liquefiable gas being gaseous at ambient pressure (evaporation
occurs at 2bar at temperatures below 10°C). Internal relief valves
(internal bypass) have been mounted and tube strength is chosen
to provide a large tolerance to burst. Possible impact of (highly
improbably) gas leakage is minimized by the nature of refrigerant.

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3. Experiment

The equipment used in this lab (fig.1) consists of a compressor similar to that in domestic
refrigerators, which is part of a closed refrigerant circuit transferring (“pumping”) heat from
cold water to warm air. Air and water do not enter the circuit, but contact it at district heat
transfer points. Air is driven through the refrigerant condenser by a fan (left) and water
flows through the refrigerant evaporator designed as tubular heat exchanger (right). We
calculate the heat flux input at the evaporator measuring the flow rate of water and the
temperature difference between the water inlet and outlet. Similarly, the heat flux output at
the condenser is calculated by measuring the air flow rate and temperature difference
between the incoming and leaving air. The mechanical power input by the compressor is
estimated measuring the electrical power supplied to it.

Figure 1: Experimental arrangement

N.B. The physical properties of water and air are given in Table 1. Use Table 2 and 3 to
sum up relevant experimental data.

1. Familiarise yourself with the equipment. Take the general dimensions of the cooler
before turning on the equipment: Open height (hin) and width (win) on the air suction
side and open diameter of the funnel around the fan (dout) plus the dimensions of the
motor decreasing the open cross section on the air exhaust side (hout, wout).
2. Calculate:
Open cross sections at the air cooler
Ain = hin x win cm2
Aout = (π / 4) x (dout)2 - hout x wout cm2

3. Set the water flow rate to precisely 5 litres per minute on the rotameter (condition for
first test). Ensure that the water flow remains constant for the duration of the test.
4. Switch on the compressor. Ensure appropriate water while the compressor works.

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5. Assume that mapping of air velocities and temperatures allowed selecting 3 positions
at which representative measurements of influent air velocities were possible in
all further steps.
6. Make sure that you know how to use the equipment, which readings to take and which
uncertainty these have whist waiting at least ten minutes for conditions to stabilise.
Establish all readings without touching the condenser and record stable values
only. Keeping the sensor in place long enough is vital to reach temperature
stabilisation at thermal equilibrium. Note that recording air speed requires careful
alignment of the probe (rotating axis perpendicular to condenser surface). The
anemometer should be held at the end of the handle to avoid impact of the body
heat. The temperature sensor is mounted close to the turbine section.
7. Measure the following:
a) On the equipment:
1. Water flow rate m w (l/min)
2. Water inlet temperature T5,w,in (°C) Channel 5
3. Water outlet temperature T6,w,out (°C) Channel 6
4. Electrical current I (A)
5. Electrical voltage U (V)
b) In the incoming air flow at 3 positions close to the cooler and in the effluent air at 3
positions close to the grid fan using the hand-held air flow and temperature meter.
Choose measurement positions such that the average is representative of all the
condenser cross section:
6. Velocity of influent air vair,in (m/s)
7. Temperature of influent air Tair,in (°C)
8. Velocity of effluent air vair,out (m/s)
9. Temperature of effluent air Tair,out (°C)

8. Calculate:
Establish the average of air velocity and temperature for values measured at different
positions for both the still influent and effluent air ( v air ,in , Tair ,in , v air ,out and Tair,out ).

Volumetric air flow rates at the cooler (at given temperature):

Vin = Ain x v air ,in x 100 cm/m cm3/s
V = Aout x v
out x 100 cm/m
air ,out cm3/s

Volumetric air flow rates at the cooler (scaled to 23°C):

Vin,23 = Vin x (273.15 + 23) / (273.15 + Tair ,in ) cm3/s
Vout,23 = V x (273.15 + 23) / (273.15 + Tair,out )
out cm3/s

Check that scaled volumetric air flow rates for the influent and effluent are comparable
(ideally these are identical). Calculate the average volumetric air flow rate ( Vair , 23 ).

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 Heat flow rejection (to air):
Q air  Vair , 23 x c p ,air , 23 x Tair ,out  Tair ,in 
Q air  Vair,23 x 0.00121 J cm -3 K -1 x Tair ,out  Tair ,in  K/ C W

Compressor power input

Pel = U x I x cos W
with cos = Power factor = 0.85 (established during commissioning)

Heat flow intake (from water):

Q w  m w x c p,w x T5,w,in  T6,w,out 
m x 1000 cm 3 /l
Q w  w x 4.18 J cm -3 K -1 x T5, w,in  T6, w,out  x K/ C W
60 s / min

Overall energy balance:

Calculate the sum of Pel and Q w and compare to Q air . Show the energy balance being
fulfilled within a reasonable margin of uncertainty. Note: Both sides of the equation
require independent calculation as above indicated.
to be demonstrated
Q air  Q w  Pel

9. Repeat the readings and analysis for the other water flow rate of 8 l/min. Please use
when appropriate averages on properties remaining unchanged in different tests in
order to decrease impact of experimental error. Reflect on experimental error and
quantitative uncertainty for the different properties measured and document the latter in
your laboratory report. Discuss possible reasons for the overall energy balance being
not perfectly closed. Provide suggestions on parameters having the strongest impact.

Table 1: Physical properties of water and air

Isobaric
Isobaric Isobaric Isochore
volumic
mass molar molar
heat
Substance Phase heat capacity heat capacity heat capacity
capacity
cP CP,m CV,m
−1 −1 −1 −1 −1 −1 CP,v
J⋅g ⋅K J⋅mol ⋅K J⋅mol ⋅K
J⋅cm−3⋅K−1
Air (Sea level, dry, 0 °C
gas 1.0035 29.07 20.7643 0.001297
= 273.15 K)
Air (194m, 1.16 % water,
gas 1.012 29.19 20.85 0.00121
23 °C = 296.15 K)
Water at 25 °C liquid 4.1813 75.327 74.53 4.1796
Water at 100 °C liquid 4.1813 75.327 74.53 4.2160

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Table 2: Experimental results datasheet (1)
Date
Student name, Univ. ID
Data reference Please fill based on resit reference data

hin cm Ain
+/- 0.1
win cm cm2
+/- 0.1 +/- +/- %
dout cm Aout
+/- 0.5
hout (motor) cm cm2
+/- 0.1 +/- +/- %
wout (motor) cm
+/- 0.1

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Table 3: Experimental results datasheet (2)
Date
Student name, Univ. ID
Data reference Please fill based on resit reference data

TEST 1 TEST 2 Av. uncert.

m w l/min l/min
+/- 0.2 +/- 0.2 +/- %
T5,w,in °C °C
+/- 0.7 +/- 0.7 +/- %
T6,w,out °C °C
+/- 0.7 +/- 0.7 +/- %
I A A
+/- 0.02 +/- 0.02 +/- %
U V V
+/- 1 +/- 1 +/- %
vair,in (1) and m/s m/s vair,in
Tair,in (1) °C °C +/- %
vair,in (2) and m/s m/s Tair,in
Tair,in (2) °C °C +/- %
vair,in (3) and m/s m/s
Tair,in (3) °C °C
vair,out (4) and m/s m/s vair,out
Tair,out (4) °C °C +/- %
vair,out (5) and m/s m/s Tair,out
Tair,out (5) °C °C +/- %
vair,out (6) and m/s m/s
Tair,out (6) °C °C

Pel. W W

Q w W W

Pel. + Q w W W

Q air W W

Last Modified: Jun 2022

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