CHAPTER 4

PROBLEMS TO BE MADE IN CLASSROOM

4.1. Problem (M&S Example 4.7)

Steam enters the condenser of a vapor power plant at 0.1 bar with a quality of 0.95 and condensate
exits at 0.1 bar and 45 °C. Cooling water enters the condenser in a separate stream as a liquid at 20 °C
and exits as a liquid at 35 °C with no change in pressure. Heat transfer from the outside of the condenser
and changes in the kinetic and potential energies of the flowing streams can be ignored. For steady-
state operation, determine:
a) The ratio of the mass flow rate of the cooling water to the mass flow rate of the condensing stream.
b) The rate of energy transfer from the condensing steam to the cooling water, in kJ per kg of steam
passing through the condenser.

4.2. Problem (M&S 4.30)

Air enters an insulated diffuser operating at steady state with a pressure of 1 bar, a temperature of 300
K, and a velocity of 250 m/s. At the exit, the pressure is 1.13 bar and the velocity is 140 m/s. Potential
energy effects can be neglected. Using the ideal gas model, determine:
a) The ratio of the exit flow area to the inlet flow area.
b) The exit temperature, in K.

4.3. Problem (M&S 4.41)

A well-insulated turbine operating at steady state is sketched in the figure below. Steam enters at 3
MPa, 400°C, with a volumetric flow rate of 85 m3/min. Some steam is extracted from the turbine at a
pressure of 0.5 MPa and a temperature of 180 °C. The rest expands to a pressure of 6 kPa and a quality
of 90%. The total power developed by the turbine is 11,400 kW. Kinetic and potential energy effects can
be neglected. Determine:
a) The mass flow rate of the steam at each of the two exits, in kg/h.
b) The diameter, in m, of the duct through which steam is extracted, if the velocity there is 20 m/s.

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4.4. Problem (M&S 4.81)

Refrigerant 134a enters the flash chamber operating at steady state shown in the figure at 10 bar, 36 ºC,
with a mass flow rate of 482 kg/h. Saturated liquid and saturated vapor exit as separate streams, each
at pressure p. Heat transfer to the surroundings and kinetic and potential energy effects can be ignored.
Determine the mass flow rates of the exiting streams, each in kg/h, if p = 4 bar.

4.5. Problem (adapted from problem 2 of 16/01/2020 exam)

A flow of 0.1 kg/s of saturated water vapor at 1.5 bar, coming from the subsoil at a depth of 400 m,
enters a compressor through a duct with a 300 cm2 section and leaves, at ground level, at 320°C, 3 bar
and 60 m/s. During the process, heat losses from the compressor to the surroundings of 10% of its
consumed power occur. Determine:

a) Velocity (m/s) and volumetric flow rate (m3/s) at the inlet.

b) Power consumed by the compressor (kW).

4.6. Problem (M&S 4.82)

Air as an ideal gas flows through the turbine and heat exchanger arrangement shown in the figure. Data
for the two flow streams are shown on the figure. Heat transfer to the surroundings can be neglected,
as can all kinetic and potential energy effects. Determine T3, in K, and the power output of the second
turbine, in kW, at steady state. Do this problem using chart data and compare it with the results
obtained using perfect gas model with a cp = (7/2)Rair.

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4.7. Problem (M&S 4.84)

A residential heat pump system operating at steady state is shown schematically in the figure.
Refrigerant 134a circulates through the components of the system, and property data at the numbered
locations are given on the figure. The mass flow rate of the refrigerant is 4.6 kg/min. Kinetic and
potential energy effects are negligible. Determine:
a) The rate of heat transfer between the compressor and the surroundings, in kJ/min.
b) The coefficient of performance.

4.8. Problem (M&S 4.85)

Figure shows a simple vapor power plant operating at steady state with water circulating through the
components. Relevant data at key locations are given on the figure. The mass flow rate of the water is
109 kg/s. Kinetic and potential energy effects are negligible as are all heat losses. Determine:
a) The thermal efficiency.
b) The mass flow rate of the cooling water passing through the condenser, in kg/s.

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 PROBLEMS TO BE MADE BY THE STUDENT

4.9. Problem (M&S Example 4.1)

A feedwater heater operating at steady state has two inlets and one exit. At inlet 1, water vapor enters
at p1 = 7 bar, T1 = 200 °C with a mass flow rate of 40 kg/s. At inlet 2, liquid water at p2 = 7 bar, T2 = 40 °C
enters through an area A2 = 25 cm2. Saturated liquid at 7 bar exits at 3 with a volumetric flow rate of
0.06 m3/s.

Determine the mass flow rates at inlet 2 and at the exit, in kg/s, and the velocity at inlet 2, in m/s.

Answers: ݉ሶଶ ൌ 14.15 kg /s; ݉ሶଷ ൌ 54.15 kg /s; V2 = 5.7 m/s.

4.10. Problem (M&S Example 4.3)

Steam enters a converging-diverging nozzle operating at steady state with p1 = 40 bar, T1 = 400 °C, and
a velocity of 10 m/s. The steam flows through the nozzle with negligible heat transfer and no significant
change in potential energy. At the exit, p2 = 15 bar, and the velocity is 665 m/s. The mass flow rate is 2
kg/s.

Determine the exit area of the nozzle, in m2.

Answers: 4.89x10-4 m2.

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4.11. Problem

Figure shows a solar collector panel with a surface area of 2.97 m2. The panel receives energy from the
sun at a rate of 1.5 kW. Thirty-six percent of the incoming energy is lost to the surroundings. The
remainder is used to heat liquid water from 40ºC to 60ºC. The water passes through the solar collector
with a negligible pressure drop. Neglecting kinetic and potential energy effects, determine:

a) At steady state the mass flow rate of water, in kg/min.

b) How many liters of water at 60ºC would be heated by 8 collectors in a 30-min time period?

Answers: a) 2.04 kg/min; b) 490,4l.

4.12. Problem (M&S 4.79)

As shown in the figure, a steam turbine at steady state is operated at part load by throttling the steam
to a lower pressure before it enters the turbine. Before throttling, the pressure and temperature are,
respectively, 1.5 MPa and 320ºC. After throttling, the pressure is 1 MPa. At the turbine exit, the steam is
at 0.08 bar and a quality of 90%. Heat transfer with the surroundings and all kinetic and potential energy
effects can be ignored. Determine:

a) The temperature at the turbine inlet, in ºC.

b) The power developed by the turbine, in kJ/kg of steam flowing.

Answers: 314.3 ºC; 745.23 kJ/kg.

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