Problems with solutions:

1. A 1-m3 tank is filled with a gas at room temperature 20qC and pressure 100 Kpa. How
much mass is there if the gas is

a) Air
b) Neon, or
c) Propane?

Given: T=273K; P=100KPa; Mair=29; Mneon=20; Mpropane=44;

m air

P u V u M
R u T

10 5 u 1 u 29
8314 u 293

1 . 19 Kg

20
u1.19 0.82Kg
29
44
mpropane u0.82 1.806Kg
20

mneon

2. A cylinder has a thick piston initially held by a pin as shown in fig below. The cylinder
contains carbon dioxide at 200 Kpa and ambient temperature of 290 k. the metal piston
has a density of 8000 Kg/m3 and the atmospheric pressure is 101 Kpa. The pin is now
removed, allowing the piston to move and after a while the gas returns to ambient
temperature. Is the piston against the stops?
Schematic:

50 mm
Pin

100 mm

100 mm

Co2

100 mm

Solution:
Given: P=200kpa;
V gas

u 0 .1 2 u 0 . 1

0.7858 u 10  m 3 : T=290 k: V piston=0.785u10-3:

4
mpiston= 0.785u10-3u8000=6.28 kg

6 . 28 u 9 . 8
Pressure exerted by piston =

u 0 .1

When the metal pin is removed and gas

v2
v1
p2

7848 kpa

T=290 k

u 0.12 u 0.15 1.18 u 10  m 3

4
3
0.785 u 10  m 3
200 u 0.785
1.18

133kpa

Total pressure due to piston +weight of piston =101+7.848kpa

=108.848 pa

Conclusion: Pressure is grater than this value. Therefore the piston is resting against the
stops.

3. A cylindrical gas tank 1 m long, inside diameter of 20cm, is evacuated and then filled
with carbon dioxide gas at 250c.To what pressure should it be charged if there should be
1.2 kg of carbon dioxide?

Solution:

T= 298 k: m=1.2kg:

p 1.2 u

8314
298
u
2.15Mpa
44 S u 0.22 u1
4

4. A 1-m3 rigid tank with air 1 Mpa, 400 K is connected to an air line as shown in fig: the valve is
opened and air flows into the tank until the pressure reaches 5 Mpa, at which point the valve is
closed and the temperature is inside is 450 K.
a. What is the mass of air in the tank before and after the process?
b. The tank is eventually cools to room temperature, 300 K. what is the pressure inside the tank
then?

Solution:
P=106 Pa: P2=5u106 Pa: T1=400K:
m1

10 6 u 1 u 29
8314 u 400

8.72 Kg

m2

5 u 10 6 u 29
8314 u 450

38.8Kg

38.8 u

8314 300
u
29
1

3.34 Mpa

T2=450 k

5. A hollow metal sphere of 150-mm inside diameter is weighed on a precision beam

balance when evacuated and again after being filled to 875 Kpa with an unknown gas.
The difference in mass is 0.0025 Kg, and the temperature is 250c. What is the gas,
assuming it is a pure substance?
Solution:
m=0.0025Kg:

P=875u103 Kpa: T= 298 K

8314 u 0.0025 u 298

875 u 10 u
3

S
6

u 0.15

The gas will be helium.

6. Two tanks are connected as shown in fig, both containing water. Tank A is at 200
Kpa,Q=1m3 and tank B contains 3.5 Kg at 0.5 Mp, 4000C. The valve is now opened and
the two come to a uniform state. Find the specific volume.

Schematic:

Known:

V=1m3
M=2 Kg
Qf =0.001061m3/Kg
Qg =0.88573 m3/Kg
Therefore it is a mixture of steam
and water.
Final volume=2.16+1
=3.16 m3
3
Q=0.61728m /Kg
X=0.61728*3.5= 2.16 Kg

Final volume=2+3.5= 5.5 Kg

Final specific volume= 3.16/5.5=0.5745 m3/Kg
m inA

1
0.5745

1.74 kg

T=4000C
m=3.5 Kg

m inB

2.16
0.5745

3.76 Kg

7.. The valve is now opened and saturated vapor flows from A to B until the pressure in B
Consider two tanks, A and B, connected by a valve as shown in fig. Each has a volume of 200 L
and tank A has R-12 at 25qC, 10 % liquid and 90% vapor by volume, while tank B is evacuated
has reached that in A, at which point the valve is closed. This process occurs slowly such that all
temperatures stay at 25 qC throughout the process. How much has the quality changed in tank A
during the process?

Solution: Given R-12

P= 651.6 KPa
Qg= 0.02685 m3/Kg
Qf = 0.763*10-3 m3/Kg

0.18
0.02

0.02685 0.763 * 10  3

= 6.704 + 26.212= 32.916

x1

6.704
32.916

0.2037

Amount of vapor needed to fill tank B =

0 .2
0.02685

7.448Kg

Reduction in mass liquid in tank A =increase in mass of vapor in B

mf =26.212 7.448 =18.76 Kg
This reduction of mass makes liquid to occupy = 0.763u10-3 u18.76 m3 =0.0143 m3
Volume of vapor =0.2 0.0143 =0.1857 L
Mg =

0 . 1857
0 . 02685

x2

6.916
6.916  18.76

'x. =6.6 %

6 . 916 Kg

0.2694

8. A linear spring, F =Ks (x-x0), with spring constant Ks = 500 N/m, is stretched until it is 100
mm long. Find the required force and work input.
Solution:

F=Ks (x-xo)

x- x0= 0.1 m

Ks =500 N/m
F= 50 N
W

1
1
FS = u50u0.1 =2.53
2
2

9. A piston / cylinder arrangement shown in fig. Initially contains air at 150 kpa, 400qC. The
setup is allowed to cool at ambient temperature of 20qC.

a. Is the piston resting on the stops in the final state? What is the final pressure in
the cylinder?

b. That is the specific work done by the air during the process?

Schematic:

Solution:
p1= 150u103 Pa
T1=673 K
T2=293 K

P1 u V1
T1

P1 u V2
T2

1. If it is a constant pressure process, V2

T2
u V1
T1

293
u Au 2
673

0.87m

Since it is less than weight of the stops, the piston rests on stops.

V1
T1

V2
T2

T2 =

p3
T3
P3

P2 u T3
T2

Therefore W =

V2
u T1
V1

1 u 673
2

336 . 5 K

p2
T2

150 u 10 3 u

293
336.5

130.6 KPa

 150 u 10 3 u A u 1 u 8314
150 u 10 3 u A u 2 u 29

 96 .5 KJ / Kg

10. A cylinder, Acyl = 7.012cm2 has two pistons mounted, the upper one, mp1=100kg, initially
resting on the stops. The lower piston, mp2=0kg, has 2 kg water below it, with a spring in vacuum
connecting he two pistons. The spring force fore is zero when the lower piston stands at the
bottom, and when the lower piston hits the stops the volume is 0.3 m3. The water, initially at 50
kPa, V=0.00206 m3, is then heated to saturated vapor.
a. Find the initial temperature and the pressure that will lift the upper piston.
b. Find the final T, P, v and work done by the water.
Schematic:

1.5*106

50*103

0.00103 0.0309

0.13177

0.15

There are the following stages:

(1) Initially water pressure 50 kPa results in some compression of springs.
Force = 50u103u7.012u10-4 = 35.06 N
Specific volume of water = 0.00206/2 = 0.00103 m3/kg
Height of water surface =

Spring stiffness =

35.06
2.94

0.00206
= 2.94 m
7.012 u 10  4
11.925 N / m

(2) As heat is supplied, pressure of water increases and is balanced by spring reaction due
to due to K8. This will occur till the spring reaction
= Force due to piston + atm pressure
=981+105 u 7.012u10-4 =1051 N

This will result when S =

1051
11.925

80.134m

At this average V= 7.012u 10-4 u 88.134 =0.0618m3

P=

1051
=1.5 Mpa
7.012 u 10  4

(3) From then on it will be a constant pressure process till the lower piston hits the
stopper. Process 2-3
At this stage V= 0.3 m3
Specific volume = 0.15 m3/kg
But saturated vapor specific volume at 1.5 Mpa = 0.13177 m3/ kg
V=0.26354 m3

(4) Therefore the steam gets superheated 3-4

1
(p2 +p1) (v2-v1)
2
1
=1.5u106(0.15-0.0618) + (1.5u106 +50u103)(0.0618 0.00103)
2
= 178598.5 J
= 179 KJ

Work done = p2(v4 v2)+

11. Two kilograms of water at 500 kPa, 20qC are heated in a constant pressure process
(SSSF) to 1700qC. Find the best estimate for the heat transfer.

Solution:

Q = m [(h2-h1)]
=2[(6456-85)]
=12743 KJ
Chart data does not cover the range. Approximately h2= 6456KJ/kg; h1=85 KJ;
500 kPa 130qC h=5408.57
700qC h=3925.97
'h = 1482.6 kJ/kg
262 kJ/kg /100qC

12. Nitrogen gas flows into a convergent nozzle at 200 kPa, 400 K and very low
velocity. It flows out of the nozzle at 100 kPa, 330 K. If the nozzle is insulated, find the
exit velocity.

Solution:

h1 
c 22
2
c2

c12
2

h2 

h1  h2

c 22
2
415 .31 u 1000  342 .4 u 1000

2( h1  h2

381 .8m / s

13. An insulated chamber receives 2kg/s R-134a at 1 MPa, 100qc in a line with a low
velocity. Another line with R-134a as saturated liquid, 600c flows through a valve to
the mixing chamber at 1 Mpa after the valve. The exit flow is saturated vapor at 1Mpa
flowing at 20-m/s. Find the flow rate for the second line.

Solution:

Q=0; W=0;
SFEE = 0=m3 (h3)+c32/2 (m1h1+m2h2)
m1=2g/s

h1 (1Mpa, 100qC) = 483.36u103 J/kg

m2=?

h2 (saturated liquid 60qC =287.79u103 J/kg)

m3=?

h3( saturated vapor 1Mpa = 419.54u103 J/kg)

400

m3 419540 
2

2 u 483360  m 2 (287790)

419.74 m3=966.72+287.79m2
1.458m3 = 3.359+m2
m3 = 2 +m2
0.458m3 = 1.359
m3= 2.967 kg/s ;

m2 = 0.967 kg/s

14. A small, high-speed turbine operating on compressed air produces a power output
of 100W. The inlet state is 400 kPa,50qC, and the exit state is 150 kPa-30qC. Assuming
the velocities to be low and the process to be adiabatic, find the required mass flow rate
of air through the turbine.
Solution:

W
1
2
400kPa

150kPa

T=323K

T=243K

SFEE : -100 =

[h2 h1]

h1= 243.Cp
h2=323.Cp
.

-100 =

m Cp(243-323)

m Cp=1.25
.

m =1.25u10-3 kg/s

100 W

15. The compressor of a large gas turbine receives air from the ambient at 95 kPa,
20qC, with a low velocity. At the compressor discharge, air exists at 1.52 MPa, 430qC,
with a velocity of 90-m/s. The power input to the compressor is 5000 kW. Determine
the mass flow rate of air through the unit.

Solution:

Assume that compressor is insulated. Q=0;

.

SFEE: 5000u103 =

m [1000*430 + 90

5000= m [410 4.05]

.

m =12.3 kg/s

 1000 u 20]

16. In a steam power plant 1 MW is added at 700qC in the boiler , 0.58 MW is taken at
out at 40qC in the condenser, and the pump work is 0.02 MW. Find the plant thermal
efficiency. Assuming the same pump work and heat transfer to the boiler is given, how
much turbine power could be produced if the plant were running in a Carnot cycle?
Solution:

750+273

1 MW
0.4 MW

0.58MW

0.02MW

40+273

K 1

313

0.694

1023

Theoretically 0.694 MW could have been generated. So 0K on Carnot cycle

Power= 0.694 W

17. A car engine burns 5 kg fuel at 1500 K and rejects energy into the radiator and
exhaust at an average temperature of 750 K. If the fuel provides 40000 kJ/kg, what is
the maximum amount of work the engine provide?

Solution:

1500K

Q=5*40,000kJ
W

750K

T1  T 2
T1

W= 20,000*5=105 KJ=100MJ

50 %

18. At certain locations geothermal energy in underground water is available and used
as the energy source for a power plant. Consider a supply of saturated liquid water at
150qC. What is the maximum possible thermal efficiency of a cyclic heat engine using
the source of energy with the ambient at 20qC? Would it be better to locate a source of
saturated vapor at 150qC than to use the saturated liquid at 150qC?

Solution:

K max

1  293
0.307or 30.7%
423

19. An air conditioner provides 1 kg/s of air at 15qC cooled from outside atmospheric
air at 35qC. Estimate the amount of power needed to operate the air conditioner.
Clearly state all the assumptions made.
Solution: assume air to be a perfect gas

cop

288
20

20080
14 .4

14 .4

1390W

20. We propose to heat a house in the winter with a heat pump. The house is to be
maintained at 20 0C at all times. When the ambient temperature outside drops at 10 0C
that rate at which heat is lost from the house is estimated to be 25 KW. What is the
minimum electrical power required to drive the heat pump?
Solution:

293
cop Hp

9 . 77
30
25
2 . 56 KW

W
9 . 71

21.A house hold freezer operates in room at 20qC. Heat must be transferred from the
cold space at rate of 2 kW to maintain its temperature at 30qC. What is the
theoretically smallest (power) motor required to operating this freezer?

Solution:

cop
W

243
50
2
4 . 86

4 . 86
0 . 41 kW

22. Differences in surface water and deep-water temperature can be utilized for power
genetration.It is proposed to construct a cyclic heat engine that will operate near
Hawaii, where the ocean temperature is 200C near the surface and 50C at some depth.
What is the possible thermal efficiency of such a heat engine?

Solution:

K max

15
5%
293

23. We wish to produce refrigeration at 300C. A reservoir, shown in fig is available at

200 0C and the ambient temperature is 30 0C. This, work can be done by a cyclic heat
engine operating between the 200 0C reservoir and the ambient. This work is used to
drive the refrigerator. Determine the ratio of heat transferred from 200 0C reservoir to
the heat transferred from the 300C reservoir, assuming all process are reversible.
Solution:

303K

473K

Q1

Q1/Q2=?
W

Q2

303K

K 0.3594
W

Q u 0 . 3594

Q2

W u 4 . 05

Q2
4 . 05

243K

cop 4.05

Q1 u 0.3594
Q1
Q2

Q2
6.05

1
0.69
4.05u 0.3594

24. Nitrogen at 600 kPa, 127qC is in a 0.5m3-insulated tank connected to pipe with a
valve to a second insulated initially empty tank 0.5 m3. The valve is opened and
nitrogen fills both the tanks. Find the final pressure and temperature and the entropy
generation this process causes. Why is the process irreversible?

Solution:

Final pressure = 300 kPa

Final temperature=127 kPa as it will be a throttling process and h is constant.
T= constant for ideal gas

103 u600u0.5 750u28

m
2.5kg
8314
8314
u400
28
's for an isothermal process=

mR ln

2.5u
=

V2
V1

5314 2
m
28

=514.5 J/k

25. A mass of a kg of air contained in a cylinder at 1.5Mpa, 100K, expands in a

reversible isothermal process to a volume 10 times larger. Calculate the heat transfer
during the process and the change of entropy of the air.
Solution:

V2= 10V1

v2
p1v1 ln
v1

Q W

mRT1 ln
=
1*

v2
v1

8314
* 1000 * ln 10
29

W=Q for an isothermal process,

T's=660127;

's=660J/K

For isothermal process

660127 J

26. A rigid tank contains 2 kg of air at 200 kPa and ambient temperature, 20qC. An
electric current now passes through a resistor inside the tank. After a total of 100 kJ of
electrical work has crossed the boundary, the air temperature inside is 80qC, is this
possible?
Solution:
2 kg
200 kPa
20qC

Q=100*103 J
It is a constant volume process.

Q mcv /T
=2u707u20
=83840 J
Q given 10,000 Joules only. Therefore not possible because some could have been lost
through the wall as they are not insulted.

353

'S air

mc v dT
T
293

'Ssun

100u103
341.3J / K
293

2 u 703 ln

353
293

' system  ' sun  0

Hence not possible. It should be >=0;

261 .93 J / K

27. A cylinder/ piston contain 100 L of air at 110 kPa, 25qC. The air is compressed in
reversible polytrophic process to a final state of 800 kPa, 2000C. Assume the heat
transfer is with the ambient at 25qC and determine the polytrophic exponent n and the
final volume of air. Find the work done by the air, the heat transfer and the total
entropy generation for the process.

Solution:

V=0.1m3
P=110*103Pa
T=298K

p1V1
T1

110u103 u 0.1 800u103 uV2

298
473

p2V2
T2

p1 u V J 1
p1

p
2
7 . 273

P=800kPa
T=200 C

V2

0.022m3

p 2 u V 2J
J

V2

V1
( 4 .545 ) J

1 . 31

W=

p1V1  p 2V2
n 1

110 u 10 3 u 0.1  800 u 0.022 u 10 3

1.31  1

21290 J

'S

R ln

T
V2
 cv ln 1
T2
V1

473
8314
8314 0.022

ln
ln
0 .1
29 u 1.48 298
29

110 u 10 3 u 0.1
8314
u 298
29

'S

13.28 J / K

'U

0.129 u

Q W

103 J / kgK

0.129kg

8314
(473  298) 16180 J
29 u 0.4

'U

Q 16180  21290

5110 J

28. A closed, partly insulated cylinder divided by an insulated piston contains air in one
side and water on the other, as shown in fig. There is no insulation on the end
containing water. Each volume is initially 100L, with the air at 40qC and the water at
90qC, quality 10 %. Heat is slowly transferred to the water, until a final pressure of
500kPa. Calculate the amount of heat transferred.
Solution:

AA
AAIR

H2O

State 1:

Vair=0.1m3

Vwater=0.1m3
x=0.1

tair=40qC

Total volume=0.2m3
twater=90qC

Initial pressure of air = saturation pressure of water at 90qC = 70.14kPa

vg/90qC =2.360506m3/kg

vf/90qC =0.0010316m3/kg

V = xvg+(1-x)vf
=0.1*2.36056+0.9*0.0010316=0.237m3/kg
V=0.1m3

mwater =

0 .1
0.237

AIR

0.422kg

H2O

State 2:
Q

Assume that compression of air is reversible. It is adiabatic

p1V1J

p 2V2J

V2

p J
V1 1
p2

70.14 1.4
0.1

500

0.0246m 3

Volume of water chamber =0.2- 0.0246=0.1754m3

0.1754
0.416m 3 / kg
Specific volume = 0.422
v g / 500 kPa 0.3738m 3 / kg

Therefore steam is in superheated state.