Thermodynamics Lab Report: Due 25 August 2017
Dylan Shepherd ID:15903088
Objective:
To study the relationship between pressure and temperature of vaporisation of a fluid and
investigate the accuracy of saturation data obtained using basic equipment
Method:
To heat water contained in a closed system of constant volume, and to measure the resulting
changes in temperature and pressure and compare laboratory data with published steam tables.
Theory:
It is commonly understood that the temperature at which water undergoes a liquid-to-vapour phase
change varies with pressure. For example, water boils at a lower temperature when at high
altitudes, such as encountered on mountains. This relationship between pressure and temperature
at which the liquid-to-vapour phase change occurs may be plotted on a graph. The resulting line is
termed the saturation line. Saturation lines may be obtained for any fluid, although in this
experiment water will be used. When plotted on a graph of absolute pressure P(abs) against
temperature T, the result is a smooth curve.
Equipment Set Up:
• Check that the calorimeter valve and the drain valve at the base of the boiler are both
closed.
• Check that the mains power to the console is switched off before filling the boiler.
• Open the filling point at the top using the key provided. Fill the equipment using purified or
de-ionised water, until the water level is halfway up the sight-glass at the front of the boiler.
Do not seal the filling point until instructed later.
• Switch on the mains power to the console and switch on the console itself.
Procedure:
• Measure the atmosphere pressure using a barometer
• Allow the water to reach boiling point, indicated by intense movement at the surface and
steam escaping from the filling point. Reduce the heater power slightly to maintain a steady
but not excessive stream of steam. Wait until the resistance reading (Rm1) becomes steady,
meaning that all air has been expelled.
• When heating fluid in the boiler, it takes time for heat to conduct through the apparatus to
the pipework and the temperature probe. The platinum resistance thermometer must
reach the same temperature as the fluid before it will provide an accurate reading. This time
delay between the fluid reaching a given temperature and the sensor reaching the same
value is known as thermal lag.
• Close the filler valve then return the heater to maximum power.
• Allow the water to heat for two minutes, then switch off the heater power. Record the
temperature and pressure values when the temperature stabilizes. This allows heat to
conduct from the fluid to the rest of the apparatus, and thus reduces the effect of thermal
lag.
• Repeat the above step until gauge pressure reaches 700 kPa
• Open the isolating valve to the calorimeter, and allow steam to bleed off. This will reduce
both the pressure and temperature. Turn off the heating source.
• If time permits, turn off the heating source and allow the boiler to cool, noting the
temperatures at the same pressure intervals
LEAVE THE CALORIMETER ISOLATING VALVE OPEN AFTER THE DATA HAS BEEN TAKEN: Leaving the
valve closed, after the pressure reaches atmospheric, may result in partial vacuum inside the
apparatus as it cools to ambient temperature. This could permanently damage the apparatus.
Results:
Temperature(K) pressure(KPa) Temperature(C) Absolute
Pressure(KPa)
395 110 121 212.4
400 150 126 252.4
406 200 132 302.4
408 215 135 317.4
410 240 137 342.4
416 300 143 402.4
421 360 148 462.4
424 400 151 502.4
427 450 154 552.4
430 500 157 602.4
430 506 157 608.4
437 606 164 708.4
440 647 167 749.4
443 695 170 797.4
Table Table
Temperature Pressure(KPa)
(˚C)
105 120.82
110 143.28
115 169.06
120 198.53
125 232.1
130 270.1
135 313
140 361.3
145 415.4
150 475.9
155 543.1
160 617.8
165 700.3
170 791.7
Graph:
Temperature/Pressure Graph
180
160
T(Chart) = 30.983P0.2557
140
Temperature (˚C)
T(Results) = 31.183P0.2532
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Pressure (KPa)
𝑛
𝑇𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 𝐴𝑃𝑠𝑎𝑡
For this power equation A=31.183 and n=0.2532
Percentage Error:
797.4 0.2557 797.4 0.2532
𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = ∫ 30.983𝑃 𝑑𝑃 − ∫ 31.183𝑃 𝑑𝑃
212.4 212.4
= 30.983(0.79637𝑃1.2557 )797.4
212.4 − 31.183(0.7979𝑃
1.2532 )797.4
212.4
= 30.983(2839.233) − 31.183(2796.083864)
= 777.684
777.684
𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 =
87967.967
= 0.0088 × 100
𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 0.88%
Conclusion:
The main differences between my results graph and the table graph is the table graph starts at lower
temperatures and pressures where the graph has a slight curve to the tip. The other noticeable
difference is that the tables graph is higher than my results (only slightly). These results are very
close as the error percentage is only 0.88% witch I believe is because I used a large variety of points
(Temperatures/Pressures) which gave me a greater accuracy. It is impossible for us to get the exact
same results as the table due to the equipment not being precise. This was due to the thermal lag as
the thermocouple was in the pipe at the top of the equipment which meant it only measured the
temperature of the steam and it would take more time for the heat to transfer from the boiling
water to the thermocouple with a large surface area of the pipe between where a lot of heat loss
will occur. The other error with this is the space between the boiling water and the thermocouple
means there will be a temperature difference so the temperature we read is not the actual
temperature due to the heat loss and it takes longer for heat to travel through gas then liquid. We
tried to solve this problem by turning off the power to allow the temperature to level but this just
showed the heat loss of the system as the reading were falling as fast as they were rising when the
power was on so even these measurements even though were better still weren’t perfect. For the
best results you would need to remove or minimise the heat loss and move the thermocouple to the
liquid so you will reduce the thermal lag.
