Chapter 2 The First Law of Thermodynamics

First Law of Thermodynamics

(1) Although energy assumes many forms, the total quantity of energy is constant, and when energy
disappears in one form it appears simultaneously in other forms.
(2) The Law of Conservation of Energy
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed during a process, it can only change forms.
(3) Energy Balance:
Energy stored in system + Energy In = Energy stored in system + Energy Out
at condition (1) at condition (2)
U1
Q W
KE1
PE1 system U2 surroundings
KE2
PE2
reference plane

Energy Balance: U1 + KE1 + PE1 + Q + W = U2 + KE2 + PE2

Rearranging the equation: U2 – U1 + KE2 – KE1 + PE2 – PE1 = Q + W
ΔU + ΔKE + ΔPE = Q + W
Differential form of equation: dU + dKE + dPE = dQ + dW

Application of the First Law to a Specific System:

Freely Falling Body
ΔU = 0

Q=0

W=0

Only potential and kinetic

energies are involved:

ΔKE + ΔPE = 0
Example 1.4 (d)/p13

Energy Balance for Closed Systems

Closed systems often undergo

processes that cause no
changes in external potential
energy and external kinetic
energy. For such processes the
energy balance reduces to:
ΔU = Q + W
For differential changes:
dU = dQ + dW

Closed system there is a flow of energy but no flow of mass across the boundary of the system.

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Example 2.4/p28
When a system is taken from state a to state b in Fig. 2.1 along path acb, 100 J of heat flows into the
system and the system does 40 J of work.
(a) How much heat flows into the system along path aeb if the work done by the system is 20 J?
(b) The system returns from b to a along path bda. If the work done on the system is 30 J, does the system
absorb or liberate heat? How much?
Problems: 2.1, 2.5, 2.11, 2.12 and 2.30/pp 56-57
Example 2.8/p39
Calculate ΔU and ΔH for 1 kg of water when it is vaporized at the constant temperature of 100 oC
(373.15 K) and the constant pressure of 101.325 kPa. The specific volumes of liquid and vapor water at
these conditions are 0.00104 and 1.673 m3 kg-1. For this change, heat in the amount of 2256.9 kJ is added
to the water.

Example 2.10/p43
Calculate the internal energy and enthalpy changes that occur when air is changed from an initial state
of 277 K and 10 bar, where its molar volume is 2.28 m3 kmol-1 to a final state of 333 K and 1 atm. Assume
for air that PV/T is constant and that CV = 21 and CP = 29.3 kJ/mol-1K-1.

Energy Balance for Isolated Systems

No exchange of energy
between the system and
surroundings: W = 0; Q = 0

System experiences internal

thermodynamic equilibrium:
ΔKE = 0
ΔPE = 0
ΔU = 0
Problem 2.13/p57
A steel casting weighing 2 kg has an initial temperature of 500oC (773.15 K); 40 kg of water initially at
o
25 C (298.15 K) is contained in a perfectly insulated steel tank weighing 5 kg. The casting is immersed in the
water and the system is allowed to come to equilibrium. What is its final temperature? Ignore effects of
expansion or contraction, and assume constant specific heats of 4.18 kJ/kg-K for water and 0.50 kJ/kg-K for
steel.

Energy Balance for Open Systems

Steady Flow Energy Balance:

ΔU + ΔKE + ΔPE = Q + W
Work (W) consists of shaft
work (WS) and net flow work
(P2V2-P1V1). Substitute and
rearrange; equation becomes:
ΔU + Δ(PV) + ΔKE + ΔPE = Q + WS
or in terms of enthalpy (OEB):
ΔH + ΔKE + ΔPE = Q + WS
dH + dKE + dPE = dQ + dWs

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Work (W) consists of:
(1) shaft work (WS) – work transmitted by means of a shaft which either rotates or reciprocates.
(2) flow work or energy of pressure – the entering fluid carries flow energy (P1V1) as a result of being
pushed into the system (control volume) by the fluid immediately behind it. Similarly the fluid on passing
point (2) does work (P2V2) by pushing the fluid just ahead of it.
Net flow work done by the system = P2V2 – P1V1

The Steady-State Flow Process

Characteristics of a Steady flow system:

(1) There is no accumulation or depletion of mass and energy within the system over the time considered
(2) Thus the mass flow rate is the same at all points along the path of flow of fluid.
(3) The properties (state) of the fluid may vary from point to point of the system but the properties at a
given point are constant with time.

Nomenclature:
̇ = mass flow rate (kg/s)
q = volumetric flow rate (m3/s)
̅ = average velocity (m/s)
A = cross-sectional area perpendicular to direction of flow (m2)
ρ = density (kg/m3)
V = specific volume (m3/kg)
G = mass velocity = mass flow rate per unit cross-sectional area (kg/s-m2)
z = elevation above a datum plane

Mass Balance Equations (Continuity Equations)

Mass In (pt. 1) = Mass Out (pt. 2)

(1) ̇ ̇
(2) =
(3) ̅ A1= ̅ A2
(4) G1A1 = G2A2

Example Problems

1. A gas flows through a horizontal 30-cm inside diameter pipe at the rate of 1080 kg/min. The pipe is at
an elevation of 45 m above a reference plane. The pressure of the gas is 700 kPag when the barometric
pressure is 750 mmHg. The density of the gas is 0.0016 g/cm3.
(a) What is the mass velocity in kg/s-m2? Ans. 254.65 kg/s-m2
(b) Determine the linear velocity in m/s. Ans. 159.2 m/s
(c) Evaluate the different forms of energy of the gas that can possibly be calculated from given
data in kJ/kg. PE = 0.441 kJ/kg KE = 12.67 kJ/kg FE (flow) = 500 kJ/kg

2. Ex 2.6-1/p.51 Geankoplis. A petroleum crude oil having a density of 892 kg/m3 is flowing through the
piping arrangement shown at a total rate of 1.388 x 10-3 m3/s entering pipe 1.The flow divides equally
in each of pipes 3. The steel pipes are schedule 40 pipe. Calculate the following SI units.
(a) The total mass flow rate in pipes 1and 3. Ans. 1.238 kg/s, 0.619 kg/s
(b) The average velocity in 1, 2 and 3. Ans. 0.641 m/s (pipe 1), 0.528 m/s (pipe 3)
(c) The mass velocity G in 1. Ans. 572 kg/m-s2
Pipe 1: 2-in pipe, D1 = 2.067 in Pipe 2: 3-in pipe, D2 = 3.068 in Pipe 3: 1 ½ - in pipe, D3=1.610 in

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3. A fluid enters a steady-flow system at a rate of 2.5 kg/s with an initial pressure of 0.70 MPa, density of
3.2 kg/m3, velocity of 30 m/s and internal energy of 1860 kJ/kg and leaves with a pressure of 0.14 MPa,
density of 0.8 kg/m3, velocity of 150 m/s and internal energy of 1810 kJ/kg. During passage through the
open system, each kg rejects 25 kJ of heat. Find the shaft work involve in horsepower.
1 hp = 746 W Ans. 194.2 hp

Properties of Steam
Definition of terms
1. Saturation temperature-temperature at which liquids start to vaporize or the temperature at which
vapors begin to condense. (Saturation pressure – the point where at a given temperature starts to boil)
2. Subcooled liquid-one which has a temperature lower than the saturation temperature corresponding to
the existing pressure.
3. Compressed liquid-one which has a pressure higher the saturation pressure corresponding to the
existing temperature.
4. Saturated liquid-liquid at saturation temperature or saturation pressure
5. Saturated vapor-vapor at the saturation conditions (about to condense)
6. Superheated vapor-vapor having a temperature higher than the saturation temperature corresponding
to the existing pressure.
7. Wet vapor-is a combination of saturated vapor (g) and saturated liquid (f)
let m = mass of wet vapor, mf = mass of the saturated liquid mg = mass of the saturated vapor
m = mf + mg
8. Quality (x) of wet vapor means percent by weight that is saturated vapor
9. Percent Moisture (y) of wet vapor is the percent by weight of the of the saturated liquid
Properties of wet mixture: V = Vf + x(Vg + Vf) (similarly with other properties)

4. In a steam power station, steam flows steadily through a 0.2 m diameter pipeline from the boiler to
the turbine. At the boiler end, the steam is at 400oC at a pressure of 4 MPa. At the turbine entry the
steam is at 392oC at a pressure of 3.5 MPa. There is a heat loss of 8.5 kJ/kg from the pipeline. Calculate
the steam flow rate. Ans. 45 kg/s

Some Steady-Flow Engineering Devices

Nozzle/Diffuser
A nozzle receives a fluid and guides its expansion in an orderly manner to a lower pressure with
the objective of converting some of the entering energy into kinetic energy at the exit of the nozzle. The
kinetic energy is then available to drive a mechanical device.
A diffuser is a device that increases the pressure of a fluid by slowing it down.

5. Steam enters an adiabatic nozzle at 1378 kPa, a velocity of 3.05 m/s, a specific volume of 0.147 m3/kg
and an internal energy of 2510 kJ/kg. The exit conditions are 137.8 kPa, specific volume of 1.099 m3/kg
and internal energy of 2263 kJ/kg. Determine:
(a) the exit velocity of steam Ans. 772.2 m/s
(b) the ratio of inlet diameter to exit diameter. Ans. 5.82

6. Air at 10oC and 80 kPa enters the diffuser of a jet engine steadily with a velocity of 200 m/s. The inlet
area of the diffuser is 0.4 m2. The air leaves the diffuser with a velocity that is very small compared
with the inlet velocity. If air behaves ideally, determine:
(a) the mass flowrate of the air (m3/kg)
(b) the enthalpy of the air leaving the diffuser (kJ/kg).
H of air at 10oC = 283.14 kJ/kg

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Turbine
In steam, gas or hydroelectric power plants, the device that drives the electric generator is the turbine.
As the fluid passes through the turbine, work is done against the blades which are attached to the shaft. As
a result, the shaft rotates and the turbine produces work.
A turbine receives a stream of fluid at high pressure. The fluid expands to a low pressure and does work.

7. Steam is supplied to a turbine at 1.38 MPa, with an initial internal energy of 2704 kJ/kg, specific
volume of 0.1665 m3/kg and a velocity of 122 m/s. Exhaust steam is at 6.9 kPa with an internal energy
of 2150 kJ/kg, a specific volume of 18.316 m3/kg and a velocity of 335 m/s. The heat loss from the
steam is 23 kJ/kg. Neglecting potential energy change, determine:
(a) work delivered in kJ/kg Ans. –584.3 kJ/kg
(b) steam flow rate in kg/hr, if the turbine delivers 100 hp Ans. 459.6 kg/hr
(c) temperature of entering steam. Ans. 252.4oC

8. Steam enters and leaves a turbine through a 50 mm, med wt steel pipe. At the entrance, the steam is
saturated at 2500 kPa and at the discharge, it is at 275 kPa with 90% quality. 300 kW of power are
developed in the turbine but heat losses amount to 2432 kcal/hr. Determine:
(a) the mass flow rate of steam used in kg/s Ans. 1.25 kg/s
(b) the entering and the exit steam velocities in m/s Ans. 45.275 m/s, 335.35 m/s

Compressor/Pump
A compressor is capable of compressing a gas to very high pressures. In this steady-flow engineering
device, the work is done on the gas. Work is supplied to a compressor from an external source through a
rotating shaft.
Pumps work very much like compressors except that they handle liquids instead of gases.

9. Air flows steadily at the rate of 30 kg/min through an air compressor entering at a velocity of 7 m/s, a
pressure of 100 kPa and a specific volume of 0.95 m3/kg. The internal energy of the air leaving
compressor is 90 kJ/kg greater than that of the air entering. The air leaves at a velocity of 5 m/s, a
pressure of 700 kPa and a specific volume of 0.19 m3/kg. Cooling water in the compressor jackets
absorbs heat from the air at the rate of 58 kW.
(a) Calculate the rate of shaft work in kW. Ans. 122 kW
(b) Find the ratio of inlet pipe diameter to outlet pipe diameter. Ans. 1.89

10. A centrifugal pump operating under steady-flow conditions 2.28 m3/min of water with a specific
volume of 0.001 m3/kg from an initial pressure of 84 kPa to a final pressure of 280 kPa. The diameter of
the suction inlet to the pump is 15 cm and the diameter of the discharge outlet is 10 cm. If the suction
and discharge lines are at the same level, and no change in internal energy, determine the work (hp)
done on the water by the pump. Ans. 10.46 hp

11. Example 2.16/p.54 Van Ness. Water at 200oF is pumped from a storage tank at the rate of 50 gal/min.
The motor for the pump supplies work at the rate of 2 hp. The water goes through a heat exchanger,
giving up heat at the rate of 40,000 BTU/min and is delivered to a second storage tank at an elevation
50 ft above the first tank. What is the temperature of the water delivered to the second tank? 100.74oF

12. Air at 1 bar and 25oC enters a compressor at low velocity and is discharged at 3 bar. The air then enters
a nozzle in which it expands to a final velocity of 600m/s and returning to the initial condition of
pressure and temperature. The work for compression is 240 kJ/kg of air. Determine the amount of heat
to be removed during compression. Ans.: -60 kJ/kg

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