PSNA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY – DINDIGUL

BASIC MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

TWO MARKS - QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

UNIT – I POWER PLANT ENGINEERING

1. What is a power plant?

Power plant is an assembly of equipment that produces and delivers mechanical
and electrical energy.
2. Name the conventional power plants.
Hydro-electric power plant, steam power plant, diesel power plant, gas turbine
power plant and nuclear power plant.
3. What is a steam power plant?
A system of equipments that convert the heat energy into electrical energy is
called steam power plant. It is also known as thermal power plant.
4. What are the main circuits of steam power plant?
The four main circuits in the layout of the steam power plant are:
(i) Coal and ash circuit,
(ii) Feed water and steam flow circuit,
(iii) Air and flue gas circuit, and
(iv) Cooling water flow circuit.
5. Name the prime-mover used in steam power plant and hydel power plant.
Steam Turbine and hydraulic turbine respectively.
6. What is hydel or hydro electric power plant?
A system of equipments which converts the potential energy of water stored in a
dam built across the river into electrical energy is called hydro-electric power
plant.
7. Name the main parts of hydro-electric power plant.
(i) Dam (ii) Water reservoir
(iii) Spillway (iv) Pressure tunnel
(v) Penstock (vi) Surge tank
(vii) Water turbine (viii) Draft tube
(ix) Tail race (x) Power house
8. Give the factors to be considered for selecting hydroelectric power plant.
(i) Availability of water.
(ii) Water storage.
(iii) Water head.
(iv) Distance from load centre.
(v) Accessibility of the site.
(vi) Type of the land at the site.
9. How are hydro-electric power plants classified?
Based on the head of water:
(i) High head power plant,
(ii) Medium head power plant, and
(iii) Low head power plant.
10. Mention two advantages of hydro-electric power plant.
a. No air pollution.
b. Water is a naturally available resource and no fuel is required for power
generation, as a result of which the cost of power generation is less.
11. What is meant by headrace?
The level of water stored in a reservoir is known as headrace.
12. What is meant by tailrace?
After the water does work on the turbine wheel (runner) it is discharged to a canal
or river. Tailrace refers to the level in the river where water is discharged.
13. What is meant by water head?
The difference between headrace level and tailrace level is known as water head.
14. What is the function of a hydraulic turbine?
Hydraulic turbines are used to convert the potential energy in the reservoir into
mechanical energy.
15. What is penstock?
Penstock is the pipe that carries the water from the dam to the turbine. It is made
of steel and reinforced concrete.
16. What is the use of spillway?
Spillway discharges the water from the dam during major floods and keeps the
reservoir level below the maximum level allowed.
17. What is the use of pressure tunnel?
Pressure tunnel carries water from the reservoir to surge tank.
18. Why is a surge tank used?
Surge tank is a water storage tank that is located between the dam and the turbine.
It helps in arresting the sudden rise in water pressure (called as water hammer) in
the penstock.
19. What is the function of a surge tank?
Surge tank regulates the water supply to the turbine according to the load on the
turbine. When the load on the turbine decreases, the extra water starts flowing
into the surge tank and the level of water in the surge tank increases. When the
load on the turbine increases, the reverse happens.
20. What is meant by a draft tube?
A pipe of gradually increasing area which is used for water discharge from the
turbine outlet to the tail race is a draft tube.
21. Why draft tubes are used?
At the exit of the runner turbine the pressure will be less than the atmospheric
pressure and water cannot be directly discharged to the tail race. Hence draft tubes
are used.
22. What is a nuclear power plant?
A system of equipments which converts the nuclear energy into electrical energy
is called a nuclear power plant.
23. Mention some main parts of a nuclear power plant.
(i) Reactor core (ii) Turbine
(iii) Steam generator (iv) Coolant pump
(v) Feed pump (vi) Condenser
(vii) Electric generator.
24. Name the fuel used in nuclear power plant.
Uranium U235.
25. What is the function of a moderator?
Chain reaction produces fast moving neutrons which are less effective in
sustaining the chain reaction. Moderators are used to reduce the speed of neutrons
and thus sustain the chain reaction.
26. Name some materials used as moderators.
Heavy water, beryllium and graphite.
27. What are the functions of control rod?
Control rods are used to regulate the chain reaction. They are made of boron,
cadmium or similar elements which absorb neutrons.
28. What is the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?
Nuclear fission is splitting of nuclei of atoms and nuclear fusion refers to
combining of atomic nuclei. Both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion release plenty
of energy.
29. What is the use of reflector?
Reflector is used to reflect the escaping neutrons back into the reactor core. It
improves the neutron economy of the reactor.
30. What is the use of radiation shield?
Radiation shield is a concrete shield used to absorb the hazardous radiations like
alpha, beta, gamma rays and neutrons which tend to come out of the reactor to the
atmosphere.
31. Name any four types of nuclear reactors.
(i) Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)
(ii) Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)
(iii) Fast Breader Reactor (FBR)
(iv) Heavy Water-cooled Reactor (HWR).
32. What is a gas turbine power plant?
The system of equipments which converts the energy obtained from the gas into
electric energy is called as gas turbine power plant.
33. What are intercoolers?
Intercoolers are used to reduce the work of compressor and increase the efficiency
of the plant. Intercoolers are placed between the high pressure and low pressure
compressors. Intercoolers are generally used when the pressure ratio is very high.
34. What is the use of regenerator?
Regenerator is used to preheat the air entering the combustion chamber and
increase the efficiency of the plant.
35. What is meant by open-cycle system?
In open-cycle system, the fuel is burnt by atmospheric air in the combustion
chamber and the gases coming out of the turbine are exhausted to the atmosphere,
without fully utilizing the heat of the product of combustion.
36. What is meant by closed-cycle system?
In closed-cycle system, the fuel is burnt by preheated air from the regenerator in
the combustion chamber and the heat of the exhaust gases of the turbine is reused
to preheat the inlet air.
37. What is a diesel engine power plant?
A system of equipments in which the diesel engine is directly coupled to the
generator and thus producing electrical power is called diesel engine power plant.
38. Mention some of the essential components of diesel engine power plant.
(i) Diesel engine (ii) Engine starting system
(iii) Fuel system (iv) Air intake system
(v) Engine cooling system (vi) Exhaust system
(vi) Engine lubrication system
39. Which type of power plants are used as peak load power plants? Why?
Diesel and gas turbine power plants are used as the peak load power plants.
Because, starting and stopping the operation of these plants is easy. They respond
quickly to load fluctuations. They have low capacity which is suitable for peak
loads.
40. What is the capacity range of the common diesel power plant?
Capacity range: 2 to 50 MW.
41. What is meant by prime-mover?
A prime-mover is a device that is used to convert energy from any natural source
into mechanical energy.
42. Name the prime-mover used in diesel power plant.
Diesel engine.
43. How are prime movers classified?
The prime movers are classified based on the type of energy they utilize as:
1. Thermal prime movers
a. Steam turbines
b. IC engines
c. Gas turbines.
2. Hydraulic prime movers
d. Water turbines.
44. Differentiate between thermal prime movers and hydraulic prime movers.
The thermal prime movers utilize the heat energy from various energy sources
and convert it into useful mechanical work.
The hydraulic prime movers utilize the potential and kinetic energy of water and
convert it into useful mechanical work.
45. Differentiate between a steam turbine and a water turbine.
A steam turbine is a machine which converts the heat energy of the steam into
mechanical energy.
A water turbine is a machine which converts the hydraulic energy into mechanical
energy.
46. How are steam turbines classified?
1. Based on the mode of action of steam on the blades:
a. Impulse turbine b. Reaction turbine
b. Impulse-reaction turbine
2. Based on the direction of steam flow:
a. Axial flow turbine b. Radial flow turbine
c. Mixed flow turbine
47. What is an impulse turbine? Give examples.
An impulse turbine is a turbine that runs by the action of impulse force of the
steam on the blades. De Laval, Curtis, Zoelly and Rateau turbines.
48. What is a reaction turbine? Give examples.
A reaction turbine is a turbine that runs by the reactive force of the steam jet,
rather than the direct push or impulse as in the case of impulse turbine.
49. What is meant by compounding of an impulse turbine?
In impulse turbines, in order to reduce the high speed of rotation, more than one
set of blades are used. This is known as compounding of turbines.
50. What is meant by the term ‘a stage’ of a turbine?
The term ‘a stage’ refers to one set of fixed blades (nozzles) followed by one set
of moving blades. For e.g., the simple impulse turbine is a single stage turbine.
51. State the function of condenser in steam power plant.
Condenser is used to condense the steam to water. The condensed water is
supplied to the boiler as feed water.
52. Define pump.
The pump is a hydraulic machine which converts the mechanical energy into
hydraulic energy in the form of pressure energy.
53. Give the classification of pumps.
(i) Centrifugal pumps
a. Single stage centrifugal pumps.
b. Multi stage centrifugal pumps.
(ii) Reciprocating pumps
a. Single-acting pump.
b. Double-acting pump.
54. What are positive displacement pumps? Give examples.
Positive displacement pumps discharge a fixed quantity of liquid into the
hydraulic system per revolution of pump shaft rotation.
Examples: Reciprocating pumps, gear pumps and vane pumps.
55. What is the principle of reciprocating pumps?
In reciprocating pumps, the pumping action is affected by a piston that moves in a
reciprocating cycle through a cylinder.
56. What is the principle of centrifugal pumps?
The basic working principle of centrifugal pump is that when a certain mass of
liquid is made to rotate by an external force, it is thrown away from the central
axis of rotation and a centrifugal pressure is developed which raises the liquid to
higher level.
57. What are the purposes of providing casing on the centrifugal pump?
The two essential uses of the casing are:
a. To guide the liquid to and from the impeller.
b. To partially convert the kinetic energy into pressure energy.
58. What is meant by priming?
In centrifugal pumps, the delivery valve is closed and the suction pipe, casing and
portion of the delivery pipe up to delivery valve are completely filled with the
liquid so that no air pocket is left. This is called priming.
UNIT – II I C ENGINES

1. What is an engine?
An engine is a mechanical device used to produce mechanical power by burning
fuel inside a cylinder.
2. What is meant by internal combustion engine?
Internal Combustion engine (IC engine) is a heat engine where combustion of fuel
(petrol/diesel) with air takes place inside the engine cylinder.
3. What are the main parts of an internal combustion engine?
The main parts of an internal combustion engine are cylinder, piston, piston rings,
piston pin, crank shaft, connecting rod, crank case, valves, and flywheel.
4. How are IC engines classified?
IC engines are classified as spark ignition engines (SI engines) and compression
ignition engines (CI engines). Another classification of IC engines is (i) four
stroke engine. (ii) two stroke engine.
5. What are the four strokes of an IC engine?
Suction stroke, compression stroke, expansion or power or working stroke and
exhaust stroke.
6. What is meant by stroke in an IC engine?
A stroke refers to the linear distance between the two extreme positions of the
piston. This distance is measured parallel along the axis of the cylinder.
7. Name the two extreme positions occupied by the piston.
The two extreme positions occupied by the piston in a cylinder are Top Dead
Centre (TDC) and Bottom Dead Centre (BDC).
8. What is the function of a spark plug?
Spark plug is used in petrol engine. The function of a spark plug is to produce a
spark in the combustion chamber by conducting a high potential electric current
from the ignition circuit across its gap. The spark thus produced ignites the
compressed air-fuel mixture.
9. What is the function of carburetor?
Carburetor is a device used in petrol engines to mix petrol and air in proper
proportions. This mixture is sent to the engine for combustion.
10. Why is cooling system necessary in an IC engine?
Combustion of fuel-air mixture in the cylinder produces very high temperature in
the range of 2000. . This heat may cause explosion of cylinder wall, cylinder head,
piston and other parts resulting in abnormal ignition. Cooling system is used to
maintain the temperature within limits so that normal ignition occurs.
11. What is compression ratio of an IC engine?
Compression ratio of an IC engine is defined as the ratio of maximum cylinder
volume to minimum cylinder volume.

Maximum cylinder volume

12. Compression ratio = ---------------------------------
Minimum cylinder volume
 13. What is meant by TDC?
TDC means Top Dead Centre; it is the extreme position of the piston at the top
end of the cylinder in a vertical engine.
14. What is BDC?
BDC means Bottom Dead Centre; it is the extreme position of the piston at the
bottom end of the cylinder in a vertical engine.
15. What is meant by bore?
The inside diameter of the cylinder is termed as bore.
16. What is called as clearance volume?
The volume occupied in the cylinder above the top of the piston when the piston
is at the TDC is known as clearance volume.
17. What is called as swept volume?
The volume covered by the piston as it moves from BDC to TDC is known as
swept volume or piston displacement.
18. Explain the functions of (i) piston and (ii) connecting rod.
Piston: Piston receives the impulse from the expanding gas and transmits the
energy to the crankshaft through the connecting rod.
Connecting rod: A connecting rod transforms reciprocating motion of the piston
into a rotary motion of the crankshaft.

REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING

1. Define refrigeration.
Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from a body and reducing its
temperature lower than that of its surroundings.
2. What is a refrigerator?
Refrigerator is an equipment used to reduce and maintain the temperature below
atmospheric temperature by removing the heat from the space continuously.
3. Define refrigerant.
 Refrigerant is a fluid which absorbs the heat from the body and rejects the heat at
high temperature.
4. Give some examples for refrigerant.
Ammonia, carbon-di-oxide, Freon-12, Chloro fluoro carbon, Methyl chloride etc.
5. Define COP.
COP is the ratio of heat extracted and work input.
Heat extracted
Coefficient of performance of a refrigerator (COP) = -------------------
Work input
6. Mention the types of refrigerators.
(i) Vapour compression refrigerators.
(ii) Vapour absorption refrigerators.
7. Name the commonly used refrigerant.
Freon(R-12).
8. Give some properties of a good refrigerant.
(i) It should have low freezing point and boiling point.
(ii) It should be easily liquefied.
(iii) It should have high COP.
(iv) It should absorb high latent heat.
9. State the function of a compressor.
Compressor is used to compress the low pressure vapour refrigerant.
10. Mention some applications of refrigeration.
(i) In preserving food, fruits and drugs.
(ii) Used in refineries.
(iii) Manufacturing of ice.
(iv) In manufacturing industries.
11. Define air conditioning.
Air conditioning is the process of conditioning the air according to the human
comfort irrespective of external conditions.
12. Define relative humidity.
It is the ratio of water vapour in a given volume of air at a given temperature, to
the mass of water vapour present in the same volume under same temperature of
air when it is fully saturated.
13. Define DBT.
The temperature of air measured by the ordinary thermometer is dry bulb
temperature.
14. Define WBT.
The temperature of air measured by the thermometer when it is covered by a wet
cloth is known as wet bulb temperature.
15. Mention the types of air-conditioning.
(i) Comfort air conditioning.
(ii) Industrial air conditioning.
16. Name the refrigerant commonly used in ice plants.
NH3.
17.