Faculty of Environment and Technology

Academic Year: 2020/2021

Assessment Period or Date: MOCK EXAM

Module Leader: Peter Kay

Module Code UFMFW8-30-2
Module Title: Heat Transfer, Power and the Environment
Examination Duration: The exam should take 2 hours to complete, you have 4 hours in which
to complete the exam and upload your solutions and workings

ONLINE EXAM
Instructions to Candidates:
• Read the questions (and instructions) carefully!
• Answer ALL the questions
• As is usual for an exam, for this assessment you are not expected to include full
referencing, but are encouraged to cite the sources of key theories, models, case
studies, statutes etc.
• This is an individual assessment: do not copy and paste work from any other source or
work with any other person during this exam. Text-matching software will be used on
all submissions.
• Clearly show ALL formulae, values and method used to derive your answer in your
workings.
• Final correct numerical answers must include the correct units for full marks
• State any assumptions that you make
• Where a value is parameterised, shown in bold italics, e.g. Length is 𝑨 𝑚𝑚. Then use
your INDIVIDUAL DATA to complete the assessment. You have been provided with this
in advance and can be found on the spreadsheet in Blackboard.

Formatting:
Please use the following file format(s) (Word or .pdf ) and upload a single document. We
cannot ensure that other formats are compatible with markers’ software and cannot
guarantee to mark incorrect formats.
Please include the module name and number and your student number (not
your name).

Instructions for Submission:

You must submit your workings before the stated deadline by electronic submission
through Blackboard.
• Please save your work frequently.
• Clearly show all formulae, values and method used to derive your answer in your
workings.
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 • Final correct numerical answers must include the correct units for full marks
• It is your responsibility to submit exam workings in the format stipulated
above
• Your marks may be affected if your tutor cannot open or properly view your
submission.
• Do not leave submission to the very last minute. Always allow time in case of
technical issues.
• The date and time of your submission is taken from the Blackboard server and is
recorded when your submission is complete, not when you click Submit.
• It is essential that you check that you have submitted the correct file(s),
and that each complete file was received. Submission receipts are accessed from
the Coursework tab.
• Peter Kay will be available for the first hour of the exam, so please look through the
paper thoroughly before starting. If you have any questions please e-mail
Peter2.Kay@uwe.ac.uk ASAP.

There is no late submission permitted on this timed assessment.

Question ‘Zero’
Make sure that you upload a screen shot of your city that clearly shows the ambient
temperature and pressure, similar to the one below. This information can be found at:
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/

THIS MUST BE UPLOADED, QUESTIONS USING AMBIENT DATA MAY NOT BE

MARKED WITH OUT THIS INFORMATION.

Question 1 [5 marks]
You win a prize in the lottery and you are offered to take Prize A: a £ A lump sum or Prize
B: £B a year for 3 years. The current rate of inflation (discount rate) is C %. State, with
evidence, which prize you would prefer to have.
[5 marks]

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Although Prize A looks £5,000 better off. When you consider the NPV then it is only
£3,291 better off. But still the better prize.

Page 3 of 12
Question 2 [5 marks]
After making a cup of tea you leave it to cool. As it decreases in temperature the entropy
of the tea also decreases. With supporting evidence, state if this example is a violation of
the second law of thermodynamics.
[5 marks]
An explanation covering the following main points is expected:
• The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a system must increase
or stay the same.
• As the tea is cooling it is warming the surrounding air
• As the surrounding air increases in temperature its entropy also increases.
• As long as the increase in entropy of the air is more, or the same, than the decrease in
entropy of the tea. Then the second law has been conserved.

Question 3 [25 marks]

A D MW steam power plant operates on a Rankine cycle, the condenser and boiler pressure
are E kPa and F MPa respectively. The maximum temperature of steam that can enter the
turbine is G °C.
a) Determine the thermal efficiency of the plant, including the pump work.
[12 marks]

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The turbine is replaced with a model that operates with a higher inlet temperature and the
steam at the exit is dry, but not superheated. All other parts of the power station remain
constant.
b) Determine the thermal efficiency of the power plant with the new turbine.
[8 marks]

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c) Compare the thermal efficiency of the two plants and comment, with reference to a
Carnot cycle, why the thermal efficiency has changed.
[5 marks]

The thermal efficiency has increased from 21% to 28%.

The thermal efficiency for a carnot cycle is:

𝑇𝐿
𝜂𝑡ℎ = 1 −
𝑇𝐻
Therefore, by increasing the boiler pressure the mean value of 𝑇𝐻 has increased.
Therefore the ideal thermal efficiency is expected to increase.

Question 4 [5 marks]
Figure Q4 shows a figure from a patent application for a power generating machine.

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 A

Figure Q4: Power generating machine schematic.

The inventor describes the operation as follows:
• Water flows from Tank A to Tank B turning Wheel C
• Power is recovered from Wheel C
• Wheel C is connected to Pump D
• The water is returned to Tank A with Pump D

Write a short note to the inventor stating what type of perpetual motion machine it is and
why it will not work.
[5 marks]
This is a perpetual motion machine of the first kind.
[1 mark]
The change in potential energy from A to B is the same energy required to move the
water form B to A.
[2 marks]
In addition there will be the dissipative losses in the wheel mechanisms and the energy
that the inventor wants to extract from the system.
[2 marks]
Marks can be awarded for a logical explanation encompassing the above points.

Question 5 [5 marks]
a) A heat pump is required to supply H kJ/h to maintain the living space at a comfortable
temperature of I °C. The heat pump has a rated input of J kW.
i) With the aid of a sketch, explain why a heat pump allows heat to flow from
cold reservoirs to hot reservoirs.

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 [1 mark(s)]

Clasius statement: “It is impossible to construct a device that operates in a cycle and produces
no other effect other than heat transfer from a low-temperature body to a higher-temperature
body”

In other words: Heat cannot flow from cold to hot by itself. To achieve this work must be done

[1 mark(s)]

ii) Determine the Coefficient of Performance heat pump above.

[5 marks]

125000
𝑄𝐻 = = 34.7𝑘𝑊
3600
[1 mark(s)]
𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑄𝐻
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 = =
𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑊𝑖𝑛

[1 mark(s)]

34.7
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 = = 11.5
3
[1 mark(s)]

Question 6 [15 Marks]

The composition of Diesel fuel can be approximated to dodecane (C12H26).
The dry exhaust emission analysis for the engine under a certain load is:

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 Emission Fraction of Exhaust [by vol]

Oxygen K%
Carbon Dioxide L%
Nitrogen Dioxide M ppm
Assuming that the amount of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust is negligible calculate the
gravimetric air-to-fuel ratio.
[15 marks]
79 79
𝐶12 𝐻26 + 𝑥 (𝑂2 + 21𝑁2 ) = 𝑦𝐶𝑂2 + 𝑧𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝑥 21𝑁2
[1 mark]
Reactants Products

Carbon: 12 Carbon: 𝑦 = 12
Hydrogen: 26 Hydrogen: 2𝑧 = 26
∴ 𝑧 = 13
[1 mark]
Oxygen: 2𝑥 = 37 Oxygen: 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2 × 12 + 13
∴ 𝑥 = 18.5 = 37
[1 mark] [1 mark]

Therefore:
79 79
𝐶12 𝐻26 + 18.5 (𝑂2 + 21𝑁2 ) = 12𝐶𝑂2 + 13𝐻2 𝑂 + (18.5 × 21) 𝑁2
[1 mark]
With excess oxygen the equation from a) becomes:
79 79
𝐶12 𝐻26 + 18.5𝑋 (𝑂2 + 21𝑁2 ) = 12𝐶𝑂2 + 13𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝑋 (18.5 × 21) 𝑁2 + 18.5(𝑋 − 1)𝑂2
[1 mark]
The dry exhaust products are:
79
12𝐶𝑂2 + 𝑋 (18.5 × 21) 𝑁2 + 18.5(𝑋 − 1)𝑂2
[1 mark]

Based on the % of Oxygen as it is the highest %:

[1 mark]

18.5(𝑋 − 1)
%𝑂2 = 0.153 = 79
12 + 𝑋(18.5 × 21 ) + 18.5(𝑋 − 1)

[1 mark]
Rearranging gives:
79
0.153 [12 + 𝑋 (18.5 × 21) + 18.5(𝑋 − 1)] = 18.5(𝑋 − 1)
𝑋 = 3.5
[1 marks]
Therefore AFR
𝑂2 = 3.5 × 18.5 = 64.8
[1 mark]

79
𝐶12 𝐻26 : 64.8 (𝑂2 + 21𝑁2 )
[1 mark]

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 79
[(12 × 12) + (26 × 1)]: 64.8 [(2 × 16) + ( × 2 × 14)]
21
[144 + 26]: 64.8[32 + 105]
170: 8892
1: ~52.3
[1 mark]

Question 7 [10 Marks]

The one-dimensional derivation of flow through a nozzle states that:
𝜕(𝑢) 𝜕(𝐴)
(𝑀2 − 1) =
𝑢 𝐴

a) With reference to the above equation describe the relationship between the velocity in
the pipe (𝑢) and the pipe cross-sectional area (𝐴) for:
i. Subsonic flow
[3 marks]
If flow is subsonic then 𝑀 < 1

[1mark(s)]

Therefore (𝑀2 − 1) is negative

[1mark(s)]

Therefore 𝜕(𝑢) and 𝜕(𝐴) are opposite signs

[1mark(s)]

Hence as 𝐴 increases then 𝑢 will decrease

[1mark(s)]

ii. Supersonic flow

[3 marks]
If flow is supersonic then 𝑀 > 1

[1mark(s)]

Therefore (𝑀2 − 1) is positive

[1mark(s)]

Therefore 𝜕(𝑢) and 𝜕(𝐴) are the same sign

[1mark(s)]

Hence as 𝐴 increases then 𝑢 will also increase

[1mark(s)]

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 iii. Sonic flow
[4 marks]
If flow is sonic then 𝑀 = 1

[1mark(s)]

Therefore (𝑀2 − 1) is zero

[1mark(s)]

Therefore 𝜕(𝐴) is also zero

[1mark(s)]

Therefore at a minimum or maximum

[1mark(s)]

Taking the second derivative yields that it is a minimum

[1mark(s)]

Question 8 [15 marks]

A stationary power plant operating on an ideal Brayton cycle has a pressure ratio of N.
The turbine inlet temperature is O K. Use the ambient conditions of your city for the
compressor inlet conditions.
Determine the thermal efficiency of the turbine.
[15 marks]

Assuming:
• Steady State
• Turbine and compressor are 100 % efficient

From steam tables:

𝛾 = 1.4
[1 mark(s)]
𝑐𝑝 = 1.005 𝑘𝐽⁄𝑘𝑔. 𝐾
[1 mark(s)]
𝛾−1
𝑃2 𝛾
𝑇2 = 𝑇1 ( )
𝑃1
[1 mark(s)]
1.4−1
𝑇2 = 300(9) 1.4 = 562 𝐾
[1 mark(s)]
From question:
𝑇3 = 1400𝐾

Therefore:
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 𝑞𝑖𝑛 = 𝑐𝑝 (𝑇3 − 𝑇2 )
[1 mark(s)]
𝑞𝑖𝑛 = 1.005(1400 − 562) = 842.2 𝑘𝐽⁄𝑘𝑔
[1 mark(s)]
𝛾−1
𝑃4 𝛾
𝑇4 = 𝑇3 ( )
𝑃3
1.4−1
1 1.4
𝑇4 = 1400 ( ) = 747 𝐾
9
[1 mark(s)]

𝑞𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑐𝑝 (𝑇4 − 𝑇1 )
𝑞𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 1.005(747 − 300) = 449.5 𝑘𝐽⁄𝑘𝑔
[1 mark(s)]

𝑤𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑞𝑛𝑒𝑡
𝜂𝑡ℎ = =
𝑞𝑖𝑛 𝑞𝑖𝑛
[1 mark(s)]
842.2 − 449.5
𝜂𝑡ℎ = = 0.466 ∴ 46.6%
842.2
[1 mark(s)]

Question 9 [15 Marks]

According to the governments statistical release of green-house emissions for 2017, 27%
of the UK’s carbon dioxide came from transportation. The biggest contributor was road
transportation.
Discuss, from a holistic point of view, how the carbon dioxide emissions from road
transportation could be reduced over the next 10 years.
(max 1000 words)

[15 marks]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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