MCL 140: Engineering Thermodynamics

Tutorial-4
1. Air is trapped in a piston-cylinder machine (shown in figure). Initially 𝑃1 = 100 kPa,
𝑉1 = 2 × 10−3 m3 . The spring exerts no force on the piston in the initial position. The
atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa and the area of the piston is 0.018 m2. The air expands
slowly till its volume is 𝑉2 = 3 × 10−3 m3 . During the process, the spring exerts a force
on the piston 𝐹 = −𝑘𝑥, where 𝑘 = 16.2 × 103 N/m. Neglecting any friction between
piston and cylinder wall, determine the final pressure of air and the work done by the
air on the piston.

2. The heat capacity at constant pressure of a certain system is a function of temperature

only and may be expressed as
41.87
𝐶𝑃 = 2.093 + J/℃
𝑡 + 100
where t is the temperature of the system in ℃. The system is heated while it is
maintained at a pressure of 1 atm until its volume increases from 2000 cm3 to 2400 cm3
and its temperature increases from 0℃ to 100℃. (a) Find the magnitude of heat
interaction. (b) How much does the internal energy of the system increase?

3. In a gas turbine the gas enters at the rate of 5 kg/s with a velocity of 50 m/s and enthalpy
of 900 kJ/kg. The loss of heat from the gases to the surroundings is 25 kJ/kg. Assume
for gas R = 0.285 kJ/kgK and cp = 1.004 kJ/kgK and the inlet conditions to be at 100
kPa and 27℃. Determine the power output of the turbine and the diameter of the inlet
pipe.

4. Two bodies have heat capacities that depend on temperature as 𝐶 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑇 + 𝑐𝑇 2 ,

where 𝑎 = 8 J/K, 𝑏 = 2 × 10−2 J/K2 , 𝑐 = 3 × 10−5 J/K3 and 𝑇 is the temperature in
kelvin. The two bodies are initially at temperatures of 400 K and 300 K. If these bodies
are brought in contact with each other, what is the heat transferred between these two
bodies.