TUTORIALS

Q1
a) Derive the expression for the work done by a gas when it is expanded adiabatically from
conditions P1 and V1 to P2 and V2.

b) In a closed system. 1 kg of air initially at 100 kN/m2 and 27 °C is compressed

adiabatically to 3 MN/m2, and then expanded isothermally back to its original volume.
Determine the excess of work done by the gas over work done on the gas.
Take R = 287 J/kgK and  = 1.4 for air.

Q2
a) Make a sketch of a combined throttling and separating calorimeter, and explain how such
an instrument can be used to find the dryness fraction of steam leaving the boiler.

b) In such a test the following results were obtained:-

Boiler pressure 1.25 MN/m2. Pressure after throttling 0.1 MN/m2, temperature after
throttling 105 C, water collected from separator 0.16 kg per minute, discharge from the
throttle calorimeter 7 kg per minute. Calculate the dryness fraction of the steam leaving the
boiler. Take the specific heat capacity of the superheated steam as 2.1 KJ/kg C.

Q3
Consider a steam power plant operating on a simple ideal Rankine cycle. The steam enters the
turbine at 3 MPa and 350 C and is condensed in the condenser at a pressure of 10 kPa.
Determine:
a) The thermal efficiency of the plant
b) The thermal efficiency if steam is superheated to 600C instead of 350C.
c) The thermal efficiency if the boiler pressure is raised to 15 MPa while the turbine
inlet temperature is maintained at 600C.
d) Sketch the T-s diagrams of the cycle for the THREE cases stated.

Q4
Prove that the air standard efficiency of an engine working on the constant volume (Otto) cycle
is given by:
1
1  1
r
where r = volume ratio of compression
and γ = adiabatic index

Q5
Calculate the air standard efficiency of an engine working on this cycle, if the pressure at the
beginning and end of the compression are 103.5 kN/m2 and 827.5 kN/m2, respectively. Take γ
= 1.4.

Q6
a) Briefly discuss the term ‘reversibility’ as applied to a thermodynamic process.

b) State and prove Carnot’s principle.

 T1  T2
c) Show that the thermal efficiency of the Carnot cycle is given by the expression
T1
where
T1 = maximum absolute temperature of the cycle
T2 = minimum absolute temperature of the cycle

Q7
In a trial on a single cylinder, four-stroke cycle oil engine, 250 mm bore and 450 mm stroke, the
following results were recorded:

Duration of test 30 minutes

Total revolutions 7962
Average dead load in brake 940 N
Average spring balance 110 N
Brake radius 1m
Average indicated mean effective pressure 565 kN/m2
Total fuel used 2.9 kg
Calorific value 44000 kJ/kg
Total jacket water 200 kg
Inlet temperature 17 C
Outlet temperature 67 C

Calculate:
a) the indicated power
b) the brake power
c) the mechanical efficiency
d) the brake thermal efficiency
e) the percentage energy loss tom the jacket

Q8
In a closed system, one kilogramme of ait initially at 100 kN/m2 and 27 ºC is compressed
adiabatically to 3 MN/m2, and then expanded isothermally back to its original volume.
Determine the excess of the work done by the gas over the work done on the gas. Take R = 287
J/kgK and  =1.4 for air

Q9
A gas turbine expands 4 kg/s of air from 12 bar and 900C to 1 bar adiabatically with an
isentropic efficiency of 87%. Calculate the exhaust temperature and the power output.  = 1.4
Cp = 1005 J/kg K.