Solving Thermodynamics Problems

Solving thermodynamic problems can be made significantly easier by following a

rigorous process. One such process is outlined below.
1. Summarize given data in own words, leaving out unneeded, misleading information
2. learly understand!identify what is being as"ed for # draw a s"etch showing
interactions and identify a solution strategy, "eeping in mind that a multi$step
approach may be easiest.
%. &efine system boundaries, noting if it is an open or closed system
'. (i) as many states as possible on a P$v!T$v!T$s diagram using given information
*. +pply conservation of mass to process
(or a control mass!closed system,
- m m
1 2
=
(or a control volume!open system,

=
e i
m m
dt
dm

.. +pply conservation of energy to process /1
st
law of thermodynamics0
(or a control mass!closed system,
1 2 3 =
/e4uilibrium process0
1 2
dt
d3

=
/transient process0
(or a control volume!open system,

+ + +

+ + + =
e
2
e
i
2
i
gz
2
5
h m gz
2
5
h m 1 2
dt
d3


6. Solve algebraically for desired 4uantity using combination of mass balance, energy
balance, and definitions /li"e mass flow rate, volume, etc.0
7. Perform heat transfer analysis to get 2, if necessary /use catalog of heat transfer or
steady flow device in appendi)0
8. Perform wor" analysis to get 1, if necessary /use catalog of wor" or steady flow
device in appendi)0
1-. +ssume appropriate model for system substance /use substance model catalog in
appendi)0
11. (ind properties using substance model
12. Substitute numbers into e4uation and solve for desired 4uantity
1%. Sanity chec" magnitude of answer and direction /if any0 to see if the solution 9ma"es
sense:
;ary <. Solbre""en =3%%2', (all 2--2 1-!-1!-2
Appendix
This appendi) contains a series of catalogs for common parameters that are needed in
solving thermodynamics problems. The lists are not intended to be e)haustive, nor is the
information contained in the catalogs complete. (or a complete discussion of a particular
entry, a reference from the engel and Turner />T0 boo" is included with the chapter
and section identified. ?ote that the symbols used ta"e on the conte)t of the problem.
+gain, the user should consult >T for details.
Catalog of Heat Transfer
Heat Transfer Mode Equation
onduction / > T ch 1*$1.0
d)
dT
"+ 2 =

onvection / > T ch 16 # 170

( )
ambient wall
T T h+ 2 =

@adiation / > T ch 180

( )
'
2
'
1 2 1
T T + ( 2 =

Catalog of Work
Work Mode Equation
3lectric / > T ch '.20 t 5A 1 =
Spring / > T ch '.%.%0
( )
2
1
2
2
) ) "
2
1
1 =
Shaft / > T ch '.%.20 n 2 1 =
3)pansion!ompression / > T ch '.%.10

= Pd5 1
Bar &eformation / > T ch '.%.'0

= d < + 1
o o
Surface Tension />T ch '.%.'0

= d+ 1
Catalog of Steady Flow Devies
Devie Conversion !roess Typial Assu"ptions
?ozzle />T ch *.'.10
&iffuser
(low energy/T, P0 to C3
C3 to flow energy /T, P0
S.S., adiabatic, no wor",
P3 D -
Turbine />T ch *.'.20
ompressor
Pump
(low energy /T, P0 to wor"
1or" to flow energy /T, P0
1or" to flow energy /P0
S.S, adiabatic, C3 P3
-
Throttle &evice />T ch
*.'.%0
@elieve pressure S.S., adiabatic, no wor",
C3 P3 -
Eeat 3)changer />T ch
*.'.'0
Transfer heat between flow
streams
S.S., no wor", C3 P3
-, e)ternal surfaces
adiabatic
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Catalog of Su#stane Models
Su#stane Model Appliation Do"ain C$arateristis
Property Tables # solid,
li4uid, vapor />T ch %..0
1henever e)perimental
data is available for
substance of interest
@eal data, so this is ideal as
long as the e)perimental
conditions used to ma"e
table are broadly applicable
to the application.
Ancompressible # li4uid
/>T ch %...% and ch %.110
=ost li4uids and processes
where volume e)pansion is
not of interest /an e)ample
of a mis$application would
be a natural convection
process0
Properties are appro)imated
by the saturated li4uid
properties at the system
temperature. Specific heats
are temperature dependent
only.
p D v D
du D dT D f/T0
y yf/T0
h hf/T0 F vf/T0GHp # psat/T0I
Ancompressible # solid
/>T ch %...% and ch %.110
=ost solids and processes
where volume e)pansion is
not of interest /an e)ample
of a mis$application would
be a deformation!bar
e)pansion process0
Specific heats are
temperature dependent only.
p D v D
du D dT D f/T0
ompressibility hart
/Principle of orresponding
States0$ vapor / > T ch
%.60
5apors that cannot be
classified as an ideal gas
+ssumes that the vapors of
all substances are
4ualitatively similar, relative
to their critical state.
Scaling relative to the
critical state allows the
generalized compressibility
chart to be used to find
relation between P$v$T.
J D Pv!@T
P@ D P!Pcrit
T@ D T!Tcrit
Adeal ;as / > T ch %.6, ch
%.1-0
Special case vapor where P@
/P!Pcrit0 is nearly -.
+llows use of ideal gas
e4uation of state, P5 D
m@T. +lso, specific heats
are only temperature
dependent, meaning
energies are also only
functions of temperature
du D vdT D f/T0
dh D pdT D f/T0
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