ENERGY ANALYSIS OF UNSTEADY-FLOW

PROCESSES
Many processes of interest, involve changes within the
control volume with time. Such processes are called
unsteady-flow, or transient-flow, processes.

Mass balance

Energy balance

EXAMPLE: Charging of a Rigid Tank by Steam

A rigid, insulated tank that is initially evacuated is connected
through a valve to a supply line that carries steam at 1 MPa
and 300C. Now the valve is opened, and steam is allowed to
flow slowly into the tank until the pressure reaches 1 MPa, at
which point the valve is closed. Determine the final
temperature of the steam in the tank.

EXAMPLE: Discharge of Heated Air at Constant

Temperature
A insulated 8-m3 rigid tank contains air at 600 kPa and 400 K.
A valve connected to the tank is now opened, and air is
allowed to escape until the pressure inside drops to 200kPa.
The air temperature during the process is maintained constant
by an electric resistance heater placed in the tank. Determine
the electrical energy supplied to air during this process.

From table A-17, when T = 400 K:

Exercise for you (5-131 from the book):

An insulated, vertical piston-cylinder device
initially contains 10 kg of water, 6 kg of which
is in the vapor phase. The mass of the piston
is such that it maintains a constant pressure of
200 kPa inside the cylinder. Now steam at 0.5
MPa and 350C is allowed to enter the cylinder
from a supply line until all the liquid in the
cylinder has vaporized. Determine (a) the final
temperature in the cylinder and (b) the mass of
the steam that has entered.
Answers: 120.2C, 19.07 kg