EXAMPLE

Entropy Generation in a Mixing Chamber

Water at 200 kPa and 10C enters a mixing chamber at a rate of

150 kg/min where it is mixed steadily with steam entering at 200
kPa and 150C. The mixture leaves the chamber at 200 kPa and
70C, and heat is lost to the surrounding air at 20C at a rate of
190 kJ/min. Neglecting the changes in kinetic and potential
energies, determine the rate of entropy generation during this
process.
Tb=20C
190 kJ/min

Water
P1=200kPa,
T1=10C,
150 kg/min

Steam
P2=200kPa,
T2=150C

Mixture
P3=200kPa,
T3=70C

State 1:

P 1=200 kPa; T 1 =10C h 1 =h f@10C =42.022kJ/kg

s1 =s f@10C =0.1511kJ/kg.K

State 2:

P 2=200 kPa; T 2 =150C h 2 =2769.1kJ/kg

s2 =7.2810kJ/kg.K

State 3:

P 3=200 kPa; T 3 =70C h 3 =h f@7 0C =293.07kJ/kg

S 3=s f@7 0C =0.95511kJ/kg.K

Substituting,

190 kJ/min= [150 x 42.022 +

which gives

m
& 2 x 2769.1 (150 + m
& 2 ) x 293.07] kJ/min

m
& 2 =15.29 kg/min

The rate of entropy generation during this process can be

determined by applying the rate form of the entropy balance on an
extended system that includes the mixing chamber and its
immediate surroundings so that the boundary temperature of the
extended system is 20C = 293K:

S& in S& out S& gen dSsystem / dt

Rate of net
entropy transfer
by heat and mass

Rate of
entropy
generation

Rate of change
in entropy

& 1s1 m
& 2s 2 m
& 3s 3
m

Sgen

(kW/K)

&
Q
out
S& gen 0
Tb

&
Q
& 3s 3 m
& 1s1 m
& 2 s 2 out
m
Tb
= (165.29 x 0.9551 150 x 0.1511 15.29 x 7.2810) +

190
293

= 24.53 kg/min.K

Discussion Note that entropy is generated during this process at

a rate of 24.53 kJ/min. This entropy generation is caused by the
mixing of two fluid streams (an irreversible process) and the heat
transfer between the mixing chamber and the surroundings
through a finite temperature difference (another irreversible
process).