AE 231, Thermodynamics, Fall 2014

Midterm I (November 2nd, 2014)

Solutions

Question 1:

a) Explain the Joule Thompson's experiment for ideal gases (5p.)

b) In an isothermal process, derive the boundary work relation for an ideal gas (5p.)

Solution 1:

a) In Joule Thompson' experiment, there is an insulated tank filled with water. Inside the water, there is
another tank with two sections (A and B). Section A is filled with an ideal gas. Section B is empty
(vacuum). There is no insulation around sections A and B. We may have heat transfer between ideal gas
and water if the temperatures of water and gas are different. Initially, we measure the temperature of
water. Since we may have heat transfer between the water and gas, this temperature is also the
temperature of gas. Once the valve is open gas occupies sections A and B. We measure the
temperature again. Joule observed that there is no change in the temperature of water. It means that
the gas temperature is also constant. if we write the first law of thermodynamics for a closed system
(ideal gas).

1Q 2 - 1W2= U2 - U 1

Since we don't observe any change in the temperature of water, heat transfer should be zero. Also,
there is no work interaction between the system and surrounding. Hence, the internal energy change of
the gas should be zero. In this process, specific volume and pressure are changing. Only two quantities
are not changing. These are the internal energy and the temperature of the gas. So we can conclude
that for ideal gases, internal energy is only function of temperature.

b) Wb

In isothermal process of an ideal gas PV= mRT = constant P= mRT/V

Wb mRT = mRT ln
Question 2:

An rigid cylinder is divided into two rooms (A and B) by a membrane. Both rooms contain water at two
different conditions. The initial temperature of water in rooms A and B is 100 oC. The initial pressure and
the volume of water in room A are 50kPa and 10m3, respectively. The initial pressure and volume of
water in room B are 500 kPa and 0.01 m3, respectively. After the membrane ruptures, heat transfer
takes place and water reaches to a uniform temperature of 110 oC.

a) Determine the initial phases of water in rooms A and B (5p.)

b) Calculate the initial specific volumes and the specific internal energies of water in rooms A and B. (5p.)

c) Calculate the masses of water in rooms A and B. (5p.)

d) Calculate the final specific volume of water (5p.)

e) Calculate the final phases of water. (5p.)

f) Calculate the final pressure of water. (5p.)

g) Considering the total water inside the cylinder as a system, write the first law of thermodynamics and
calculate the heat transfer during the process. (5p.)

Solution 2:

a) PA,1=50 kPa, TA,1=100 oC. from Table B.1.2 for P=50 kPa Tsat=81.33 oC

For PA,1=50 kPa TA,1> Tsat. Hence, the initial phase of water in room A is superheated vapor.

PB,1=500 kPa, TA,1=100 oC. from Table B.1.2 for P=500 kPa Tsat=151.86 oC

For PB,1=500 kPa TB,1< Tsat. Hence, the initial phase of water in room B is compressed liquid.

b) Initially, the water in section A is in superheated vapor phase. Hence, the initial properties of water in
room A can be determined from the superheated vapor table (Table B.1.3)

From Table B.1.3, for P = 50 kPa and T= 100 oC:

vA,1 = 3.41833 m3/kg, uA,1 = 2511.61 kJ/kg

Initially, the water in section B is in compressed liquid phase. Hence, the initial properties of water in
room B can be determined from the compressed liquid table (Table B.1.4)

From Table B.1.4, for P = 500 kPa and T= 100 oC:

v B,1 = 0.001043 m3/kg, uB,1 = 418.80 kJ/kg

c) v = V/m or m = V/v, mA=VA/vA,1 mA=10/3.41833 = 2.92 kg

mB=VB/vB,1 mB=0.01/0.001043 = 9.58 kg

d) v2= V2/m = (V1,A + V1,B)/(mA+ mB) = (10+0.01)/(2.92 + 9.58) = 0.8 m3/kg

e) T2= 110 oC , v2=0.8 m3/kg. From saturated vapor table (Table B.1.1) at T=110 oC

vf = 0.001052, vg=1.21014, vfg=1.20909

Since vf <v2< vg , at state, 2 we have saturated liquid and vapor mixture.

v= vf + xvfg , x=(v - vf)/vfg x=(0.8 - 0.001052)/ 1.20909 = 0.66

f) At the final state, we have saturated liquid and vapor mixture. Hence, the pressure is saturation
pressure.

P2= Psat= 143.3 kPa

g) 1Q2 - 1W2= U2 - U1 , 1W2= 0, hence, 1Q2 = U2 - U1

1Q 2 = m2u2 - (mAuA,1 + mBUB,1)

m2 = mA+ mB =2.92 + 9.58 = 12.5kg

from Table B1.1 uf = 461.12 kJ/kg, ug = 2518.09 kJ/kg, ufg = 2056.96 kJ/kg

u2 = uf + xufg = 461.12 + 0.66*2056.96 = 1818.71 kJ/kg

1Q 2 = 12.5*1818.71 - (2.92*2511.61 + 9.58*418.80) = 11387.86 KJ

Question 3:

Assume that a piston and cylinder device contains 2 kg of water. Initially, the water is a saturated liquid
and vapor mixture at a temperature of 90 oC and a quality of 0.5. Heat is transferred to water and the
piston starts to rise. Assume that the pressure varies linearly with the volume. When the pressure
reaches 200 kPa the volume becomes 4 m3.

a) Calculate the initial volume and internal energy of water . (5p.)

b) Calculate the final phase of water. (5p.)

c) Calculate the temperature at the final state. (5p.)

d) Calculate the internal energy at the final state. (5p.)

e) Calculate the work done by system (water). (5p.)

f) Calculate the heat transfer during the process. (5p.)

Solution 3:

a) m= 2kg

At state 1 : T1= Tsat = 90 oC, P1=Psat = 70.14 kPa

vf = 0.001036 m3/kg, vg = 2.36056 m3/kg, vfg = 2.35953 m3/kg,

uf = 376.82 kJ/kg, ug= 2494.52 kJ/kg, ufg = 2117.70 kJ/kg

v1 = vf +x*vfg = 0.001036 + 0.5*2.35953 = 1.18 m3/kg

u1 = uf +x*ufg = 376.82 + 0.5*2117.70 = 1435.67 kJ/kg

V1 = m*v1=2*1.18 = 2.36 m3

U1 = m*u1=2*1435.67 = 2871.34 kJ

b) V2= 4m3, v2= V2/m = 4/2 = 2 m3/kg

At pressure Psat =200 kPa, vg = 0.88573

Since v2 > vg, we have superheated vapor at the final state.

c) From the superheated table (Table B.1.3), for 200kPa pressure find the specific volume of 2m3/kg. This
condition is satisfied at a temperature of 600 oC.

d) From the superheated table (Table B.1.3), u2= 3301.36 kJ/kg U2= m*u2=2*3301.36 = 6602.72 kJ
e) Since the pressure is changing linearly with the volume, we can write

P= C1 +C2V

P1= 70.14 kPa, V1 = 2.36 m3

P2= 200 kPa, V2 = 4 m3

If the pressure is changing linearly with the volume, Wb = 0.5*(P1+P2)*(V2 - V1)

Wb = 0.5*(70.14 +200)*(4 - 2.36) = 221.51 kJ

f) 1Q2 - 1W2= U2 - U1 1Q2 = U2 - U1 + 1W2 1Q 2 = U2 - U1 + Wb = 6602.72 - 2871.34 + 221.51 = 3952.89 KJ

Question 4

An insulated cylinder is divided into two sections by an insulated piston. Initially, the piston is locked.
The initial volumes of sections A and B are 4m3 and 8m3, respectively. Each section contains 1 kg of air.
The initial pressures in sections A and B are 100 kPa and 200 kPa, respectively. After the lock is released,
the piston movement is controlled by an external force. In order to have quasi-equilibrium processes in
sections A and B, an external force is applied to the piston. After the equilibrium is established
(pressures in sections A and B become equal to each other), no external force is applied. In sections A
and B, the air has an adiabatic process (adiabatic process is a polytrophic process with n = k = 1.4). Air
can be consider as an ideal gas with R = 0.287 kJ/kgK.

a) Calculate the volumes, pressure and temperatures in sections A and B after the equilibrium is
established. (10p.)

b) Calculate the boundary work done by the air in section A. (5p.)

c) Calculate the boundary work done by the air in section B. (5p.)

d) Calculate the net work done on surrounding by the by air in sections A and B. (5p.)

Initially During the process

Solution 3:

a) PA,1 = 100kPa, VA,1= 4m3

PB,1 = 200kPa, VB,1= 8m3

From the relations of a polytrophic process

PA,1* VA,1k = CA and PB,1* VB,1k = CB

CA = 100*41.4 = 696.44

CB = 200*81.4 = 3675.83

At state 2, from the relations of a polytrophic process:

PA,2= CA / VA,2k and PB,2= CB / VB,2k

After the equilibrium is established, PA,2 = PB,2

Hence,

CA / VA,2k = CB / VB,2k

Vtot = VA,1 + VB,1 = 4m3 + 8m3 = 12m3

VB,2 = Vtot - VA,2

CA / VA,2k = CB / VB,2k = CB /(Vtot - VA,2)k

696.44/ VA,21.4 = 3675.83/(12 - VA,2)1.4

[(12 - VA,2)/ VA,2 ]1.4 = 3675.83/696.44 = 5.278

(12 - VA,2)/ VA,2 = 3.281

12 = 4.281*VA,2

VA,2 = 2.802 m3

VB,2 = Vtot - VA,2 = 12-2.80 = 9.197 m3

PA,2= CA / VA,2k = 696.44/2.8021.4 = 164.52 kPa

PB,2= CB / VB,2k = 3675.83/9.1971.4 = 164.52 kPa

Hence, approximately PA,2= PB,2

PA,2* VA,2 = m*R* TA,2 TA,2= PA,2* VA,2/ (m*R) = 164.52*2.802/(1*0.287) = 1606.9 K

PB,2* VB,2 = m*R* TB,2 TB,2= PB,2* VB,2/ (m*R) = 164.52*9.197 /(1*0.287) = 5272.1 K

b) Boundary work in a polytrophic process:

Wb = (P2V2 -P1V1)/(-n +1)

Wb = (P2V2 -P1V1)/(-k +1)

Wb,A = (PA,2VA,2 -PA,1VA,1)/(-k +1) = (164.52 *2.802 -100*4)(-1.4 +1) = -152.87 kJ

c) Wb,B = (PB,2VB,2 -PB,1VB,1)/(-k +1) = (164.52 *9.197 -200*8)(-1.4 +1) = 217.01 kJ

d) Wnet = Wb,A + Wb,B = -152.87 + 217.01 = 64.14 kJ