Meghnad Saha Institute of Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Engineering Thermodynamics ~ ME201

Problem sheet ~ 7: POWER CYCLES

THEORETICAL QUESTIONS:

1. A four stroke SI engine has the compression ratio of 6 and swept volume of 0.15 m3. Pressure and
temperature at the beginning of compression are 98 kPa and 60ºC. Determine the pressure, volume and
temperatures at all salient points if heat supplied to it is 150 kJ/kg. Also find out work done, efficiency
and mean effective pressure of cycle assuming cp = 1 kJ/kg · K, cv = 0.71 kJ/kg · K. Also plot the cycle on
T-S diagram. [Ans. Net Work = 76.75 kJ, = 51.17%, m.e.p. = 511.67 kPa]
2. Two engines are to operate on Otto and Diesel cycles with the following data: Maximum temperature 1400
K, exhaust temperature 700 K. State of air at the beginning of compression 0.1 MPa, 300 K. Estimate the
compression ratios, the maximum pressures, efficiencies, and rate of work outputs (for 1 kg/min of air) of
the respective cycles. (Ans. Otto- rk = 5.656, pmax = 2.64 MPa, W = 2872 kJ/kg, η = 50% Diesel: rk =
7.456, pmax = 1.665 MPa, W = 446.45 kJ/kg, η = 60.8%)
3. In an IC engine using air as working fluid, total 1700 kJ/kg of heat is added during combustion and
maximum pressure in cylinder does not exceed 5 MPa. Compare the efficiency of following two cycles used
by engine: (a) cycle in which combustion takes place isochorically. (b) cycle in which half of heat is added
at constant volume and half at constant pressure. Temperature and pressure at the beginning of
compression are 100ºC and 103 kPa. Compression and expansion processes are adiabatic. Specific heat
at constant pressure and volume are 1.003 kJ/kg · K and 0.717 kJ/kg · K. [Ans. Otto = 50.83%; mixed =
56.47%]
4. A steam turbine plant operates on Rankine cycle with steam entering turbine at 40 bar, 350ºC and leaving
at 0.05 bar. Steam leaving turbine condenses to saturated liquid inside condenser. Feed pump pumps
saturated liquid into boiler. Determine the net work per kg of steam and the cycle efficiency assuming all
processes to be ideal. Also show cycle on T-s diagram. Also determine pump work per kg of steam
considering linear variation of specific volume. [Ans. Net work per kg of steam = 1081.74 kJ/kg, Cycle
efficiency = 36.67%, Pump work per kg of steam = 4.02 kJ/kg]
5. In a steam turbine installation running on ideal Rankine cycle steam leaves the boiler at 10 MPa and
700ºC and leaves turbine at 0.005 MPa. For the 50 MW output of the plant and cooling water entering and
leaving condenser at 15ºC and 30ºC respectively determine (a) the mass flow rate of steam in kg/s (b) the
mass flow rate of condenser cooling water in kg/s (c) the thermal efficiency of cycle (d) the ratio of heat
supplied and rejected (in boiler and condenser respectively). Neglect K.E. and P.E. changes. [Ans: Mass of
flow rate of steam = 29.69 kg/s , Mass flow rate of condenser cooling water = 969.79 kg/s, Thermal
efficiency = 45.12%, Ratio of heat supplied and rejected = 1.822]