Chapter 3

3.5 Energy Balance With Property Evaluation

Example 3.5-1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A piston-cylinder assembly contains 2 lb of air at a temperature of 540oR and a pressure of 1
atm. The air is compressed to a state where the temperature is 840oR and the pressure is 6
atm. During the compression, there is a heat transfer form the air to the surroundings equal to
20 Btu. Using the ideal gas model for air, determine the work during the process, in Btu15.

Solution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The energy balance on the air is written as

∆E = E2 − E1 = ∆KE + ∆PE + ∆U = Q + W

Neglecting ∆KE and ∆PE, we have

W = ∆U − Q = m(u2 − u1) − Q; (u2 − u1 = 51.94 Btu/lb)

o
R Btu/lb Btu/lb
T h u
540 129.06 92.04
840 201.56 143.98

W = (2 lb)(143.98 − 92.04) Btu/lb − (− 20 Btu) = 123.9 Btu

Note: u2 − u1 ≈ cv(T2 − T1) = (0.173 Btu/lb⋅oR)(840 − 540) oR = 51.9 Btu/lb

15
Moran, M. J. and Shapiro H. N., Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, Wiley, 2008, pg. 122
3-29
Example 3.5-2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A valve connects two tanks containing carbon monoxide. One tank contains 2 kg of CO gas
at 77oC and 0.7 bar. The other tank holds 8 kg of CO gas at 27oC and 1.2 bar. The valve is
opened and the gases are allowed to mix while receiving energy by heat transfer from the
surroundings. The final equilibrium temperature is 42 oC. Using the ideal gas model with
constant cv = 0.745 kJ/kg⋅K, determine (a) the final equilibrium pressure, in bar (b) the heat
transfer for the process, in kJ 16.

Solution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Initial Final
CO
CO
8 kg CO CO
2 kg o
77oC 27oC 42oC 42 C
1.2 bar pf pf
0.7 bar

(a) Determine the final equilibrium pressure

System: gas in both tanks.

The final pressure pf can be determined from the ideal gas law:

mRT f ( m1i + m2i ) RT f

pf = =
V V1 + V2

m1i RT1i m RT
We have V1 = and V1 = 2i 2i , therefore
p1i p2i

( m1i + m2i ) RT f ( m1i + m2i ) T f

pf = =
m1i RT1i m2i RT2i m1iT1i m2iT2i
+ +
p1i p2 i p1i p2i

(10 kg)(42 + 273) K

pf = = 1.05 bar
(2 kg)(350 K) (8 kg)(300 K)
+
0.7 bar 1.2 bar

(b) Determine the heat transfer for the process, in kJ

The energy balance on the carbon monoxide is written as

∆E = E2 − E1 = ∆KE + ∆PE + ∆U = Q + W

16
Moran, M. J. and Shapiro H. N., Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, Wiley, 2008, pg. 124
3-30
Since ∆KE = 0, ∆PE = 0, and W = 0, we have

∆U = Q Q = Uf − Ui

Ui = m1icvT1i + m2icvT2i

Uf = m1icvTf + m2icvTf

Q = Uf − Ui = m1icv(Tf − T1i) + m2icv(Tf − T2i)

kJ kJ
Q = (2 kg) 0.745 (42 − 77)oC + (8 kg) 0.745 (42 − 27)oC
kg ⋅ K kg ⋅ K

Q = 37.25 kJ

Example 3.5-3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air undergoes a polytropic (pVn = constant) compression in a piston–cylinder assembly from
p1 = 1 atm, T1 = 70oF to p2 = 5 atm. Employing the ideal gas model with constant specific
heat ratio k, determine the work and heat transfer per unit mass, in Btu/lb, if (a) n = 1.3, (b) n
= k = 1.401. Evaluate k at T1 17.

Solution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) Determine the work and heat transfer per unit mass, in Btu/lb, if n = 1.3

V2 V2 k kV21− n − kV11− n p2V2nV21− n − p1V1nV11− n

W=– pdV = – dV = – = –
V1 V1 Vn 1− n 1− n

p2V2 − p1V1 mR (T2 − T1 )

W=– =–
1− n 1− n

Applying the ideal gas law at states (1) and (2) we have

17
Moran, M. J. and Shapiro H. N., Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, Wiley, 2008, pg. 130
3-31
 p 2 V 2 = n R T2

p 1 V 1 = n R T1

Taking the ratio of the two equations we have

p2 T V T2 p V
= 2 1 = 2 2
p1 T1 V2 T1 p1 V1

1/ n −1/ n
V2 p1 p2
Since p1V1n = p 2 V2 n
= =
V1 p2 p1

−1/ n ( n −1) / n
T2 p p2 p2
= 2 =
T1 p1 p1 p1

( n −1) / n (1.3−1) /1.3

p2 5 o
T2 = T1 = (460 + 70) R = 768oR
p1 1

The work is then

R (T2 − T1 ) 1.986 Btu (768 - 530)o R

W /m = – = = 54.39 Btu/lb
1− n 28.97 lb ⋅o R 1.3 - 1

From the energy balance

∆U = Q + W Q/m = ∆U/m – W/m = u2 − u1 – 54.39 Btu/lb

u2 − u1 = cv(T2 − T1)

cp cv + R R 1.986 Btu 1 Btu

Since k = = cv = = = 0.171
cv cv k −1 28.97 lb ⋅ R 1.401 − 1
o
lb ⋅o R

Btu
u2 − u1 = 0.171 (768 – 530)oR = 40.70 Btu/lb
lb ⋅o R

Q/m = u2 − u1 – 54.39 Btu/lb = (40.70 – 54.39) Btu/lb = – 13.69 Btu/lb

(b) Determine the heat transfer per unit mass, in Btu/lb, if n = k

R (T2 − T1 ) R (T2 − T1 ) R (T2 − T1 )

Q/m = u2 − u1 – W/m = cv(T2 − T1) + = + =0
1− k k −1 1− k

No heat transfer occurs in the polytropic process of an ideal gas for which pVk = constant.

3-32
The following examples present systems where mass, energy balance, and equation of state
must be solved simultaneously to achieve a desired result.

Example 3.5-4.1 8----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We have a number of small jets that will be used in attitude control in space. These jets will
be powered by low-pressure nitrogen gas heated by an arc at the jet nozzle. Your problem
deals with the nitrogen storage system.
The nitrogen is stored in a large well-insulated, 0.4 m3 sphere at 1 bar pressure. At take-
off the temperature is 280 K. The mass rate of flow or N2 will be constant and be equal to 7.0
g/s. Since the pressure inside the sphere must always be kept at 1 bar, a heater will be used
inside the sphere.
Under these conditions, what will be the temperature of the N2 in the sphere, the
instantaneous rate of heat flow to the heater, and the total heat required after 10 sec of
operation? You can assume nitrogen as an ideal gas with cp = 29.3 J/mol.oK.
Solution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heater 7.0 g/s

Step #1: Define the system.

System = Nitrogen inside the storage tank at any time. Assume perfect mixing of the
air so that the nitrogen temperature is uniform at any time.

Step #2: Find equation that contains the temperature of the system.

The temperature of nitrogen inside the tank may be obtained from the energy balance
on the system.

Step #3: Energy balance

d
(mu) = Q − m cp(T − Tref)
dt

In this equation, m is the mass of nitrogen in the tank at any time, m is the mass flow rate of
nitrogen leaving the tank, and Q is the rate of heat supplied to nitrogen to maintain the
pressure at 1 bar. Let the reference temperature Tref be 0oK, the energy equation becomes

18
Modell and Reid, Thermodynamics and its Applications, Prentice Hall

3-33
 d
(mcvT) = Q − m cpT
dt

Since there are three unknowns m, T, and Q we need to find other independent relationships
to link these variables. The mass balance on the system gives

dm
=− m
dt

The mass of nitrogen inside the tank can be obtained from the ideal gas law

M w pV
m=
RT

The mass balance becomes

M w pV d 1
=− m
R dt T

The only unknown in the above equation is temperature. Therefore we can solve for
temperature just from the mass balance.

Step #4: Specify the initial condition for the differential equation

At t = 0, T = 280oK

Step #5: Solve the resulting equation and verify the solution. Integrating the mass balance

T 1 mR t
d =− dt
280 T M w pV 0

We obtain
1 1 mRt 1 1 mRt
− =− = −
T 280 M w pV T 280 M w pV

In this expression, R = gas constant = 8.314 J/mol⋅K = 8.314×10-5 bar⋅m3/mol

3-34
At t = 10 s, we have

1 1 7 × 8.314 × 10 −5 × 10
= − = 5.196×10-4 K-1 T = 327.7K
T 280 28 × 1 × 0.4

This equation can be verified by using it to determine time when there is no nitrogen
remaining inside the tank. From the ideal gas law, the temperature can be expressed as a
function of m, the mass of nitrogen inside the tank:

M w pV
T=
Rm

When m approaches zero, the temperature must approach infinity to maintain the pressure
inside the tank at 1 bar. The time when there is no nitrogen remaining inside the tank can
then be solved by setting

1
=0
T
or

1 mRt
− =0
280 M w pV

Therefore

M w pV M pV
t= = w (Note: Tt=0 = 280 K)
280 Rm RTt =0 m

The time calculated is simply the initial mass of nitrogen in the tank divided by the constant
mass flow rate out.

The instantaneous rate of heat flow to the heater, Q , can be evaluated by substituting the
M pV
mass m = w into the energy equation
RT

d M w pV
( c v T) = Q − m c p T
dt RT

d M w pVcv
= 0 = Q − m cp T Q = m cp T
dt R

At t = 10 s, T = 327.7 K, we have

7
Q = ×29.3×327.7 = 2,400 W
29

3-35
The total heat required up to 10 sec of operation is obtained by integrating the instantaneous
heat flow over this period

10 10
Q= Qdt = m cp Tdt
0 0

1 1 mRt
From the relationship for the temperature, = − , we have
T 280 M w pV

1 1 7 × 8.314 × 10 −5 t 1
= − = − 5.196×10-5t
T 280 28 × 1 × 0.4 280

1
= 3.5714×10-3 − 5.196×10-5t
T

1
T=
3.5714 × 10 − 5.196 × 10 −5 t
−3

Therefore,

10 7 10 dt
Q = m cp Tdt = ×29.3
0 29 0 3.5714 × 10 − 5.196 × 10 −5 t
−3

7 1 3.5714 × 10 −3
Q= ×29.3 ln
29 5.196 × 10 −5 3.5714 × 10 −3 − 5.196 × 10 −4

7 × 29.3 × 0.15723
Q= = 2.22×104 J
29 × 5.196 × 10 −5

3-36