FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE BUILT

ENVIRONMENT
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Assessment: Test 2

INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMME: Diploma: Chemical Engineering

SUBJECT: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

SUBJECT CODE:
CTH260S

DATE: 13th May 2019

TIME: 08h30 to 11h00

MARKS: 58 (FULL MARKS = 55)

NUMBER OF PAGES: 3 (including cover page)

EXAMINER: A. Marshall

INTERNAL MODERATOR: G. Hangone

EXTERNAL MODERATOR: N/A

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

 No ELO’s are tested

 Answer ALL questions.

REQUIREMENTS
 Answer Books
 Calculators
 Please bring own equation sheet
Question 1
The following observations were made using a continuous-flow calorimeter to determine the
calorific values of coal gas:
Volume of coal gas used: 0.0156 m3
Pressure of gas 101 kPa
Temperature of gas 18.30C
Circulating water 12.456 kg
Temperature rise of circulating water 5.90C
Mass of condensate collected 0.0136 kg

Determine the HCV and LCV of the gas in MJ/m3 at 101.3 kPa and 250C. Latent heat of
condensed steam is 2440 kJ/kg and specific heat capacity of water is 4.185 kJ/kg.K. 10

Question 2
2.1 Use Dulong’s equation to estimate the HCV of coal having a gravimetric analysis: Carbon
82%, Hydrogen 8%, Sulphur 2%, Oxygen 4% and Ash 4%. 4

2.2 Estimate the lower calorific value of the coal given that the latent heat of steam
formed in combustion is 2440 kJ/kg. 3
[7]
Question 3
Steam in a main pipe at 1.5 MPa is passed through a combined separator – throttle calorimeter.
The steam conditions in the throttling calorimeter are 150 kPa and 1500C, whilst during the test
0.3 kg water was collected in the separating calorimeter and 7.5 kg was condensed after passing
8
through the throttling calorimeter. Calculate the dryness fraction of steam in the main supply line

Question 4
A boiler delivers 5400kg of steam per hour at a pressure of 750kPa and with a dryness fraction
of 0.98. The feedwater to the boiler is at a temperature of 41.50C. The coal used for firing the
boiler has a calorific value of 31000 J/kg and is used as a rate of 671kg/hr. Determine:

4.1 The thermal efficiency of the boiler

4.2 An economizer is fitted to the boiler which raises the feedwater temperature to 1000C.
The thermal efficiency is increased by 5%, all other conditions remains unaltered. Determine the
new coal consumption in kg/hr.
4.3 Do a complete heat balance for the system
18
Question 5

A cylinder 0.150m3 in volume containing 30kg of propane stands in the hot sun. A pressure
gauge shows that the pressure is 5000kPa gauge. What is the temperature of the propane in the
cylinder? Use van der Waals equation, and compare these results with the ideal gas law. 15
 a 
 P  2 V  b   RT
 V 