CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY IV (EP211)

NO. OF EXPERIMENT: 5
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT: THE FUNDAMENTAL PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE
RELATIONSHIP OF SATURATED STEAM IN
EQUILIBRIUM
NAME (ID): IFTEKHAR HOSSAIN (1001852505), DHAAVIN
JANARAJ (1001852138), KHALED NASSER SALEH
FARAG ALABIGI (1001849628), MOHAMAD TASLIN
SHAH BIN IBRAMSHAH (1001748107)
GROUP: THURSDAY/GROUP 1
DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 20th FEBRUARY 2020
TUTOR: MS. NURUL HUDA M ALI

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY & BUILT ENVIRONMENT

JAN – APRIL 2020

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Page No.
Problem Statement 3
Hypothesis 3
Objectives 3
Introduction 3-4
Materials and Procedure 4
Results and Calculation 4-6
Discussion 6-7
Limitations and Precautions 7-8
Conclusion 8
References 8
Appendix 9

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 The Fundamental Pressure-Temperature Relationship of Saturated Steam in Equilibrium

Problem statement:
Would trapping the steam in the boiler increase or decrease the pressure and temperature of the
gas in the Marcet boiler?

Hypothesis:
Greater the pressure in the Marcet boiler, the higher the temperature will be.

Objectives:

1. To obtain a relationship between the pressure and temperature of saturated

steam, in equilibrium with water, at all the pressure between atmospheric and
10 bars (150 lb/in2).
2. To compare between calculated values from experiment data to the data
obtained from the steam table for vfg and hfg.
3. To demonstrate the vapour pressure curve.

Introduction:
An ideal gas obeys the equation of states. These equations relate the pressure, specific
volume/density with mass and the gas constant, R. Although ideal gases obey these equations,
this might not always be the case as the ideal gas equation can be adjusted that allows it to act as
a real gas. As water is heated, it gains energy and its molecules start to move rapidly, which
eventually break bonds and escape from the surface until a state of equilibrium is reached. The
equilibrium state depends on the pressure between the water and the vapor above it that just
evaporated. It is easier for the molecules at the surface to escape when the pressure is lower and
as a result, less energy is required to achieve said equilibrium. The temperature at which this
equilibrium is reached is called the saturated temperature Tsat. The pressure at this point is called
the saturated pressure Psat.

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 A Marcet boiler is an apparatus used to investigate this pressure-temperature relationship
of saturated steam in equilibrium at various temperatures between pressures from atmospheric
pressure and 10 bars. The slope dT/dP can be measured from the experimental results by plotting
a graph and this slope is compared against a theoretical value, which is found through calculation
from the values in the steam property table.

Materials and Apparatus:

Marcet Boiler

Procedures:
1. The start-up procedures mentioned in appendix B were performed.
2. The valves at the level side tube were opened to check the water level, in case the boiler
was initially filled with water. The valves were then, closed.
3. The temperature controller was set to 180 °C which is slightly above the expected boiling
point of water at 9 bars.
4. The valve at the feed port was opened and the heater was turned on.

Results and Calculation:

Atmospheric Pressure: 1.01325, Atmospheric Temperature: 25°C

EXPERIMENTAL
DATA (EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS)
Gauge Absolute Pressure Temperatu Temperat Temperat Temperat Measured
pressure pressure difference re increase ure ure ure slope
(bar) (dp) (oc) decrease average differenc (dt/dp)
(oc) e (dt)
1.0 2.34 0.5 123.3 126.3 124.80 0 0
1.5 2.81 0.5 132.4 133.0 132.70 7.9 15.8
2.0 3.34 0.5 139.6 141.0 140.30 7.6 15.2
2.5 3.79 0.5 143.8 146.4 145.10 4.8 9.6
3.0 4.31 0.5 149.0 150.5 149.75 4.65 9.3
3.5 4.82 0.5 153.3 155.2 154.25 4.50 9.0
4.0 5.31 0.5 157.6 159.7 158.65 4.40 8.8
4.5 5.80 0.5 161.3 163.4 162.35 3.70 7.4

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5.0 6.44 0.5 165.7 167.1 166.40 4.05 8.1
5.5 7.10 0.5 169.9 170.8 170.35 3.95 7.9
6.0 7.52 0.5 172.5 173.8 173.15 2.80 5.6
6.5 8.01 0.5 175.2 176.4 175.80 2.65 5.3
7.0 8.57 0.5 178.3 179.2 178.75 2.95 5.9
7.5 9.14 0.5 181.2 182.2 181.70 2.95 5.9
8.0 9.70 0.5 184.0 183.9 183.95 2.25 4.5

THEORY
DATA (STEAM TABLE) RESULT
Specific volume (Vg) Specific enthalpy (Hfg) (Vg)/Hfg)
774.0 2188.62 0.353
618.94 2165.74 0.286
503.47 2143.09 0.235
443.89 2127.23 0.209
393.95 2113.0 0.186
351.86 2099.79 0.166
315.89 2085.62 0.151
288.94 2073.55 0.134
262.58 2060.06 0.127
239.51 2047.90 0.117
224.67 2037.13 0.110
211.57 2027.99 0.104
198.14 2017.54 0.098
185.65 2007.07 0.092
176.70 1998.98 0.088

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Sample of calculation for dt:
Dt1bar = Tavr@1.5bar – T avr@1bar
= 132.7-124.8
= 7.9
Sample calculation for Tavr:
Tavr = (123.3 + 126.3)/2
= 124.8
Sample calculation for dp:
Dp = 1.5-1.0
= 0.5 bar or 50 kpa

Discussion:
After The Marcet boiler was set up, water inside was heated until steam began to emerge
from the outlet. After 30 seconds, the top outlet valve was closed to prevent any more steam
from escaping. In this step, it removes unwanted air from the boiler, as its presence could affect
the accuracy of the results. Due to the partial pressure of air, a lower temperature of water would
have been needed to raise the same amount of pressure; causing an unwanted shift in equilibrium.
Furthermore, the trapped air could affect our results and it’s also causing damage to the boiler.
The valve at the level sight tube must also be closed to prevent the sight tube from damage as it

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is not built to withstand high pressure and temperature. With the heater kept on, first the
atmospheric pressure and the atmosphere temperature was observed and recorded. The gauge
pressure was observed, which has an initial reading of 0 bar. Then, at every 0.5 bar interval, the
absolute pressure and temperature displayed on the sensors were recorded. This heating process
continued until the gauge pressure measures 8.0 bar and then the heater is switched off. Next
begins the cooling process where both temperature and pressure started to decrease back to
atmospheric levels. Readings of both absolute pressure and temperature were again recorded
until the gauge pressure reads 0 bar again.

Based on the results shown in Table 1 and Graph 1, pressure directly proportional to the
pressure. As water is heated in the boiler, the molecules gain kinetic energy and move faster. By
continuing to absorb more heat energy, it will begin to break free from its intermolecular bonds
and start to vaporise. This causes a transition of phase from liquid to gas. However, since the
boiler acts as a closed system, the vapor (steam) released is trapped, causing an increase in
pressure as it collides with the wall of the container more frequently. Thus, as the temperature
increases, pressure also increases.

Whereas, actual values can hardly coincide with theoretical, calculated values. This is
clearly depicted in Graph 2, showing the trends of both measured slope and calculated slope.
Although both curves generally show a descending trend, the measured slope is somewhat erratic
with multiple increasing and decreasing gradients while the calculated slope shows a direct
decreasing curve.

If the pressure increases, the molecules will collide to each other and to the wall. By
colliding it gain the kinetic energy which leads to increase in temperature.

Limitations:

Most of the experiment values are also lower than the theoretical yield. The readings may
have changed due to certain errors encountered throughout the experiment. For instance, as the
gauge meter is located at the top of the boiler, it is difficult to get an accurate reading as there is
parallax error. In addition to that, as the temperature and pressure values change quickly, the
readings taken might not be exact. Even though the aim of the experiment is to achieve a value

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close to 9 bar, the gauge pressure could only reach 5.5 bar before fluctuating up and down, never
increasing more than that. This could somehow be caused by lack of insulation of the boiler or
the temperature of the laboratory. Some extra steam could also have been released as no timer
was used to measure 30 seconds, and this might have caused a decrease in pressure.

Conclusion:
Marcet boiler is the device which we used to study the relationship between pressure and
temperature of water at saturated liquid phase. We notice that it is essential to close the valve as
we reach boiling point to make sure a constant volume process, otherwise pressure would have
never increased. After studying the results and plotting the respective graphs we find that the
relationship between pressure and temperature is directly proportional. The small deviation in
errors have been explained in the previous section. In overall, the objective of the experiment
was met, hypothesis was proved and problem statement solved.

References:
Syahiirah N. (2015). Marcet Boiler. Academia. Retrieved on 3rd March 2020 from
https://www.academia.edu/11843064/CHE144_-
_Lab_Report_Marcet_Boiler_2015_?auto=download
(2019). Saturated Vapor Pressure Curve of Water on Marcet Boiler. UniMAP. Retrieved on 3rd
March 2020 from
http://portal.unimap.edu.my/portal/page/portal30/Lecture%20Notes/Fakulti%20Teknologi%20K
ejuruteraan%20Jabatan%20Mekanikal/RY56%20AGRICULTURAL%20SYSTEMS%20(SISTE
M%20PERTANIAN)/RY56%20SEMESTER%201%2020172018/YEAR%202/PDT277/E4%20
-%20MARCET%20BOILER%20-%20NEW.pdf
Conor J. (2011, March 27). Marcet Boiler. Scribd. Retrieved on 3rd March 2020 from
https://www.scribd.com/doc/51634867/Marcet-Boiler-Lab-Report

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Appendix: