1. An automobile tire is inflated to 32psig pressure at 50 degree F.

After being
driven, the temperature rises to 75 degree F. Determine the final gage pressure
assuming the volume remains constant. (Electrical Engineering Board Exam Problem)

Solution:
Since volume is constant, use Charles’ Law on constant volume processes.
P1/T1=P2/T2
Note: P and T should be absolute.

(32+14.7)/ (50+460) =P2/ (75+460)

P2=48.99 psia

Converting back to gage pressure,

P2g=48.99-14.7

P2g=34.29 psig

2. Four hundred cubic centimeters of gas at a pressure of 740 mmHg absolute and
temperature of 18 degree C undergoes a process until the pressure and temperature
becomes 760 mmHg absolute and 0 degrees C respectively. Calculate the final volume
of the gas. (Electrical Engineering Board Exam Problem)

Since all the parameters (temperature, pressure and volume) changes, use combined
gas law

PV/T=constant

P1V1/T1=P2V2/T2

(740)(400)/(18+273)=(760)V2/(0+273)

V2=365.3 cc

3. A single acting air compressor with a clearance of 6% took air at atmospheric

pressure and temperature of 85 degrees F, discharges it at a pressure of 85 psia.
Assuming that the compression is isentropic, find the piston displacement per cycle
and the air power (hp) of the compressor if the RPM is 750. (Mechanical Engineering
Board Exam 1978)
(I haven't got this correct yet, LOL)

4. Steam enters turbine stage with an enthalpy of 3628 kJ/kg at 70m/s and leaves
the same stage with an enthalpy of 2846 kJ/kg and velocity of 124 m/s. calculate
the work done by the steam. (Mechanical Engineering Board Exam 1986)

Solution:

Just like the 90% of all thermo problems, this one can be solved using the first
law of thermodynamics.

Ein=Eout

H1+KE1=H2+KE2+W
W=(H1-H2)+(KE1-KE2)

W=(3628-2846)+(70^2/1000-124^2/1000)
W=776.5 76J/kg

5. In an air standard Otto cycle, the clearance volume is 18% of the displacement
volume. Find the thermal efficiency? (Mechanical Engineering Board Exam 1993)

Solution:

e = 1-1/rk^(k-1)

rk = (1+c)/c = (1+.18)/0.18 = 6.556

e = 1-1/(6.6556)^(1.4-1)=.53

e=53%

6.A reversed Carnot cycle is used for cooling. The input work is 12kW, while the
COP is 3.8. Calculate the refrigerating effect in TOR. (Mechanical Engineering
Board Exam)

Solution:

COP=Refrigerating Effect/Compressor Work

Refrigerating Effect = COP (Comp Work)

RE=3.8(12kW)(1Tor/3.516kW)=12.97TOR

7. The compression ratio of a standard gasoline engine is 8. The heat added is

1850kJ/kg. If the initial pressure and temperature are 100Kpa and 25 degrees C
respectively, determine the temperature at the end of isentropic expansion.
(Mechanical Engineering Board Exam)

Solution:

Rk=8

Qa=1850kJ/kg

P1=100kPa

T1=25+273=298K

From the given compression ratio, rk=8

rk=V1/V2=8

T2/T1=(V1/V2)^(k-1); k of air is 1.4

T2=((8)^(1.4-1))(298)

T2=684.62K
Process 2 -3 is constant volume

Qa=cv(T3-T2) ; cv for air is 0.7186 kJ/kg-K

1850=(.7186)(T3-684.62)

T3=3259.07K

Process 3-4 is isentropic expansion,

V4/V3=rk

(V4/v3)^(k-1)=(T3/T4)

T4 = 3259.07/((8)^(1-1.4))

T4 = 1418.6K

t = 1145.6 deg C

8. What is the logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD) of a double pipe

counterflow heat exchanger if the fluid enters at 90 degrees C and exits at 50
degrees C. Inside the inner pipe, another fluid enters at 20 degrees C and exits at
60 degrees C. (Mechanical Engineering Board Exam)

Solution:
Since you will get zero when you use the conventional LMTD version, use the
arithmetic mean temperature difference (AMTD) instead.

AMTD=((90-60)+(50-20))/2=30

9. The volume of concrete needed for the foundation of an engine is 12 cubic

meters. The concrete mixture is 1:3:5 by volume. Calculate the number of 40 kg bags
of cement needed considering the density of cement to be 1500kg/cu.m. (Mechanical
Engineering Board Exam)

Solution:

This is actually just a mixture problem in algebra:

If the mixture is 1:3:5 by volume, then the volume of cement is

(1/(1+3+5))(12 cu.m)=1.33 cu.m

We will use the cement density given to calculate the mass equivalent of this
volume.

m = density(Volume)

m = 1500 (1.33) =2000 kgs

To calculate the number of 40-kg cement sacks,

Sacks=(2000kg)(1sack/40kg)
Sacks=50 sacks

10. A 305mm x 457mm four stroke single acting diesel engine is rated at 150 kW at
260 rpm. Fuel consumption at rated load of 0.26 kg/kw-hr with a heating value of
43912 KJ/kg. Calculate the brake thermal efficiency. (Mechanical Engineering Board
Exam 1990)

Eb=Brake Power/Heat Input

Brake Power= 150kW

Heat Input=(Fuel mass)(Heating Value)

Fuel mass=(150kw)(0.26kg/kw-hr)

Fuel mass=39kg/hr

Heat Input=(39)(43912) =1712568kJ/h =475.71 kW

Eb=(150)/(475)=31.53%