Prepared by: EFREN A.

DELA CRUZ
E-mail Address: eadelacruz@clsu.edu.ph

Central Luzon State University

Science City of Muñoz 3120
Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Instructional Module for the Course

(MENGR 3100 – Basic Mechanical Engineering)

Module 2
Energy and the First Law of
Thermodynamics
Overview

Energy is a basic concept of thermodynamics and one of the most

significant aspects of engineering analysis. This module will discuss
energy forms and used a developed equation for applying the principle
of conservation of energy. Energy is a familiar concept, as engineering
students you are expected to be familiar about it from your previous
science/physics courses. In this module we will look on some important
aspects of the energy concept that you have encountered before and look
on the idea that energy can enter, stored, leaves, transform and
transferred within systems in various forms, and that the total amount of
energy is conserved in all conversions and transfers processs.
Finally, we will discuss sample problems of some familiar energy
conversion processes, and observe the impact of energy conservation on
the system and surrounding.
 MENGR 2320 (Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer)

I. Objectives
Upon successful completion of the module, students are expected to:
a. Enumerate and explain the different forms of energy within and interacting a
system.
b. Discuss/explain the energy processes within closed and open system.
c. Solve conservation of energy related problems with proper units and
dimensions.

II. Learning Activities

2. Energy and the First Law of Thermodynamics

The first law

The law of conservation of energy states that energy is neither created nor
destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another.

2.1 Forms of Energy

Gravitational Potential Energy (P)

The gravitational potential energy of a body is its energy due to its position or
elevation.

Kinetic Energy (K)

The energy or stored capacity for performing work possessed by a moving body,
by virtue of its momentum is called kinetic energy.

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 MENGR 2320 (Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer)

Internal Energy (U, u)

Internal energy is energy stored within a body or substance by virtue of the
activity and configuration of its molecules and of the vibration of the atoms within the
molecules.
u = specific internal energy (per unit mass) u = u2 – u1

U = mu = total internal energy (m-mass) U = U2 – U1

Work (W)
Work is the product of the displacement of the body and the component of the
force in the direction of the displacement. Work is energy in transition; that is, it exists
only when a force is “moving through a distance.”
Work of a Nonflow System (Wn)

Fig. 2 Work of Expansion

The area under the curve of the process on the pV plane represents the work done
during a non-flow reversible process.
Work done by the system is positive (outflow of energy)
Work done on the system is negative (inflow of energy)

Flow Work (Wf)

Flow work or flow energy is work done in pushing a fluid across a
boundary, usually into or out of a system.

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 MENGR 2320 (Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer)

Heat (Q)
Heat is energy in transit (on the move) from one body or system to another, solely
because of a temperature difference between the bodies or systems.

Q is positive when heat is added to the body or system.

Q is negative when heat is rejected by the body or system.

Classification of Systems
(1) A closed system is one in which mass does not cross its boundaries.
(2) An open system is one in which mass crosses its boundaries.

2.2 First Law of Thermodynamics

Conservation of Energy
The law of conservation of energy states that energy is neither created nor
destroyed.
The first law of thermodynamics states that one form of energy may be converted
into another.

Steady Flow Energy Equation

Characteristics of steady flow system.
1. There is neither accumulation nor diminution of mass within the system.
2. There is neither accumulation nor diminution of energy within the system.
3. The state of the working substance at any point in the system remains
constant.

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 MENGR 2320 (Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer)

Fig. 4 Energy Diagram of a Steady Flow System

Energy Entering System = Energy Leaving System

P1 + K1 + Wf1 + U1 + Q = P2 + K2 + Wf2 + U2 + W
Q = P + K + Wf + U + W
(Steady Flow Energy Equation)

Enthalpy (H, h)
Enthalpy is a composite property applicable to all fluids and is defined by

h = u + pv and H = mh = U + pV

The steady flow energy equation becomes

P1 + K1 + H1 + Q = P2 + K2 + H2 + W
Q = P + K + H + W

III. Assessment

I. DISCUSSION: Explain the following forms of energy

a. Work.
b. Kinetic Energy.
c. Internal Energy.
d. Heat.
e. Potential Energy.

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 MENGR 2320 (Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer)

II. Problem Solving – Clearly and neatly solve each problem in a separate sheet/s of
short bond paper. No solutions and/or units will be considered incorrect.

1. During a steady flow process, the pressure of the working substance drops from
200 to 20 psia, the speed increases from 200 to 1000 fps, the internal energy of
the open system decreases 25 Btu/lb, and specific volume increases from 1 to 8
cu.ft/lb. No heat is transferred. Sketch an energy diagram. Determine the work per
lb. Is it done on or by the substance? Determine the work in hp for 10 lb per min.
(1 hp = 42.4 Btu/min).

2. Steam is supplied to a fully loaded 100-hp turbine at 200 psia with u1 = 1163.3
Btu/lb, v1 = 2.65 cu.ft/lb and V1 = 400 fps. Exhaust is at 1 psia with u2 = 925
Btu/lb, v2 = 294 cu.ft/lb and V2 = 1100 fps. The heat loss from the steam in the
turbine is 10 Btu/lb. Neglect potential energy change and determine (a) the work
per lb steam and (b) the steam flow rate in lb/h.

3. An air compressor (an open system) receives 272 kg per min of air 99.29 kPa
and a specific volume of 0.026 cu.m/kg. The air flows steady through the
compressor and is discharged at 689.5 kPa and 0.0051 cu.m/kg. The initial
internal energy of the air is 1594 J/kg; at discharge, the internal energy is 6241
J/kg. The cooling water circulated around the cylinder carries away 4383 J/kg of
heat. The change in kinetic energy is 896 J/kg increase. Sketch an energy
diagram. Compute the work.

4. A centrifugal pump operating under steady flow condition delivers 2,270

kg/min of water from an initial pressure of 82,740 Pa to a final pressure of
275,800 Pa. The diameter of the inlet pipe to the pump is 10.16 cm. What is the
work?

5. A turbine operates under steady flow conditions, receiving steam at the

following state: pressure 1200 kPa, temperature 188C, enthalpy 2785 kJ/kg,
speed 33.3 m/s and elevation 3 m. The steam leaves the turbine at the following
state; pressure 20 kPa, enthalpy 2512 kJ/kg, speed 100 m/s and elevation 0 m.
Heat is lost to the surroundings at the rate of 0.29 kJ/s. If the rate of steam flow
through the turbine is 0.42 kg/s, what is the power output of the turbine in kW?

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 MENGR 2320 (Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer)

References
Moran, M. J. and Shapiro, H. N. 2006. Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics
5th edition. SI version. John Willey & Sons. England.

Cengel, Yunus A. 2008. Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer. McGraw-

Hill Inc. New York.

Moran et al. 2003. Introduction to Thermal Systems Engineering: Thermodynamics,

Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York

Burghardt, M. D. and Harvbach, J. A. 1993. Engineering Thermodynamics 4rth edition.

Harper Collins. New York.

Thermodynamics Online references and lectures (Yale Open courseware etc..)

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