Case study 21

A pressure vessel contains steam at 413.682 Kpa (60 psia) and

0.8 dry initially, the capacity of the pressure vessel is 0.846 m3(30
cubic feet).A header line carrying steam at 1034.2 Kpa (150
psia) and 0.9 dry is connected to the vessel which supplies
steam to the vessel through a valve. A valve is then opened connecting a
vessel to a main which supplies steam at a steady pressure of 1034.2 Kpa
(150 psia) and 0.9 dry. The valve remains open until the pressure in the
vessel raises to 689.4 Kpa (100 psia) as indicated by the pressure gauge
mounted on the vessel. Ignoring steam velocity in the main and
heat losses from the vessel, calculate the mass of steam supplied to
the vessel and the final condition of the steam in the vessel ?
When the flow is not in steady state, accumulation within the control
volume has to be accounted in addition to incoming and outgoing flows.
When there is only incoming flow to the control volume (pressure vessel)
and no outgoing flow, as in the present problem, the accumulation within
the control volume is accounted by change in internal energy, and
transportation energy is accounted for by change in enthalpy, if kinetic
and potential energies can be neglected, as in the present problem. Both
δQ and δW terms are zero.
State 1 413.682 Kpa (60 psia and 0.9 dry)
State 2 689.4 Kpa (150 psia x2)
Treating the vessel as a flow system with zero inflow, heat exchange and
work done and negligible changes in potential and kinetic energies, the
flow equation reduces to
0= (m2u2-m1u1) – (m2-m1)he……………………………(1)
Where m1 and m2 are initial and final masses in the vessel and he is
entering specific enthalpy.
m1= 30/(vf*0.2 + 0.8*vg) = 30/ (0.017*0.2 + 0.8*7.175) =5.22 lb
he = 330.51+ (0.9*863.6) =1107.7 Btu/Lb
x2= 30/ (4.432*m2) (considering the volume occupied by the liquid as
negligible as compared to that by the vapor)

m1u1= m1 (hf+x1hfg)-p1V1
= 5.22 (262.09 + 0.8*915.5) - 60*144*30
778
= 4858 Btu (5125 KJ)

m2u2= m2 (298.4+ 30 *888.8) – 100*144*30

4.432m2 778
= 298.4 m2 + 5460.97
Substituting in 1 we get
298.4 m2 + 602.97 = (m2 – 5.22)1107.7
m2= 8.29 lb (3.766 kgs)

Mass of the steam added = 8.29-5.22= 3.07 lb (1.39 kgs)

x2 = 30 /(4.432*8.29) = 0.816 Dryness fraction
[Calculation of quantity of H.P steam that must be added to a vessel
containing L.P steam to raise the pressure inside the vessel.]