Power & Energy - Tutorials

Chapter 4: Principal Fluid Properties

4c.1. A volume of 2.6m3 of a gas at T=18°C weighs 72.5N. Given the molecular weight of
the gas as 44, calculate:
a) The density at 18°C
b) The pressure at the condition stated.
c) The temperature at V=3.2m3 and P=1bar

a)
W 72.5
W = mg → m= = = 7.39kg
g 9.81
m 7.39 kg
m = ρV → ρ= = = 2.84 3
V 2.6 m

b)
RConstant 8314 J
Rgas = → Rgas = = 188.95
m.w. 44 kg°K
PV = mRT → P = ρRT → P = 2.84 × 188.95 × ı 273.15 + 18ı = 156236.33Pa ≈ 1.56bar

c)
PV 105 × 3.2
PV = mRT → T= → T= = 229.17°K = -43.98°C
mR 7.39 × 188.95

4c.2.
a) Use figures 1 and 2 to explain why, for a gas, the specific heat at constant volume
is different from the specific heat at constant pressure.

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b) A mass of air at a pressure and temperature of 1bar and 290°K, respectively, is

contained in a closed rigid vessel of volume 0.2m3. if during a process, heat is
applied and the temperature increases by 30°K, determine:
i. The amount of energy transferred.
ii. The pressure in the chamber at the end of the process
iii. The density of air.

a)
in Figure 1: Internal energy ı ∆E = mCv ∆T
in Figure 2: Input Energy = Internal Energy + Work on the Piston → mCp ∆T = mCv ∆T + P.dV

b-i)
kg
ρair = 1.2 3
m
m = ρV ı ıı ı ı ı ıı m = 1.2 × 0.2 = 0.24kg
J
Cv for air = 718
kg°K
∆E = mCv ∆T ı ııııııııııııı ∆E = 0.24 × 718 × 30 = 5169.6J ≈ 5.2kJ

b-ii)
RConstant m.w.for air = 28.97 8314 J
Rgas = ı ııııııııııı Rair = = 286.99
m.w. 28.97 kg°K
T at the end = 320°K 0.24 × 286.99 × 320
PV = mRT ı ıııııııııııı P= = 110204.16 Pa ≈ 1.102bar
0.2

b-iii)
P 105 kg
P = ρRT → ρ= = = 1.2 3
RT 286.99 × 290 m

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4c.3. Air at a volume of 0.03m3, is at a pressure and temperature of 3.5bar and 35°C,
respectively, determine:
a) The mass of gas present
b) The temperature of the gas if the pressure increases to 1.05MN/m2 and the
volume remains constant
c) The density of the gas if pressure increases to 1.05MN/m2 and the temperature
remains constant.

a)
J
R for air = 287
kg°K PV 3.5×105 ×0.03
PV = mRT ı ıııııııııııı m= = = 0.119kg
RT 287×ı 273.15+35ı

b)
In this case the volume is constant therefore the following can be used:
m 0.119 kg
ρ= → ρ= = 3.97 3
V 0.03 m
P 1.05×106
P = ρRT → T= = = 921.5°K
ρR 3.97 × 287

c)
J
R for air = 287
kg°K PV 1.05×106 ×0.03
PV = mRT ı ıııııııııııı m= = = 0.356kg
RT 287×ı 273.15+35ı
m 0.356 kg
ρ= → ρ= = 11.87 3
V 0.03 m

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