DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING IIT MADRAS

Apr-Jun 2021
ME-1100 Thermodynamics

Assignment-2 (Due on 09/06/2021)

Q.1:
A cylinder fitted with a leak-proof piston contains 0.018 kg of steam at a pressure of 6 bar and a
temperature of 200°C. As the piston moves slowly outwards, the steam pressure P and volume V
are related by PVn = constant. At a final pressure of 1.5 bar, the steam becomes saturated vapour.
Determine (a) value of n, (b) work done by the steam and (c) magnitude and direction of heat
transfer.

Q.2:
A piston cylinder arrangement B is connected to a tank A of volume 1 m3 by a line and a valve, as
shown in the figure. Initially the valve is closed and A contains saturated water vapour at 100 kPa
while B contains 1 m3 of steam at 400oC, 300 kPa. The valve is now opened and the contents of A
and B are allowed to attain a final temperature of 200oC. Find the initial mass of contents in A and
B. Also find the heat transfer and work transfer assuming the process to be quasi-static.

Q.3:
A resistance heater is used to slowly heat 1 kg of saturated liquid vapour mixture inside a
frictionless piston-cylinder device, at 100 kPa. The initial quality of the mixture is 0.5. The
resistance of the heater varies with temperature as R = R0 (1+aT), where T is in oC. The current
remains constant at 1 amp. The mixture is heated to the final temperature of 300 oC. Find (i) the
time required for the heating process, and (ii) the time at which the mixture attains saturated vapour
state. Assume R0 = 50 Ω, a = 0.01 Ω/oC, and the mean specific heat of the superheated vapour as
2.0 kJ/kg.K.

Q.4:
(a) Steam enters an insulated turbine at 4 MPa and 600oC and exits as saturated vapor at 50 kPa.
Determine the work developed per kg of steam. Assume steady state operation.
(b) Steam enters a nozzle operating at steady state at 3 MPa, 350oC with negligible inlet velocity
and exits at 1.5 MPa and a velocity of 500 m/s. Neglecting heat transfer and PE changes, determine
the exit temperature.

Q.5:

A rigid tank of volume 100 m3 contains air at a temperature of 500°C and pressure of 100 bar. Its
outlet is connected through an insulated throttle valve (no change in enthalpy of air across the
valve) to an insulated turbine as shown in the figure below. The throttle valve is opened and
controlled in such a way that the pressure at its exit, i.e. inlet to the turbine, is maintained constant
at 5 bar. The turbine expands the air in such a way that its exit pressure is 1 bar and the exit velocity
is 50 m/s throughout the process. The process continues till the pressure in the tank falls to 25 bar.
During this process heat transfer occurs to the tank in such a way that the temperature of the air in
the tank is always held at 500°C. The expansion of air in the turbine can be expressed by the
process Pv =constant (  being the ratio of specific heats). The velocities in the tank, pipes and
throttle valve are negligible. The effect of PE changes is negligible. Air can be assumed to behave
as an ideal gas. Neglect the mass of air in the pipes and turbine. Calculate (a) the total heat transfer
to the contents of the tank during this process, (b) the temperature at the inlet and exit of the turbine ,
and (c) the total work delivered by the turbine.

Insulated
Throttle Valve

1
2

Heat
Rigid Work
Tank
3

Adiabatic
Turbine