INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR

NPTEL Online Certification Course on

Concepts of Thermodynamics (NOC21-ME73)

Assignment-7
1. A combination of two heat engines is shown in the figure below, the overall thermal efficiency(ηth )
as a function of the two individual efficiencies, η1 and η2 is

(a) ηth = η1 + η2
(b) ηth = η1 + η2 (1 − η1 )
(c) ηth = η1 + η2 (1 + η1 )
(d) ηth = η1 η2

Correct answer: (b)

Solution:
The overall efficiency,

Ẇnet Ẇ1 + Ẇ2 Ẇ1 Ẇ2 Ẇ2

ηth = = = + = η1 +
Q̇H Q̇H Q̇H Q̇H Q̇H

Ẇ2 Ẇ2 Q̇M

= ×
Q̇H Q̇M Q̇H
Ẇ2
From the efficiency of the second engine, Q̇M
= η2
Q̇M
For the first engine, Q̇H
= (1 − η1 )

Ẇ2
∴ = η2 (1 − η1 )
Q̇H

∴ ηth = η1 + η2 (1 − η1 )
2. A coal-fired power-plant has an efficiency of 35% and produces net 500 MW of electricity.
Coal releases 25 MJ/kg as it burns. The amount of coal required per hour is

(a) 57.14 kg
(b) 28.57 kg
(c) 205714 kg
(d) 102857 kg

Correct answer: (c)

Solution:
Given heat value of coal, HVcoal = 25 MJ/kg
Efficiency = η = 0.35
Work output = Ẇ = 500 MW
From the definition of thermal efficiency,

Ẇ
η=
Q̇H

Ẇ
=⇒ η =
ṁ × HVcoal
Ẇ 500
=⇒ ṁ = = = 57.143 kg/s = 205714 kg/hr
η × HV 0.35 × 25
3. A temperature of about 0.01 K can be achieved by magnetic cooling. In this process, a
strong magnetic field is imposed on a paramagnetic salt, maintained at 1 K by transfer of
energy to liquid helium boiling at low pressure. The salt is then thermally isolated from the
helium, the magnetic field is removed, and the salt temperature drops. Assume that 1 mJ
is removed at an average temperature of 0.1 K to the helium by a Carnot-cycle heat pump.
The work input to the heat pump with an ambient temperature of 300 K is

(a) 1 J
(b) 2 J
(c) 3 J
(d) 4 J

Correct answer: (c)

 Solution:
Heat absorbed from the salt, QL = 1 mJ
TL = 0.1 K, TH = 300 K
For a Carnot-cycle heat pump,

Win = QH − QL
 
QH
= QL −1
Q
 L 
TH
= QL −1
TL
 
300
= (1 mJ) × −1
0.1
= 2.999 J

4. A car engine burns 5 kg of fuel at 1500 K and rejects energy to the radiator and exhaust at
an average temperature of 750 K. Assume the fuel has a heating value of 40 MJ/kg. The
maximum amount of work the engine can provide is

(a) 100 MJ
(b) 200 MJ
(c) 300 MJ
(d) 400 MJ

Correct answer: (a)

Solution:
Given heat value of fuel, HVfuel = 40 MJ/kg
Maximum amount of work that can be obtained under the assumption of a Carnot cycle heat
engine is
 
TL
Wmax = QH 1 −
TH
 
TL
= m × HVfuel × 1 −
TH
 
750
= 5 × 40 × 1 −
1500
= 100 MJ
5. A certain solar-energy collector produces a maximum temperature of 100◦ C. The energy is
used in a cyclic heat engine that operates in a 10◦ C environment. The maximum thermal
efficiency is η1 . If the collector is redesigned to focus incoming light to produce a maximum
temperature of 300◦ C, then the maximum thermal efficiency is η2 , then which of the following
is correct?

(a) η1 = 0.241, η2 = 0.506

(b) η1 = 0.506, η2 = 0.241
(c) η1 = 0.494, η2 = 0.759
(d) η1 = 0.759, η2 = 0.494

Correct answer: (a)

Solution:
For TH = 100◦ C = 373.15 K and TL = 10◦ C = 283.15 K,
TL 283.15
nth, max = 1 − =1− = 0.241
TH 373.15
For TH = 300◦ C = 573.15 K and TL = 10◦ C = 283.15 K,
TL 283.15
nth, max = 1 − =1− = 0.506
TH 573.15
Common data for Questions 6 to 8:
A thermal storage device is made with a rock (granite) bed of 5500 kg that is heated to
400 K using solar energy. A heat engine receives QH from the bed and rejects heat to the
ambient surroundings at 290 K as shown in the figure below. The rock bed therefore cools
down, and as it reaches 290 K the process stops. Specific heat capacity of rock bed is 0.89
kJ/kg-K.

6. The amount of energy the rock bed can give out is

(a) 124550 kJ
(b) 385470 kJ
(c) 538450 kJ
(d) 671230 kJ

Correct answer: (c)

 Solution:
Assuming the volume of the rock bed does not change during this process,

QH = m (u2 − u1 )
= mcv (T2 − T1 )
= 5500 × 0.89 × (400 − 290)
= 538450 kJ

7. The heat engine’s efficiency at the beginning of the process is

(a) 0
(b) 0.275
(c) 0.725
(d) 0.5

Correct answer: (b)

Solution:
At the beginning, TH = 400 K
TL 290
∴ ηth = 1 − =1− = 0.275
TH 400

8. The heat engine’s efficiency at the end of the process is

(a) 0.275
(b) 0.725
(c) 0
(d) 1

Correct answer: (c)

Solution:
At the end of the process, TH = 290 K
TL 290
∴ ηth = 1 − =1− =0
TH 290
 Common data for Questions 9 and 10:
A heat pump heats a house in the winter and then reverses to cool it in the summer. The
interior temperature should be 20◦ C in the winter and 25◦ C in the summer. Heat transfer
through the walls and ceilings is estimated to be 2400 kJ per hour per degree temperature
difference between inside and outside.

9. If the outside temperature during winter is 0◦ C, then the minimum power required to drive
the heat pump is

(a) 0.91 kW
(b) 0.09 kW
(c) 1.25 kW
(d) 0.21 kW

Correct answer: (a)

Solution:
During winter, the heat pump receives heat from the ambient and delivers it to the house,
which in turn loses the same amount of heat to the ambient due to temperature difference
between the walls. Therefore, TH is the interior temperature which is 20◦ C and TL is the
ambient temperature which is 0◦ C.
For the heat pump, TH = 20◦ C = 293.15 K and TL = 0◦ C = 273.15 K

Q̇H = 2400 × (20 − 0) = 48000 kJ/hr = 13.33 kW

For minimum work input, the heat pump must operate on a Carnot cycle. For a Carnot
cycle heat pump,
Q̇H TH
COPHP = =
Ẇin TH − TL
 
TH − TL
∴ Ẇin, min = Q̇H
T
H 
293.15 − 273.15
= 13.33 ×
293.15
= 0.91 kW

10. For same power as in the above question, the maximum outside temperature during summer
for which the house can be maintained at 25◦ C is

(a) 30 ◦ C
(b) 45 ◦ C
(c) 60 ◦ C
(d) 25 ◦ C

Correct answer: (b)

Solution:
During summer, the refrigerator absorbs heat from the house and rejects it to the ambient.
For the refrigerator, TL = 25◦ C = 298.15 K and TH = Tamb
The rate of heat transfer through the walls is equal to Q̇L .

2400 × (Tamb − 298.15)

∴ Q̇L = = 0.667 × (Tamb − 298.15) kW
3600
Also Ẇin, actual = 0.91 kW.
The coefficient of performance of an actual refrigerator cannot exceed that of a Carnot
refrigerator operating between the same two temperature limits i.e.

Q̇L
≤ COPref, Carnot
Ẇin, actual

The coefficient of performance of a Carnot refrigerator,

Q̇L TL
COPref, Carnot = =
Ẇin, Carnot TH − TL

Q̇L TL
∴ ≤
Ẇin, actual TH − TL
0.667 × (Tamb − 298.15) 298.15
=⇒ ≤
0.91 Tamb − 298.15
298.15 × 0.91
=⇒ (Tamb − 298.15)2 ≤
0.667
=⇒ Tamb ≤ 318.32 K = 45.17◦ C