SNJB’s KBJ College of

Engineering, Chandwad

Department
of Mechanical Engineering
TYPES OF CALORIMETER TO
MEASURE DRYNESS
FRACTION OF STEAM.

Presented by;
Prof. Rajendra.C.Patil
Prof. Sumeet.D.Sanyashiv
TYPES OF CALORIMETER(MEASUREMENT OF
DRYNESS FRACTION )

❖ There are four methods of determining the

dryness fraction of steam experimentally. They
are as follows:
(A) Bucket or barrel calorimeter
(B) Separating calorimeter
(C) Throttling calorimeter
(D)Combined separating and throttling
calorimeter.
BUCKET OR BARREL CALORIMETER
It consists of a copper vessel which
contains known quantity of cold
water.

The copper vessel is insulated from

the surrounding so as to prevent
any heat transfer from or to the
system.

The top of the vessel is also covered

by some detachable insulating
medium.

A thermometer is inserted in the water

to record the temperature of it.
BUCKET OR BARREL CALORIMETER
As steam condenses, the mass and temperature of water increases.

Value of x is incorrect since heat losses due to convection and radiation are not taken into account.
 BUCKET OR BARREL CALORIMETER
Qlost by steam = m  q +q
s  water vapour

 Qlost by steam = m  C (T − T ) + xh 
s Pw sat 2 fg

Qgain by water in calorimete r = (m c  C Pc + m w  C Pw )(T2 − T1 )

 Qlost by steam = Qgain by water

x =
(m c  C Pc + m w  C Pw )(T2 − T1 ) − m s  C Pw (Tsat − T2 )
m s  h fg
Where Where
m c = mass of barrel calorimete r kg C Pc = sp. heat of barrel calorimete r kJ/kgK
m w = mass of water in calorimete r kg C Pw = sp. heat of water kJ/kgK
m s = mass of steam condensed kg T1 = initial temperatu re of water 0C
T2 = final temperatu re of water 0 C
Tsat = saturation temperatu re of steam at given P 0C
h fg = latent heat of steam at given P kJ / kg
Bucket calorimeter
 The steam at pressure of 5.5 bar is passed into tank filled with 80kg of
water at 250C. The tank is made of copper, is 10 kg in mass and has a
specific heat of 0.406kJ/kg K. After steam has condensed and mixed with
water, its temperature reaches 400C and the mass of mixture becomes
82.5kg. Determine the dryness fraction of steam.


Qlost by steam = m s  qwater + qvapour 

 Qlost by steam = m s  C Pw (Tsat − T2 ) + xhfg 
Qgain by water in calorimete r = (mc  C Pc + mw  C Pw )(T2 − T1 )
 Qlost by steam = Qgain by water

x = c
(m  CPc + mw  CPw )(T2 − T1 ) − m s  CPw (Tsat − T2 ) = 0.749
m s  h fg
 SEPARATING CALORIMETER
 It separates water particles from wet steam
mechanically by centrifugal action.

 It consists of two concentric chambers, the

inner chamber and the outer chamber,
which communicates with each other
through an opening at the top.

 As the steam discharges through the metal

basket, which has a large number of holes,
the water particles due to their heavier
momentum get separated from the steam
and collect in the chamber.

 The comparatively dry steam in the inner

chamber moves up and then down through
the annular space between the two
chambers and enters the outer chamber
where it is condensed and measured.
SEPARATING CALORIMETER

mg  Value of x is not accurate, but it is

x= just close approximation.
m w + mg

Where
m g = mass of dry and saturated steam kg
m w = mass of water particles in suspension kg
 In an experiment, a sample of wet steam is passed through a separating
calorimeter. At some instant, the mass of water collected in the separator
was 0.2kg, while the amount of steam condensed was found to be 2.5kg.
Determine the dryness fraction of steam entering the calorimeter.

mg 2.5
x= = = 0.925
mw + m g 0.2 + 2.5
 THROTTLING CALORIMETER
It consists of a narrow throat (Orifice).

Pressure and temperature are

measured by pressure gauge and
thermometer.

The steam after throttling process

passes through the heat
exchanger and condensate is
collected.

A sample of wet steam (P1) is

throttled through a partially opened
or restricted valve to P2 and T2 in
such a way that the steam reaches
the superheated region. (During
process enthalpy of steam remains
constant)
 THROTTLING CALORIMETER
 Since h = constant, draw a horizontal line up to 2(locate 2 by P2 and
T2)
 Locate 1 by P1
 Find x1.

Using h 1 = h 2 Where
 h f 1 + x 1h fg 1 = h 2 h f 1 = sensible heat of steam P1 , kJ/kg
 x1 = h 2 −h f 1
h fg 1 h fg 1 = latent heat of steam at given P1 kJ / kg
h 2 = entalphy of superheate d steam P2 and T2 kJ/kg
h 2 = h g 2 + C P sup (Tsup − Tsat )[Tsup = T2 ; Tsat at P2 ]

 To obtain good approximation from a throttling calorimeter, the steam after

throttling should be superheated at least by 5 degree centigrade.

 If steam is very wet, the resultant dryness fraction x obtained is inaccurate.

 In a throttling calorimeter, the steam is admitted at 10 bar, it is throttled to
atmospheric pressure and 1100C. Determine the dryness fraction of steam.
Assume the specific heat of superheated steam as 2.2 kJ/kg K

Using h1 = h2
 h f 1 + x1h fg1 = h2

 x1 =
h2 − h f 1
=
2676 + 2.2  (110 − 100 ) − 762.6
h fg 1
2013.6
 x1 = 0.96
COMBINED SEPARATING
AND
THROTTLING
CALORIMETER
Function of Experimentation :-
Find the Dryness fraction (x) of Steam.
COMBINED SEPARATING & THROTTLING CALORIMETER

 For very wet steam, this calorimeter is used.

 Firstly, steam passes through separating calorimeter and some part of
moisture is removed due to sudden change in direction.
 The resulting semi-wet steam is then throttled into a throttling
calorimeter.
 The steam coming out throttling calorimeter is superheated at P2 and
T2. This is condensed in condenser and its mass is measured.
 Throttling calorimeter is well insulated.

Let
m w = mass of water particles (moisture) collected in separator kg
m g = mass of steam condensed after thro ttling kg
x1 = dryness fraction of steam from separating calorimete r
x 2 = dryness fraction of steam from trottling calorimete r
x = final drynesss fraction of steam
COMBINED SEPARATING & THROTTLING CALORIMETER

mg
x1 =
m w + mg
h2 − hf1
x2 =
h fg 1
 x = x1  x 2
 A combine separating and throttling calorimeter was used to determine the
dryness fraction of steam flowing through a steam main at a pressure of
9bar. The pressure and temperature of steam after throttling were 1.25bar
and 1150C respectively. The mass of steam condensed after throttling was
2.2kg and the mass of water collected in the separator was 0.20kg. Find
the dryness fraction of steam in the main.

P1 = 9bar ( wet )
h f 1 = 742.6kJ / kg
Separating Calorimete r
h fg1 = 2029.5kJ / kg
ms 2.2
After Throttling x1 = = = 0.9166
m w + m s 0.20 + 2.2
P2 = 1.25bar ; Tsat = 1060 C
Throttling Calorimete r
Tgiven = 1150 C
 h1 = h2
AsTgiven  Tsat  x2 = 0.966
 Steam is Superheate d Hence Final dryness fraction of sample of wet steam is
 h 2 = h sup = h g2 + C ps  (Tsup - Tsat )@P2 x = x1  x2 = 0.9166  0.966 = 0.8854
 h 2 = 2704kJ / kg