Name: TORRES DIENIES C.

Date: 10/14/22

Yr/Sec: BSME 4B

MEF 412L -Mid Term Exam

1. Explain the role of Mechanical Engineer in the operation and maintenance of steam
generating unit.

Mechanical engineers in the energy industry design and operate fossil fuel, hydroelectric,
conventional, nuclear, and cogeneration power plants. They are involved in all aspects of the
production and conversion of energy from one form to another.

Responsible for the safe and efficient operation of equipment such as internal combustion
engines and steam and gas turbines.

Oversee the installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of machines and equipment to
ensure they are installed and functioning according to specifications.

2. Discuss the difference between Fans, Blowers and Compressors.

Compressor: A compressor is a machine which reduces the volume of gas or liquid by creating a high
pressure. We can also say that a compressor simply compresses a substance which is usually gas.

Fans: a Fan is a machine used to move fluid or air. It is operated through a motor via electricity which
rotates the blades that are attached to a shaft.

Blowers: Blower is a machine to move air at a moderate pressure. Or simply, blowers are used for
blowing air/gas.

3. Discuss at least one method of determining steam quality.

Steam quality is a measure of the amount of saturated steam that coexists with its condensate in a given
system. Calculate it by dividing the mass of steam by the total mass of steam and condensate.

4. Explain the principle of operation of parallel and counterflow heat exchanger.

In the counter-flow heat exchanger core, airflows are passed by each other along parallel aluminum
plates in counter-flow direction. This allows to achieve the higher temperature efficiency than using
crossflow heat exchanger core.
A parallel heat exchanger is a specific type of exchanger in which the two fluids are moving in the same
direction, in parallel, through the exchanger. The two fluids can either be separated by solid walls or
tubes to prevent them from mixing.

5. Explain the importance why do we need to calculate heat losses on pipes.

Heat loss is the decrease of heat existing in space, resulting from heat transfer through walls. We
calculate heat loss by multiplying the values of the area, the difference in temperatures of inside and
outside surfaces and the value of heat loss of the material.

6. Discuss some factors affecting the performance of surface condenser.

The example of parameters that responsible for condenser thermal performance is cooling water mass
flow rate, cooling water flow rate and condenser pressure changes according to the variation in unit
load.