MEM553

Problem Based Learning/ Complex Engineering Problem

GROUP ASSIGNMENT

Commence Date: 4rd Jan 2023 Dateline : 27th Jan 2023 (Before 5 pm)

Course Outcomes
This assignment is established to achieve these Course Outcomes:

CO2 Analyse principles of energy mechanisms to solve a wide range of thermal engineering
problems [PO2, LO3, SS1]{C4}.
CO3 Develop solutions for mathematical models and propose appropriate results for thermal
engineering applications [PO3, LO3, SS1]{C6}.

TITLE: THE OPERATION OF CHILLER SYSTEM FOR DRYING AND HEATING PROCESS

Objective

The objective of this assignment is for students to conduct probabilistic design calculations of an air
conditioning system covering the relevant topics in MEM553 Thermodynamics II.

Problem Statement

You are tasked to finalize the design and operation of a grain drying process using solar thermal
heat that stored in salinity gradient solar pond (SGSP). The cold low salinity brine on top of SG SP is
used as working fluids for the whole system.

System Analysis

Figure 1 System schematic of the chiller for grain drying and space heating process
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A salinity gradient solar pond (SGSP) is a simple concept of using salt water as solar collector and
heat storage producing low grade temperature below 100 oC at the bottom layer (ρbottom = 1200
kg/m3) while the top layer (ρtop = 1020 kg/m 3) temperature is close to ambient. The middle layer
acts as a transparent insulator, that has density and temperature gradient increasing with depth.
Heat from SGSP can be utilised for direct heating process.

Figure 1 illustrates the schematic diagram of the grain drying process using thermal heat from solar
pond. The working fluids of cold low salinity brine on top layer of solar pond is pumped to extract
the stored thermal heat in SGSP. The heat is channelled to dry the grain in the drying room . It
involves a heating process that exposing grain to hot air with low relative humidity (RH) which will
lead to evaporation of the moisture in the grain. The remaining heat is to heat up the workers
pantry room that could accommodate maximum 10 persons at one time.

The chiller system operates based on the vapour compression refrigeration cycle with a single stage
compression. The isentropic efficiency of the compressor is assumed at 87 %. The evaporator
design is based on counter flow of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The refrigerant enters and
exits through the shell at its saturation temperature, while the saline water flows through the tube
and exits the evaporator as a Chilled Water Return (CWR) to the top layer of solar pond.

For this heating process system:

1. Choose and justify the suitable tube specification for the 20 mm nominal diameter that to be
used to transport the working fluids throughout the system. Perform a thermal resistance
heat transfer analysis to determine the rate of heat extracted from solar pond in a unit
length. At the same time, determine the temperature of the external surface of the tube .
[CO2]

2. Find the required surface area of the tube if the heat that need to be extracted is 1200
kW/m2. Then, determine the mass flow rate required in kg/s if the efficiency of the heat
extraction system is 90%. [CO2]

3. In the dryer, the desired temperature must be in the range of 35-45 oC with relative
humidity less than 40% to achieve a quality seed grain. If the heat added by the heating coil
is 600 kW, determine the temperature of working fluids leaving the dryer and the final
desired dryer temperature and Relative Humidity (RH). [CO2]

4. Assume that 20kW from remaining supplied thermal heat is lost prior to space heating
process. Hence, determine the temperature of working fluids leaving the room as a
saturated liquid and evaluate the minimum volume flow rate in m3/min to achieve the
room’s thermal comfort. [CO3]

5. Identify a specific multipass heat exchanger for the system. For one chosen case of chilled
water inlet temperature from Q4, as well as using the LMTD method, discuss the overall
heat transfer coefficient, U, profile of the evaporator if the effective surface area changes
from 2m 2 to 20m 2. Choose the plot intervals accordingly. [CO3]

6. Based on Q5, determine the outlet temperature from the evaporator and p lot the graph
outlet temperature against the surface area. Justify the suitable outlet temperature as a
CWR of the system. [CO2]
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 7. If the surface temperature of the pipe carrying the chilled water return (CWR) is assumed
steady along the pipe length, plot the heat transfer rate profile at the outer surface of the
CWR pipe under surrounding conditions of natural convection current effect and wind
effect of 2 ms-1, 4 ms-1 and 6 ms-1 velocities. The effective CWR pipe length is 20 meters.
[CO3]

8. For one chosen case of chilled water inlet temperature from Q4, determine the mass flow
rate (in kg/s) of the refrigerant of R134a and calculate the Coefficient of Performance for
the chiller system. Also assume the refrigerant exits the condenser as saturated liquid.
[CO2]

For all cases, the surrounding temperature can be assumed at 25 oC.

Report (technical writing)

Your team (max 4 members) must prepare a technical written report that is presented as according
to the course outcome for each part.

Question Course Outcome Marks

1 CO2 10
2 CO2 5
3 CO2 10
4 CO3 10
5 CO3 20
6 CO2 10
7 CO3 20
8 CO2 15
100%

Assignment Guidelines and Requirements (IMPORTANT)

 Each group MUST have MAXIMUM of three (3) persons or MINIMUM of two (2)
persons.
 Provide a justification/proof of works regarding all the parameters, values and
design decisions that you have made.
 The final design solution must be presented in a HARDCOPY technical report using
the EVALUATION SHEET as a COVER PAGE and to be submitted b e f ore OR on the
stated deadline.
 The technical report MUST include the following elements/evidences:
- Introduction to the problem.
- Methodology/Solution to the problem.
- Conclusion or summary that details your solution in ONE paragraph.
- List of references or supporting materials.
- The evidence of Student EXIT Survey for every group member

REMINDER : Plagiarism is DIS-HONEST and totally UN-ACCEPTABLE.

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Please refer to the report rubrics in the attachment.

Assessment Criteria

The assignment will be graded based on the submitted written report based on the following criteria
according to the grading rubrics presented below.

Assignment - Assessment Rubrics

Scale 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10

Criteri Very Poor Poor Acceptable Good Excellent
a
[CO2, Introduction • No • Poorly • Average • Good • Concise and
PO2] to problem explanation explained explanation of explanation of clear
Descriptive on thermal thermal thermal thermal explanation of
explanation engineering engineering engineering engineering thermal
of how the concept, concept, concept, concept, engineering
solution principle, and principle, idea principle, idea, principle, Idea, concept,
function Idea. and working of and the and the principal, idea,
the design working of the working of the and the
concept. design concept. design concept. working of
design concept.
[CO3, Workability • No working • The final • Provided a • Provided a • Solutions that
PO3] and solution design fails to working working covered all
creativity of was meet the solution • Solution. the
design presented. required • key • key requirements
solution. design parameters, parameters, • All the required
parameters. values, values, parameters,
• But components of components of values,
presented the design were the design were components of
with a design presented. presented. the design were
solution. • But missing • But missing clearly
finer details of • some finer presented.
the design such details of the
as Intermediate design.
values or
supporting
components.

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 UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PULAU PINANG
FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

TITLE : ________________________________________________________
GROUP : ________________________________________________________
LECTURER : ________________________________________________________

N AME STUDENT ID

Leader
Member 1
Member 2

Scale 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10

Level Poor Acceptable Excellent

Question CO Maximum Factor (A) Given Score (AxB)

Marks Marks (B)
1 CO2 10 1
2 CO2 5 0.5
3 CO2 10 1
4 CO3 10 1
5 CO3 20 2
6 CO2 10 1
7 CO3 20 2
8 CO2 15 1.5
TOTAL 100%

COURSE OUTCOME ACIEVEMENT SUMMARY

COURSE OUTCOME MAXIMUM MARKS GIVEN MARKS

CO2 50%
CO3 50%
TOTAL 100%

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