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1. A pressure gauge on the discharge side of an air compressor reads 180 kPa. What is the
absolute pressure at this point in units of psi if the local atmospheric pressure is 95 kPa?
Solution
2. A force of 1.20 kN is applied to the piston of a cylinder, compressing the gas within the
cylinder. The piston has a radius of 3.25 cm. If the local atmospheric pressure is 100. kPa,
what is the pressure inside the cylinder?
Solution
P= F = F
A π R2
The pressure inside the cylinder is the sum of the applied and atmospheric pressures.
218
3. A vacuum gauge connected to a tank reads 30.0 kPa. If the local atmospheric pressure is
13.5 psi, what is the absolute pressure in units of psi?
Solution
4. A boiler at sea level contains superheated steam at 0.575 MPa absolute pressure and 300̊C.
Find the gauge pressure in the boiler and the steam temperature in units of K, ̊R, and ̊F.
Solution
= 1.8(300) + 32 = 572̊F
5. A hard-boiled egg removed from a pot of boiling water at 96̊C is placed in a 40̊F
refrigerator to cool. Find the temperature of the egg in units of K, ̊C, and ̊R after the egg
has attained thermal equilibrium with the refrigerator. What is the temperature change of the
egg in units of ̊F, ̊C and K?
Solution
219
T(̊C) = (T(̊F) − 32)/1.8
= 40 + 460 = 500̊R
1. As a 2500-kg truck climbs a hill, it changes speed from 20 mi/h to 50 mi/h along a straight
1600-ft section of road. If the hill is inclined at an angle of 8̊with respect to the horizontal,
find the total work.
Solution
220
1600 ft × 1m = 487.7 m
3.2808 ft
The work is the sum of the acceleration and gravitational work. The acceleration work is
Wa = ½ m (v22 − v12)
Wg = mg (z2 − z1)
= 1.66 × 106 J
W = Wa + Wg
= 5.24 × 105 J + 1.66 × 106 J = 1.14 × 106 J = 2.19 MJ
2. A 95-slug automobile changes speed from 55 mi/h to 30 mi/h while climbing a 3̊ hill. If
the change in speed occurs over a 1355-ft straight section of road, find the total work.
Solution
221
The work is the sum of the acceleration and gravitational work. The acceleration work is
Wa = ½ m (v22 − v12)
The minus sign indicates that the automobile is decelerating as it climbs the hill. The
gravitational work (work done by the automobile against gravity) is
Wg = mg (z2 − z1)
W = Wa + Wg
= −2.172 × 105 slug⋅ft2/s2 + 2.169 × 105 slug⋅ft2/s2 = − 270 slug⋅ft2/s2
From Newton’s second law, the combination of units, slug⋅ft/s2, is defined as the pound-
force, lbf. Hence, when the unit lbf is multiplied by the unit ft, it becomes lbf⋅ft, a unit of
work. Thus, the total work is
W = −270 ft⋅lbf
3. A shaft rotating at 1200 rpm (revolutions per minute) experiences a constant torque of 60
N⋅m. How much work does the shaft perform in one hour?
Solution
Wsh = 2π n τ
222
Note that “rev” does not appear in the final answer because a “revolution” is not considered
a true unit.
4. The pressure inside a frictionless piston-cylinder device varies according to the function
P = a − bV where a and b are constants and V is volume. The initial and final volumes for
the process are 1 m3 and 0.1 m3, respectively. If a = 500 Pa and b = 2000 Pa/m3, find the
boundary work.
Solution
Boundary work is
1
Because the volume decreases, the process is a compression process. Our answer indicates
that 540 J of work is done on the fluid inside the cylinder.
5. A linear elastic spring is compressed 3.5 cm from its at-rest position. The spring is then
compressed an additional 7.5 cm. If the spring constant is 2600 N/cm, find the work done
in compressing the spring.
Solution
x1 = 3.5 cm , x2 = 11.0 cm
Thus, the work done by displacing the spring from 3.5 cm to 11.0 cm is
223
6. A frictionless piston-cylinder device has a diameter of 12 cm. As the gas inside the cylinder
is heated, the piston moves a distance of 8.0 cm. If the gas pressure is maintained at 300 kPa,
how much work is done?
Solution
where pressure, P, has been brought outside the integral because it is constant during the
expansion process. Knowing the cylinder diameter, D, and the displacement, L, of the
piston, the boundary work given by the integral above reduces to
Wb = P (πD2/4) L
1. A 700-kg boulder is pushed off a 50-m high cliff. What is the velocity of the boulder
immediately before it strikes the ground? How does the boulder’s mass affect the solution?
Solution
Immediately before the boulder strikes the ground, all of its potential energy, PE, has been
converted to kinetic energy, KE. Thus, the first law of thermodynamics may be written as
PE = KE
or,
mgz = ½ mv2
224
The boulder’s mass, m, does not affect the answer because it divides out in the conservation
of energy equation.
2. Just before striking the ground, the boulder in practice problem 1 converts all its potential
energy to kinetic energy (assuming negligible aerodynamic friction). After colliding with the
ground, the boulder comes to rest, converting its kinetic energy into other energy forms.
What are these forms?
Solution
3. The fluid in a closed-pressure vessel receives 500 kJ of heat while a shaft does 250 kJ of
work on the fluid. If the final internal energy of the fluid is 1100 kJ, what is the initial
internal energy of the fluid?
Solution
A diagram of the closed pressure vessel with the energy transfers is shown below.
Setting Qout = 0 and Wout = 0, and solving for the initial internal energy, U1, we have
225
U1 = U2 − Qin − Win
4. The fluid in a closed tank loses 750 Btu of heat to the surroundings while a shaft does 850
Btu of work on the fluid. If the initial internal energy of the fluid is 100 Btu, what is the final
internal energy of the fluid?
Solution
A diagram of the closed tank with the energy transfers is shown below.
Setting Qin = 0 and Wout = 0, and solving for the final internal energy, U2, we have
U2 = U1 − Qout + Win
5. A small house is to be air-conditioned. The house gains 18,000 Btu/h of heat from the
surroundings while lights, appliances and occupants add 6000 Btu/h from within the
house. If the house is to maintained at a constant temperature, what is the required rating
of the air conditioner?
226
Solution
The change in internal energy is zero because the temperature of the house is constant.
Setting the work terms to zero, we have
The rating of the air conditioner is the rate at which heat is removed from the house.
Note: Air conditioners are typically rated in terms of tons of refrigeration. The capacity
of a refrigeration system that can freeze one ton (2000 lbm) of liquid water at 32̊F into
ice at 32̊F in 24 hours is defined as a ton of refrigeration. One ton of refrigeration is
equal to 24,000 Btu/h. Thus, our air conditioner is a 1-ton unit.
6. A piston-cylinder device containing water is heated. During the heating process, 300 J of
energy is supplied to the water while 175 J of heat is lost through the walls of the cylinder
to the surroundings. As a result of the heating, the piston moves, doing 140 J of boundary
work. Find the change in the internal energy of the water for this process.
227
Solution
A diagram of the piston-cylinder device with the energy transfers is shown below.
There is no work into the system, so the change in the internal energy of the water is
= −15 J
The significance of the minus sign is that the temperature of the water goes down during
the heating process. This is possible only because the piston does enough boundary work
to cause more energy to leave the system than to enter the system.
1. A high temperature source supplies a heat engine with 25 kJ of energy. The heat engine
rejects 15 kJ of energy to a low temperature sink. How much work does the heat engine
produce?
Solution
228
Qin = Qout + Wout
Thus, the work produced by the heat engine is
= 10 kJ
Solution
= 4 MW = 0.444
9 MW
= 9 MW − 4 MW = 5 MW
= 20 MW − 12 MW
20 MW
219
= 0.400
= 1 − (25 + 273)
400 + 273
= 0.557
= 20 MW − 12 MW = 8 MW
4. Joe, a backyard tinkerer who fancies himself as an engineer, tells his engineer neighbor,
Jane, that he has developed a heat engine that receives heat from boiling water at 1 atm
pressure and rejects heat to a freezer at −5̊C. Joe claims that his heat engine produces 1
Btu of work for every 2.5 Btu of heat it receives from the boiling water. After a quick
calculation, Jane informs Joe that if he intends to design heat engines, he needs to pursue
an engineering education first. Is Jane justified is making this comment? Justify your
answer by analysis.
Solution
Jane’s comment is justified if the actual thermal efficiency of Joe’s heat engine is higher
than the Carnot efficiency. The actual thermal efficiency of Joe’s heat engine is
= 1 Btu = 0.400
2.5 Btu
ηth,Carnot = 1 − TL/TH
= 1 − (−5 + 273) K
100 + 273 K
220
= 0.282
Joe knows little or nothing about the second law of thermodynamics. He is claiming that
his backyard heat engine has a higher thermal efficiency than a Carnot heat engine
operating between the same temperature limits, which is physically impossible.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of “Joes” in the world.
END-OF-CHAPTER PROBLEMS
6.1 What gauge pressure would you have to inflate an automobile tire in San Diego,
California to achieve an absolute pressure of 400 kPa?
Solution
San Diego, California is located in southern California near the ocean, so the atmospheric
pressure there is Patm ≈ 101 kPa. Thus, the gauge pressure in the tire is
= 299 kPa
6.2 A pressure gauge connected to a tank reads 375 kPa at a location where the atmospheric
pressure is 92 kPa. Find the absolute pressure in the tank.
Solution
= 467 kPa
6.3 A vertical, frictionless piston-cylinder device contains a gas. The piston has a mass of 3
kg and a radius of 5 cm. A downward force of 75 N is applied to the piston. If the
atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa, find the pressure inside the cylinder. See Figure P6.3.
221
Figure P6.3
Solution
The total pressure acting downward on the piston is the pressure due to the applied force,
the weight of the piston itself and the atmospheric pressure. Thus,
To place in the piston in balance, the gas pressure must equal the total pressure applied
from outside the cylinder. Thus, the gas pressure is
222
6.4 A vacuum gauge connected to a tank reads 6.9 psi at a location where the atmospheric
pressure is 13.8 psi. Find the absolute pressure in the tank.
Solution
= 6.9 psi
6.5 A comfortable indoor air temperature is 70̊F. What is this temperature in units of ̊R,
̊C, and K?
Solution
= 70 + 460 = 530̊R
6.6 The average body temperature of a healthy adult is approximately 98.6̊F. What is this
temperature in units of ̊R, ̊C and K?
Solution
223
6.7 Find the temperature at which the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales coincide.
Solution
The formula used to convert from the Celsius scale to the Fahrenheit scale is
The temperature at which the scales coincide is when T(̊F) = T(̊C) = T. Thus,
T = 1.8 T + 32
T = −40̊
6.8 Heat exchangers are devices that facilitate the transfer of thermal energy from one fluid to
another across a solid wall. In a particular heat exchanger, glycerine enters the unit at a
temperature of 30̊C and exits the unit at a temperature of 56̊C. What is the temperature
change of the glycerine in units of ̊F, ̊R and K?
Solution
ΔT(K) = ΔT(̊C) = 26 K
6.9 As a 75-slug automobile travels along a horizontal, 3200-ft section of road, it changes its
speed from 5 mi/h to 60 mi/h. If the friction force acting on the automobile is 25 lbf, what
is the total work?
Solution
224
v1 = 5 mi/h × 5280 ft × 1 h = 7.333 ft/s
1 mi 3600 s
The total work done is the sum of the acceleration work and work against friction. Thus,
W = Wa − Wfric
Note that friction work is subtracted from acceleration work because the friction force is
directed in the opposite direction of the displacement of the automobile.
6.10 The pressure in a frictionless piston-cylinder device varies according to the function P =
CV-n where C and n are constants and V is volume. Derive a relationship for the boundary
work in terms of the initial and final volumes, V1 and V2, and the constants C and n.
What is the restriction on the constant, n?
Solution
so we have
225
6.11 A 180-lbm person climbs a stairway consisting of 150 stairs, each with a vertical rise of 8
in. How much work does this person do against gravity?
Solution
d = 8 in × 1 ft = 0.6667 ft
12 in
The weight of the person is numerically equivalent to his mass. The work done is the
weight of the person times the total vertical distance.
Wg = F (150 d)
6.12 A shaft connected to a motor does 600 kJ of work in 5 min. If the shaft rotates at 1750
rpm, what is the torque on the shaft?
Solution
Wsh = 2 π n τ
τ = Wsh
2πn
= 600 × 103 J
2 π (1750 rpm)(5 min)
= 10.9 N⋅m
6.13 A crate is dragged across a rough floor by a force F = 120 N as shown in Figure P6.13. A
friction force of 40 N acts to retard the motion of the crate. If the crate is dragged 25 m
across the floor, what is the work done by the 120-N force? By the friction force? What
is the net work done?
226
Figure P6.13
Solution
The work done by the 120 N force is the component on the force in the direction of the
displacement times the displacement.
W1 = F cos 30̊(d)
= 2598 J
The work done by the friction force is the friction force times the displacement, but the
sign of the friction force is negative because the friction force acts in a direction opposite
to the displacement of the crate. Thus,
W2 = −F2 d
= −(40 N)(25 m)
= −1000 J
Note that no angle adjustment is required because the friction force acts parallel to the
floor. The net work is the sum of the two works found above.
W = W1 + W2
= 2598 J − 1000 J
= 1598 J
227
6.14 Heat transfer by conduction through a plane wall of thickness L and surface area A can be
calculated using the relation:
Solution
= 207 W/m2
6.15 Heat transfer by convection from a surface of area A to a surrounding fluid can be
calculated using the relation:
Solution
228
6.16 Heat transfer by radiation between an object of surface area A and emissivity ε and the
objects enclosure can be calculated using the relation
where σ = 5.669 × 10−8 W/m2⋅K4 (Stefan-Boltzmann constant) and T1 and T2 are the
absolute temperatures (K) of the object and its enclosure, respectively. Consider a 10-cm
diameter sphere of stainless steel (ε = 0.40) whose temperature is 700̊C. Find the heat
transfer if the temperature of the enclosure is 60̊C.
Solution
T2 = 60 + 273 = 333 K
= 630 W
A 3-kg block is dropped from rest onto a linear elastic spring as shown in Figure P6.17.
The spring is initially undeformed and has a spring constant of 1130 N/m. What is the
deformation of the spring when the block momentarily stops? (Hint: Remember that the
block travels 2 m plus a distance equal to the deformation of the spring).
229
Figure P6.17
Diagram
The following diagram shows the crate in its original and final positions.
Assumptions
230
Governing equations
Total energy: E = KE + PE
Calculations
The total energy before the crate falls is the potential energy of the crate. The reference
point for this potential energy is arbitrary, so we select the top of the spring when the
crate momentarily stops.
E1 = PE
= mg(2 + x)
E2 = ½ kx2
All the potential energy of the crate is converted into spring energy, so we have
E1 = E2
or
mg(2 + x) = ½ kx2
Solving this equation for x, and substituting values for the constants, we obtain the two
roots (see Appendix A.1 for the solution of a quadratic equation)
x1 = −0.298 m x2 = 0.350 m
Being negative, the first root is physically unrealistic, so the deformation of the spring is
x = 0.350 m
231
Solution check
Discussion
Note that kinetic energy was not used in the calculation. The total energy prior to the
release of the crate and the total energy at the instant the crate stops were equated, so a
determination of the kinetic energy was unnecessary. However, we could have solved the
problem by breaking it into two parts. In the first part, we could calculate the velocity of
the crate just before impact with the spring. Then, we could equate the kinetic energy of
the crate at that moment to the spring energy to find the deformation. It is easily shown
that the two approaches yield the same conservation equation.
Diagram
A diagram of the piston-cylinder device showing the energy inputs and outputs is shown
below.
Assumptions
232
Governing equations
Calculations
ΔU = 34 kJ
Solution check
Discussion
This problem is a simple example of how to use the first law of thermodynamics for a
closed system. Because the internal energy of the gas increases during the process, the
temperature of the gas also increases. This temperature increase could be found by using
the relation
ΔU = m cv ΔT
where m is the mass of the gas (kg), cv is the specific heat at constant volume of the gas
(kJ/kg⋅̊C) and ΔT is the temperature increase. Suppose, for example, that the cylinder
contains 2 kg of air (cv = 0.718 kJ/kg⋅̊C). The temperature increase is
ΔT = ΔU
m cv
= 13 kJ = 9.1̊C
(2 kg)(0.718 kJ/kg⋅̊C)
A machine shop is maintained at a constant temperature during the summer by small air-
conditioning units with a rating of 8 kW. The rate of heat transfer from the surroundings
to the machine shop is 24 kW. Five lathes and four mills dissipate a total of 4 kW, the
lights in the shop dissipate 2.5 kW, and nine machinists dissipate a total of 3.5 kW. How
233
many air-conditioning units are required?
Diagram
A diagram of the machine shop showing all energy transfer rates is shown below.
Assumptions
Governing equations
Calculations
The required rate of energy removal by the air-conditioning units is the total rate of heat
and work input from all sources. Thus,
234
= 24 kW + 4 kW + 2.5 kW + 3.5 kW = 34 kW
= 34 kW/8 kW
= 4.25
N = 5 AC units
Solution check
Discussion
All forms of energy transfer not associated with a temperature difference are classified as
work, so the energy transfer by lights was written as work rather than heat.
The piston-cylinder device shown in Figure P6.20 contains a fluid that can be stirred by a
rotating shaft. The outer surface of the device is covered with a thick layer of insulation.
The shaft imparts 50 kJ to the fluid during a process in which the pressure is held
constant at 130 kPa as the piston moves outward. If the internal energy of the fluid
increases by 20 kJ during the process, what is the axial displacement of the piston?
235
Figure P6.20
Diagram
A diagram of the piston-cylinder device showing all energy interactions is shown below.
Assumptions
Governing equations
236
Calculations
Qin = Qout = 0
Win = Wsh = 50 kJ
ΔU = 20 kJ
Thus, the work done by the piston as it moves outward is boundary work. From the first
law, we write
Wout = Wb = Wsh − ΔU
= 50 kJ − 20 kJ = 30 kJ
From the expression for boundary work during a constant-pressure process, we have
ΔV = V2 − V1 = Wb = (π d 2/4) x
P
where x is the axial displacement of the piston. Solving for x, we obtain
x = 4 Wb
P π d2
= 4(30 kJ)
(130 kPa)π(0.6 m)2
= 0.816 m
Solution check
Discussion
237
idealizations enable us to analyze the system without including heat transfer (assumption
3) and without including the work required to overcome friction and the weight of the
piston (assumption 4).
A closed tank containing hot air has an initial internal energy of 450 kJ. During the next
10 min, the tank loses heat to the surroundings at a rate of 1.2 kW while an electrical
element supplies 800 W to the air. Find the final internal energy of the air.
Diagram
Assumptions
Governing equations
Calculations
There is no heat transfer into the tank and no work transfer out of the tank.
Rearranging the first law and solving for the final internal energy, we have
238
= (−1.2 kW + 0.8 kW)(10 × 60 s) + 450 kJ
= 210 kJ
Solution check
Discussion
The first law written above is expressed in rate form. When writing the first law this
way, the heat transfer and work transfer terms must be multiplied by the time during
which these interactions occur.
Diagram
A diagram of the facility (plus a furry visitor) with the energy interactions is shown
below.
239
Assumptions
1. Facility is a closed system. (Polar bear does not rip into the wall, creating an open
system).
2. All energy interactions are constant.
3. Temperature of facility is constant.
Governing equations
The Qin term was not multiplied by time, t, because Qin is given in the problem as heat,
not heat transfer rate.
Calculations
There are no work interactions, and the change in the internal energy of the facility is
zero. Thus, the first law reduces to
Hence, the heat from burning propane equals the heat transfer rate multiplied by time.
We have
Solution check
Discussion
The propane will be depleted in 46.6 days if the facility is continually heated. The
heating effects of equipment, lights and occupants would lengthen the time slightly.
240
6.23 Problem statement
Diagram
Assumptions
Governing equations
241
Calculations
There are no work interactions, and the change in the internal energy of the air is zero, so
the first law becomes
The total heat loss through the canopy in one hour, which equals the amount of energy the
burner system must supply, is
m = 2.80 × 108 J
46 × 106 J/kg
= 6.09 kg
Solution check
Discussion
If the combustion efficiency and thermal efficiency of the propane burner system are
considered, the amount of propane consumed in one hour would be greater than 6.09 kg.
For example, if the overall efficiency is 60 percent, the amount of propane burned in one
hour is
242
6.24 Problem statement
The change in internal energy, ΔU, for a closed system undergoing a thermodynamic
process may be approximated by the relation
ΔU = m c (T2 − T1)
where m is the mass of the substance within the system (kg), c is the average specific heat
of the substance (J/kg̊C), and T1 and T2 are the initial and final temperatures of the
substance (̊C), respectively, for the process. A rigid tank contains 8 kg of steam at
320̊C. During the next 2 min, the rate of heat transfer from the tank is 3 kW. What is
the final temperature of the steam? For steam, let c = 1.411 kJ/kg̊C.
Diagram
Assumptions
Governing equations
243
Calculations
There are no work interactions, and there is no heat transfer into the tank. Thus, the first
law is
Rearranging and solving for the final temperature of the steam, we obtain
= 288̊C
Solution check
Discussion
Because heat is transferred from the tank, and there are no other energy interactions, the
temperature of the steam decreases. If our answer for the final temperature had been
higher than 320̊C, we would know from a simple energy accounting that our result is in
error.
The change in internal energy, ΔU, for a closed system undergoing a thermodynamic
process may be approximated by the relation
ΔU = m c (T2 − T1)
where m is the mass of the substance within the system (kg), c is the average specific heat
of the substance (J/kg̊C), and T1 and T2 are the initial and final temperatures of the
substance (̊C), respectively, for the process. A rigid tank contains 2 kg of air at 300̊C.
During the next 10 min, the rate of heat transfer from the tank is 1.3 kW while during the
same time a rotating shaft does 500 kJ of work on the air. What is the final temperature
of the air? For air, let c = 0.718 kJ/kg ⋅̊C.
244
Diagram
A diagram of the tank and with the energy interactions is shown below.
Assumptions
Governing equations
Calculations
There is no heat transfer into the tank and no work done by the air, so the first law is
Rearranging and solving for the final temperature of the air, we obtain
= 105̊C
245
Solution check
Discussion
It is not completely clear, until the calculations are completed, whether the temperature of
the air increases or decreases because there is energy leaving as well as entering the
system. It turns out that more energy leaves the system as heat than enters it as work, so
the temperature of the air decreases.
Heat engines
A high-temperature source supplies a heat engine with 13 kJ of energy. The heat engine
rejects 8 kJ of energy to a low-temperature sink. How much work does the heat engine
produce?
Diagram
Assumption
246
Governing equations
Calculations
= 13 kJ − 8 kJ
= 5 kJ
Solution check
Discussion
ηth = Wout/Qin
= 5 kJ
8 kJ
= 0.625
During a time interval of 1 h, a heat engine absorbs 360 MJ of energy from a high-
temperature source while rejecting 40 kW to a low-temperature sink. How much power
does the heat engine produce?
Diagram
247
Assumption
Governing equations
Power/energy relation:
Calculations
The rate of heat transfer into the heat engine from the high-temperature source is
= 100 kW − 40 kW
= 60 kW
248
Solution check
Discussion
= 60 kW
100 kW
= 0.60
Diagram
Assumption
249
Governing equations
Calculations
= 2.92 MW
Solution check
Discussion
= 2 MW
2.92 MW
= 0.685
Diagram
250
Assumption
Governing equations
Calculations
= 10 MW
15 MW
= 0.667
= 15 MW − 10 MW
= 5 MW
251
Solution check
Discussion
This heat engine has a thermal efficiency of 66.7%. The Carnot efficiency, which is
based solely on the source and sink temperatures, would be higher than this value.
A heat engine rejects 2 × 106 Btu/h to a lake while absorbing 5 × 106 Btu/h from a
furnace. What is the thermal efficiency of this heat engine? What is the power output?
Diagram
Assumption
Governing equations
252
Calculations
= 3 × 106 Btu/h
Solution check
Discussion
The thermal efficiency of a heat engine is 35 percent. If the heat engine extracts 4 MJ of
energy from a high-temperature source, how much energy is rejected to the low-
temperature sink?
Diagram
253
Assumption
Governing equations
Calculations
Substituting the second governing equation into the first, and solving for the heat rejected
to the low-temperature sink, we have
= (4 MJ)(1 − 0.35)
= 2.60 MJ
Solution check
254
Discussion
= (0.35)(4 MJ)
= 1.40 MJ
Diagram
Assumption
Governing equations
255
First law of thermodynamics for a heat engine:
Calculations
= 25 MW − 15 MW = 10 MW
= 10 MW
25 MW
= 0.40
= 1 − (30 + 273) K
(400 + 273) K
= 0.550
Solution check
No errors are detected. The actual thermal efficiency is less than the Carnot efficiency,
which is required to satisfy the second law.
256
Discussion
Note that the source and sink temperatures must be expressed in units of K in the relation
for Carnot efficiency.
A 2-GW steam power plant, which uses a nearby river as a low-temperature sink, has an
actual thermal efficiency of 42 percent. The high-temperature source is a 400̊C boiler,
and the temperature of the river water is 10̊C. Find the rate of heat transfer to the river
and the ideal thermal efficiency of the power plant.
Diagram
A steam power plant is basically a heat engine that uses water as the working fluid. A
diagram of the heat engine is shown below.
Assumptions
Governing equations
257
Carnot efficiency of a heat engine:
Calculations
Substituting the second governing equation into the first, and solving for the rate of heat
transfer to the river, we obtain
= (2 GW)(1/0.42 − 1)
= 2.76 GW
The ideal thermal efficiency of the power plant is the Carnot efficiency.
= 1 − (10 + 273) K
(400 + 273) K
= 0.579
Solution check
No errors are detected. The Carnot efficiency is higher than the actual efficiency, as
required by the second law.
Discussion
If the power plant operated under ideal conditions, the rate of heat transfer to the river
water would be
= (2 GW)(1/0.579 − 1)
= 1.45 GW
258
An ideal heat engine rejects a minimum amount of energy to a low-temperature sink.
An engineer proposes to design a heat engine that uses the atmosphere as the high-
temperature source and a deep cavern as the low-temperature sink. If the temperature of
atmosphere and cavern are 25̊C and 8̊C, respectively, what is the maximum thermal
efficiency that this heat engine can achieve? What is the maximum possible power
output if the heat engine absorbs 260 kW from the atmosphere?
Diagram
Assumptions
Governing equations
Calculations
259
= 1 − (8 + 273) K
(25 + 273) K
= 0.0570
The maximum possible power output of the heat engine is the power that a Carnot heat
engine would produce for the given source and sink temperatures. Using the Carnot
efficiency calculated above, we have
= 0.0570(260 kW)
= 14.8 kW
Solution check
Discussion
The Carnot efficiency is only 5.7 percent because the source and sink temperatures are
not that much different. The thermal efficiency of a real heat engine based on this
scheme would be even lower, making the whole idea of using the atmosphere as a source
and a cavern as a sink not very practical.
A particular Carnot heat engine absorbs energy from a furnace and rejects energy to the
atmosphere at 300 K. Graph the efficiency of this heat engine as a function of TH, the
temperature of the furnace. Use a range for TH of 350 K to 2000 K. What can be
concluded from this graph?
Diagram
260
Assumptions
Governing equation
Calculations
Using the relation for Carnot efficiency, we can create a graph of ηth and a function of TH,
as shown below. The source temperature, TL, is fixed at 300 K.
261
Solution check
Discussion
Conclusions:
262
6.36 Problem statement
An inventor submits a patent application for a heat engine that produces 1 kJ for every 2.2
kJ supplied to it. In the application, the inventor states that his heat engine absorbs
energy from a 250̊C source and rejects energy to a 40̊C sink. Evaluate this patent.
Diagram
Assumptions
Governing equations
Calculations
The patent is evaluated by calculating the thermal efficiency and Carnot efficiency of the
proposed heat engine. If the actual thermal efficiency is higher than the Carnot
efficiency, the heat engine is impossible because it is in violation of the second law of
thermodynamics.
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The actual thermal efficiency is
= 1 kJ
2.2 kJ
= 0.455
= 1 − (40 + 273) K
(250 + 273) K
= 0.402
Solution check
Discussion
Because the actual thermal efficiency is higher than the Carnot efficiency, this heat engine
is impossible. The patent application should be rejected.
A 9-MW Carnot steam power plant operates between the temperature limits of 600̊C
and 20̊C. Find the rates of heat transfer to and from the power plant.
Diagram
A steam power plant is basically a heat engine, a diagram of which is shown below.
264
Assumptions
Governing equations
Calculations
= 1 − (20 + 273) K
(600 + 273) K
= 0.664
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= 9 MW
0.664
= 13.6 MW
From the first law, the rate of heat transfer from the power plant is
= 13.6 MW − 9 MW
= 4.6 MW
Solution check
Discussion
In practice, there is no such thing as a Carnot power plant. Carnot power plants are used
as ideal models, standards against which engineers use to compare actual power plants.
A heat engine utilizes solar energy as the energy source. The heat engine incorporates a
solar panel that intercepts a solar radiation flux of 900 W/m2 of panel surface. Assuming
that the solar panel absorbs 85 percent of the incident solar radiation, find the exposed
surface area of the solar panel required to yield a thermal efficiency of 20 percent and a
power output of 3.6 kW for the heat engine.
Diagram
266
Assumptions
Governing equations
Calculations
We combine the two governing equations to solve for the surface area, A, of the solar
panel. Recognizing that 85 percent of the incident solar radiation is absorbed by the solar
panel, we have
= 3600 W
(0.85)(900 W/m2)(0.20)
= 23.5 m2
267
Solution check
Discussion
Not all the solar radiation that is incident on a surface is absorbed by that surface. A
fraction of the radiation is reflected, and, if the surface is semi-transparent, a portion is
transmitted. The 0.85 value used here represents the absorptivity of the solar panel
surface.
What is the maximum possible power output of a heat engine operating between the
temperature limits of 50̊C and 800̊C if 360 MJ of energy is supplied to the heat engine
during a time period of 1 h? What is the actual power output if the heat engine rejects
216 MJ to the 50̊C sink during the same time period?
Diagram
Assumptions
Governing equations
268
First law of thermodynamics for a heat engine:
Calculations
The heat engine can produce a maximum amount of power if the heat engine operates as
a Carnot heat engine. The Carnot efficiency of the heat engine is
= 1 − (50 + 273) K
(800 + 273) K
= 0.699
= 69.9 kW
= 40.0 kW
269
Solution check
Discussion
A coal-fired steam power plant is to be designed for the purpose of generating electrical
power for a city with a population of 60,000 residents. Based on an order-of-magnitude
analysis, it is estimated that each resident of the city will consume an average energy of
55 MJ per day. The coal-fired boiler supplies 70 MW to the steam while thermal energy
is rejected to a nearby lake whose average temperature is 15̊C. What is the minimum
required temperature of the boiler to meet the power demands of the city?
Diagram
A steam power plant is basically a heat engine. The diagram is shown below.
Assumptions
270
3. Conversion efficiencies of electrical equipment are neglected.
Governing equations
Calculations
= 3.819 × 107 W
= 3.819 × 107 W
70 × 106 W
= 0.546
= (15 + 273)
1 − 0.546
= 634 K = 361̊C
271
Solution check
Discussion
The minimum required boiler temperature is based on the presumption that the power
plant is operating under ideal conditions, i.e., as a Carnot power plant. The actual
required boiler temperature would have to be higher than the value calculated to meet the
power demands of the city.
272