Mapua University

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Experiment #2

CALORIMETER

18 Penilla, Louiereine C. Date Performed:

ME144L-2 / E02 06 MARCH 2024

2021107334 Date Submitted:

Group 3 13 MARCH 2024

Engr. Teodulo Valle

INSTRUCTOR GRADE
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Objectives 1

Theories and Principles 1

List of Apparatus 2

Procedure 5

Set-up of Apparatus 6

Final Data Sheet 7

Computations 8

Test Data Analysis 10

Questions with Answers / Problems with Solutions 11

Conclusion 12

References 12

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OBJECTIVES

1. To learn the throttling calorimeter operation

2. To be able to determine the quality of steam generated.

THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES

Calorimetry serves as a method to quantify the heat transferred during a substance’s

interaction. This involves exchanging heat with a precisely calibrated instrument known as a
calorimeter. The recorded temperature shift within the calorimeter provides a means to deduce
the heat quantity involved in the observed process. This measurement approach necessitates
defining a system (the substances undergoing the chemical or physical change) and its
surroundings (all other entities, including components of the measurement device, that either
supply heat to the system or absorb heat from it).

A calorimeter is an apparatus to gauge the heat quantity associated with a chemical or

physical occurrence. For instance, in an exothermic reaction occurring in a solution within a
calorimeter, the solution absorbs the resulting heat, elevating its temperature. Conversely, in an
endothermic reaction, the necessary heat is drawn from the thermal energy of the solution,
thereby reducing its temperature. Utilizing the temperature alteration alongside the solution’s
specific heat and mass permits the calculation of the heat quantity involved in either scenario.

Calorimetry, a cornerstone in thermodynamics, is centered on the operation of the

throttling calorimeter. Utilizing the principle of throttling, this device allows for the measurement
of steam enthalpy and the determination of steam quality. The primary objectives of this
experiment are twofold: first, to understand the functioning of the throttling calorimeter, and
second, to develop the ability to calculate the quality of steam generated.

The throttling calorimeter operates by passing steam through a small valve, causing rapid
expansion and a subsequent drop in temperature and pressure. This process separates the steam
into saturated vapor and liquid water, providing the means to calculate enthalpy and steam
quality. Steam quality is crucial for engineering applications, representing the fraction of dry,

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saturated vapor in a steam-water mixture. Enthalpy values of steam, essential for energy transfer
analysis, can be accurately determined through the operation of the calorimeter.

x=
[ h g 2+C Ps ( T 2−T sat 2 )−h f 1 ]
h fg1

x hfg1 +h f 1=h g 2 +C Ps ( T 2−T sat 2 )

Btu Btu kJ kJ
C Psteam =0.46 =0.46 =1.922 =1.922
lbm−° F lbm−° R kg−° C kg−K

LIST OF APPARATUS

Fig 1. Throttling Calorimeter

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Fig 2. Mercury manometer

Fig 3. Thermometer

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Fig 4. Stopwatch

Fig 5. Boiler

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PROCEDURE

1. Purge the water and impurities inside the steam pipeline.

2. Insert the thermometer bulb inside the throttling calorimeter well
3. Connect the hose of the Hg manometer through the drain valve.
4. Open the gate valve and let the steam enter the calorimeter,
5. Duration of the trial is 5 minutes.
6. Let the condition of the steam inside stabilize before recording the steam lime pressure,
calorimeter well temperature and Hg manometer reading.
7. Calculate all the necessary requirements needed to complete the data sheet.

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SET-UP OF APPARATUS

Fig 6. Determination of Steam Quality

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FINAL DATA SHEET

Trial Ps P2 P2 Tsat of P2 T2 (◦C)

(MPaa) Manometer (MPaa) (◦C)
(mmHg)
1 0.363 14 0.1032 100.5068 108
2 0.356 13 0.1031 100.4794 108

Trial hf1 hfg2 hg2 X Xtherm

(KJ/kg) (KJ/kg) (KJ/kg) (%) (%)
1 589.844 2144.26 2676.844 98% 98.04%
2 586.894 2146.3 2676.802 98.05% 98.08%

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SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS

Trial 1:

P hf1 hfg1
0.360 588.59 2145.1
0.363 hf hfg
0.365 590.68 2143.7
By Interpolation:

kJ
h f 1=589.844
kg

kJ
h fg1=2144.26
kg

P hg2 Tsat
0.100 2675.5 99.63
0.1032 hg2 Tsat
0.105 2677.6 101.00
By Interpolation:

kJ
h g 2=2676.844
kg

T sat =100.5068 ° C

@ 0.10 @ 0.11
T h h
100 2676.2 2675.0
108 ha hb
110 2696.5 2695.3
kJ kJ
h a=2692.44 ; hb =2691.24
kg kg

0.10 2692.44

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 0.1032 h2
0.11 2691.24
kJ
h2 =2692.056
kg

2676.844 +1.922 ( 108−100.5068 )−589.844

X= =0.98 → X =98 %
2144.26

X Therm :h 2=hf 1+ x h fg1

2692.056=589.844+ ( x ) ( 2144.26 ) → x=0.9804=X Therm=98.04 %

TEST DATA ANALYSIS

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 The steam quality of the boiler was determined using the throttling calorimeter. Two trials
were executed to conduct the activity. The data from the two trials of the throttling calorimeter
experiment reveal consistent and reliable results. In both Trial 1 and Trial 2, the measured
pressure remained stable, indicating a consistent experimental condition. The corresponding
saturation temperatures were also close in value for both trials, reflecting a similar pressure-
temperature relationship for the steam.

Analysis of the enthalpy data showed that the enthalpy values for the saturated vapor
were relatively consistent between Trial 1 and Trial 2. This consistency suggests a stable and
uniform steam condition throughout the experiment. The reported steam quality was found to be
98% or slightly above for both trials, indicating that the steam produced was mostly dry, with a
minor percentage of liquid water content. Furthermore, the Xtherm for the two trials was almost
the same as the calculated steam quality, indicating that the calculations were reliable.

Overall, the data exhibits a high degree of consistency and repeatability, with small
variations well within the expected range of experimental error. These results provide confidence
in the accuracy of the operation of the throttling calorimeter in determining the properties of the
steam. The absence of negative steam quality values indicates that the steam produced was not
superheated but rather slightly wet. This analysis supports the successful operation of the
throttling calorimeter, offering valuable insights into the steam’s enthalpy, quality, and thermal
efficiency in the experimental setup.

QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS / PROBLEMS WITH SOLUTIONS

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 1. What is the primary purpose of a throttling calorimeter in thermodynamics?
- The primary purpose of a throttling calorimeter in thermodynamics is to measure
steam enthalpy and determine the quality of steam generated in various processes.

2. How does a throttling calorimeter separate steam into its vapor and liquid phases?
- A throttling calorimeter separates steam into its vapor and liquid phases by passing it
through a small valve, causing rapid expansion and subsequent separation of phases.

3. Explain the significance of the phase change observed during the operation of a throttling
calorimeter.
- The phase change observed during the operation of a throttling calorimeter, from wet
steam to vapor and liquid phases, is crucial for understanding energy transfer and the
enthalpy of steam.

4. How does the operation of a throttling calorimeter contribute to understanding the

efficiency of steam systems?
- The operation of a throttling calorimeter helps in understanding the efficiency of
steam systems by providing insights into steam quality, enthalpy values, and energy
transfer mechanisms that are crucial for optimizing industrial processes.

5. Why is it important to accurately measure steam quality in industrial applications?

- Accurate measurement of steam quality is important in industrial applications as it
affects the efficiency, performance, and safety of steam-driven processes.

CONCLUSION
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 The data analysis from the two trials of the throttling calorimeter experiment
demonstrates consistent and reliable results, supporting the accuracy of the operation of the
apparatus. Throughout both Trial 1 and Trial 2, the measured pressure remained stable, indicating
a consistent experimental condition. The reported steam quality for both trials was consistently
around 98%, indicating that the steam produced was predominantly dry, with a minor percentage
of liquid water content. This finding was further corroborated by the Xtherm values, which
closely matched the calculated steam quality, reinforcing the reliability of the calculations.

The absence of negative steam quality values indicates that the steam generated was not
superheated but slightly wet, aligning with the expected behavior in the experimental setup.
These results provide a high level of confidence in the accuracy and reliability of the throttling
calorimeter in determining the properties of the steam.

In conclusion, the successful execution of the experiment, coupled with the consistent
and reliable data obtained, has enhanced the group’s understanding of the throttling calorimeter’s
operation. Also, they were able to determine the steam quality generated by the boiler. The
experiment offers valuable insights into steam’s enthalpy and quality in the given experimental
conditions, thereby fulfilling the objectives set forth at the beginning of the investigation.

REFERENCES

Calorimeter: Definition, diagram, working, types, applications. Testbook. (n.d.).

https://testbook.com/physics/calorimeter

Flowers, P., Theopold, K., Langley, R., & William R. Robinson, P. (n.d.). 5.2 calorimetry -
chemistry 2E. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/5-2-calorimetry

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