ME 276: Solar Energy

Problem Solving
Problem 1
A house is being designed to use a thick concrete floor mass as thermal storage
material for solar energy heating. The concrete is 30 cm thick, and the area
exposed to the sun during the daytime is 4 × 6 m. It is expected that this mass
will undergo an average temperature rise of about 3°C during the day. How
much energy will be available for heating during the nighttime hours?

𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 :
𝐸 2 − 𝐸 1= 1 𝑄 2 − 1 𝑊 2
𝐸 =𝑈 + 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸
𝑈 + 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸 = 1 𝑄 2 − 1 𝑊 2

∆ 𝑈 = 𝑚𝐶 ∆ 𝑇
Problem 1
A house is being designed to use a thick concrete floor mass as thermal storage
material for solar energy heating. The concrete is 30 cm thick, and the area
exposed to the sun during the daytime is 4 × 6 m. It is expected that this mass
will undergo an average temperature rise of about 3°C during the day. How
much energy will be available for heating during the nighttime hours?

SOLUTION :
∆ 𝑈 =𝑚𝐶 ∆ 𝑇
Problem 1
A house is being designed to use a thick concrete floor mass as thermal storage
material for solar energy heating. The concrete is 30 cm thick, and the area
exposed to the sun during the daytime is 4 × 6 m. It is expected that this mass
will undergo an average temperature rise of about 3°C during the day. How
much energy will be available for heating during the nighttime hours?

SOLUTION :
∆ 𝑈 =𝑚𝐶 ∆ 𝑇
Problem 1
A house is being designed to use a thick concrete floor mass as thermal storage
material for solar energy heating. The concrete is 30 cm thick, and the area
exposed to the sun during the daytime is 4 × 6 m. It is expected that this mass
will undergo an average temperature rise of about 3°C during the day. How
much energy will be available for heating during the nighttime hours?

SOLUTION :
∆ 𝑈 =𝑚𝐶 ∆ 𝑇
∆ 𝑈 = ( 15 840 ) ( 0.88 ) ( 3 ) = 41 817.6 𝑘𝐽

∆ 𝑼 =𝟒𝟏 𝟖𝟏𝟕 . 𝟔 𝒌𝑱
Problem 2
A condenser (heat exchanger) brings 1 kg/s water flow at 10 kPa from 300°C to
saturated liquid at 10 kPa, as shown in Fig. P6.83. The cooling is done by lake
water at 20°C that returns to the lake at 30°C. For an insulated condenser, find
the flow rate of cooling water.
Problem 2
A condenser (heat exchanger) brings 1 kg/s water flow at 10 kPa from 300°C to
saturated liquid at 10 kPa, as shown in Fig. P6.83. The cooling is done by lake
water at 20°C that returns to the lake at 30°C. For an insulated condenser, find
the flow rate of cooling water.
SOLUTION :

∑𝑚
˙ 𝑖 h𝑖= ∑ 𝑚˙ 𝑒 h𝑒
𝑚1 h1 + 𝑚 3 h3 = 𝑚2 h2 + 𝑚
𝑚3 ( h3 − h4 ) =𝑚1 ( h 2 −
𝑚1 ( h 2 − h
𝑚3 =
h3 − h4
Problem 2
A condenser (heat exchanger) brings 1 kg/s water flow at 10 kPa from 300°C to
saturated liquid at 10 kPa, as shown in Fig. P6.83. The cooling is done by lake
water at 20°C that returns to the lake at 30°C. For an insulated condenser, find
the flow rate of cooling water.
SOLUTION :
𝑚1 ( h 2 − h
𝑚3 =
h3 − h4

h1 =3076.51
10 𝑘𝑃𝑎 , 300 ℃
𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟h𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑

h2 = 191.81
h @ 10 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝑓

h3 = 83.94
h @ 20 ℃ 𝑓

h 4 =h 125.77
@ 30 ℃𝑓
Problem 2
A condenser (heat exchanger) brings 1 kg/s water flow at 10 kPa from 300°C to
saturated liquid at 10 kPa, as shown in Fig. P6.83. The cooling is done by lake
water at 20°C that returns to the lake at 30°C. For an insulated condenser, find
the flow rate of cooling water.

SOLUTION :
𝑚1 ( h 2 − h
𝑚3 =
h3 − h4

( 1) ( 191.81 − 307
𝑚3 =
83.94 − 125.7

kg
m 3 = 68.96
s
Problem 3
A thermal storage device is made with a rock (granite) bed of that is heated to 400 K
using solar energy. A heat engine receives from the bed and rejects heat to the
ambient surroundings at 290 K. The rock bed therefore cools down, and as it reaches
290 K the process stops. Find the energy the rock bed can give out. What is the heat
engine’s efficiency at the beginning of the process, and what is it at the end of the
process?
SOLUTION :
𝑄 =𝑚𝐶 ∆ 𝑇 =(𝜌 𝑉 )(𝐶 ∆ 𝑇 )
)
𝑄=538 450 𝑘𝐽
𝑇290𝑜
𝜂 =1 − ¿ 1−
@𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 =0.275
0.275
𝑇400
𝐻

𝑇290𝑜
𝜂 = 1− ¿ 1− 0
=0.000
@ 𝑒𝑛𝑑 290
𝑇 𝐻
Problem 4
A geothermal source provides 10 kg/s of hot water at 500 kPa and 150°C flowing into
a flash evaporator that separates vapor and liquid at 200 kPa. Find the three fluxes of
availability (inlet and two outlets) and the irreversibility rate.

10
𝑘𝑔 200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑠

200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
kJ kJ
h0  = 104.9 ,    s 0  = 0.3674
kg kg -
Problem 4
A geothermal source provides 10 kg/s of hot water at 500 kPa and 150°C flowing into
a flash evaporator that separates vapor and liquid at 200 kPa. Find the three fluxes of
availability (inlet and two outlets) and the irreversibility rate.

10
𝑘𝑔 200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑠

200 𝑘𝑃𝑎 kJ kJ
h0  = 104.9 ,    s 0  = 0.3674
kg kg −
kJ kJ
h1  = 632.18 ,    s 1  = 1.8417
kg kg -
Problem 4
A geothermal source provides 10 kg/s of hot water at 500 kPa and 150°C flowing into
a flash evaporator that separates vapor and liquid at 200 kPa. Find the three fluxes of
availability (inlet and two outlets) and the irreversibility rate.

10
𝑘𝑔 200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑠

200 𝑘𝑃𝑎 kJ kJ
h2  =2706.63 ,   s 2  = 7.1271
kg kg -

kJ kJ
h3  = 504.68 ,    s 3  = 1.53
kg kg -
Problem 4
A geothermal source provides 10 kg/s of hot water at 500 kPa and 150°C flowing into
a flash evaporator that separates vapor and liquid at 200 kPa. Find the three fluxes of
availability (inlet and two outlets) and the irreversibility rate.

10
𝑘𝑔 200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑠

200 𝑘𝑃𝑎 kJ kJ
h2  =2706.63 ,   s 2  = 7.1271
kg kg −

kJ kJ
h3  = 504.68 ,    s 3  = 1.53
kg kg −
Problem 4
A geothermal source provides 10 kg/s of hot water at 500 kPa and 150°C flowing into
a flash evaporator that separates vapor and liquid at 200 kPa. Find the three fluxes of
availability (inlet and two outlets) and the irreversibility rate.

10
𝑘𝑔 200 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝑚1 h1 =𝑚 2 h 2 +
𝑠
𝑚1 h1 =𝑚 2 h 2 + (𝑚 ¿ ¿ 1
200 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝑚1 ( h1 − h 3 ) =𝑚2

By evaluating the equation and

𝑚 h 632.18
1 − − 504.6
h
2
substituting the enthalpy = ¿
𝑚 h 2706.63
2 −
− 504.
h
values. We have 1
𝑚2
=0.057903
𝑚1

𝑚2= ( 10 ) ( 0.0579032221
Problem 4
A geothermal source provides 10 kg/s of hot water at 500 kPa and 150°C flowing into
a flash evaporator that separates vapor and liquid at 200 kPa. Find the three fluxes of
availability (inlet and two outlets) and the irreversibility rate.

10
𝑘𝑔 200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑠

200 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝑘𝑔
𝑠
By evaluating the equation and 𝑘𝑔
substituting the enthalpy 𝑠
𝑘𝑔
values. We have
𝑠
Problem 4
A geothermal source provides 10 kg/s of hot water at 500 kPa and 150°C flowing into
a flash evaporator that separates vapor and liquid at 200 kPa. Find the three fluxes of
availability (inlet and two outlets) and the irreversibility rate.

𝜓 =( h − h 0 ) − 𝑇 0 (𝑠 − 𝑠 0 )
10
𝑘𝑔 200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑠 𝜓 1 =( h1 − h0 ) − 𝑇 0 ( 𝑠1 − 𝑠0 )
𝜓 1 =(632.18 − 104.9) − (25 +273.15 )(1.8417 − 0
200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝒌𝑱
𝝍 𝟏 =𝟖𝟕 .𝟕𝟏𝟕
𝒌𝒈
𝜓 2 =( h2 − h0 ) − 𝑇 0 ( 𝑠 2 − 𝑠 0 )
𝜓 2=( 2706.63 − 104.9 )− (25 +273.15 )(7.1271 − 0
By evaluating the equation and
substituting the enthalpy 𝒌𝑱
values. We have, 𝝍 𝟐=𝟓𝟖𝟔 .𝟑𝟐𝟓
𝒌𝒈
Problem 4
A geothermal source provides 10 kg/s of hot water at 500 kPa and 150°C flowing into
a flash evaporator that separates vapor and liquid at 200 kPa. Find the three fluxes of
availability (inlet and two outlets) and the irreversibility rate.

10
𝑘𝑔 200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑠 𝜓 3 =( h3 − h 0 ) − 𝑇 0 ( 𝑠3 − 𝑠0 )
𝜓 3=(504.68 − 104.9 )− (25 +273.15 )(1.53 − 0.
200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝒌𝑱
𝝍 𝟑 =𝟓𝟑 .𝟏𝟓
𝒌𝒈

By evaluating the equation and

substituting the enthalpy
values. We have
Problem 4
A geothermal source provides 10 kg/s of hot water at 500 kPa and 150°C flowing into
a flash evaporator that separates vapor and liquid at 200 kPa. Find the three fluxes of
availability (inlet and two outlets) and the irreversibility rate.

10
𝑘𝑔 200 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑠
Sgen = m 2 s 2 + m 3 s3
200 𝑘𝑃𝑎 Sgen =(0.579)(7.1271)+(9.42)(1.53)-(1
kW
Sgen =0.1239  
K

By evaluating the equation

˙
𝑰=𝟑𝟔 .𝟗𝟒 ≈ 𝟑𝟕 𝒌𝑾
and substituting the 𝐼 =𝑇 0 𝑆𝑔𝑒𝑛
computed fluxes. We have, ˙ (𝟐𝟓 +𝟐𝟕𝟑. 𝟏𝟓 ) ( 𝟎 .𝟏𝟐𝟑𝟗 )=𝟑𝟔 .𝟗𝟒 ≈ 𝟑𝟕 𝒌𝑾
𝑰=