Unit 6 1

UNIT 6 FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS OPEN

SYSTEMS - PART I

Unit Structure

6.0 Overview
6.1 Learning Objectives
6.2 Introduction
6.3 Open Systems
6.4 Principle of Conservation of Mass
6.4.1 Mass Flow Rate
6.5 Principle of Conservation of Energy
6.5.1 Flow Work
6.5.2 Total Energy of a Flowing Fluid
6.6 Summary
6.7 Answers to Activities


6.0 OVERVIEW

The first law of Thermodynamics, one of the most important laws in Thermodynamics,
has so far been applied to closed systems. It will now be extended to open systems. The
same approach used in Unit 4 will be applied to the analysis of open systems. Thus you
will need to be very familiar with the previous units, in particular Units 4 and 5, for a
proper understanding of this unit.

6.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this unit, you will be able to do the following:
1. Define open systems.
2. Apply the principle of conservation of mass and the principle of conservation of
energy by carrying out mass and energy balances respectively.
Unit 6 2
3. Apply the first Law of Thermodynamics to solve problems concerning Open
Systems.


6.2 INTRODUCTION

In the previous units, we have been discussing about the application of the 1
st
law of
Thermodynamics to closed systems, i.e. systems in which there is only energy interaction
and no mass flow. In this unit, we extend the application of the first Law of
Thermodynamics to open systems. In order to be able to analyse open systems, the same
approach adopted in the case of closed systems will be used, that is, the application of
both the principle of conservation of mass and the principle of conservation of energy.
The principle of conservation of mass will lead to the definition of the mass flow rate
which is a term widely used in Thermodynamics. The principle of conservation of energy
will lead to the definition of flow energy /work and total energy.

The above two principles will lead to equations that may appear bulky and frightening as
mass flow has to be taken into consideration. However, assumptions can be made so as
to simplify the equations. These assumptions and simplifications will be covered in Unit
7.


6.3 OPEN SYSTEMS

Most of the engineering equipment used nowadays are open systems involving mass flow
through them. Examples include compressors, turbines and car radiators. Open systems
are also known as control volumes or flow processes. As the name itself implies, open
systems are those systems in which there is both mass flow and energy interaction
between system and surroundings and in contrast, closed systems are those in which there
is only energy interaction and no mass flow. Thus closed systems are also known as
control mass.
Unit 6 3








Figure 6.1: Open System

The control volume can be any chosen region in space. The boundaries of the control
volume are called control surface and can be real or imaginary. Control volumes are
more often fixed and do not move.

Activity 1

Is an electric water heater a closed or open system? Justify your answer.


6.4 PRINCIPLE OF CONSERVATION OF MASS

The principle of conservation of mass is one of the most basic principles that exist. As a
simple example, 5 g of compound A will react with 5 g of compound B to give 10g (5 +
5) of a new compound C. As stated in the previous example, mass is a conserved
property; that is, it can neither be created nor destroyed but can be transformed into
energy as per equation:

E = mc
2
Equation 6.1
where c is the speed of light ms
-1
E Energy J
m Mass kg






System
Mass Flow
Energy Interaction
Surroundings
Boundary
Unit 6 4
When analysing control volumes, since mass can cross the boundaries, it is essential to
note the mass entering and leaving the system contrary to closed system with constant
mass. If the principle of conservation of mass is applied to open systems undergoing a
process, we will have the following expression:
volume control exit at inlet at
m m - m or
Volume Control
within mass
in change Net
Volume Control
leaving
mass Total
Volume Control
entering
mass Total
cv e
i
=

Equation 6.2

Activity 2

Consider a chemical reactor initially containing 100g of a substance C. If 3g of C is
removed every hour for a period of 8 hours on a particular day and 20 g of C is fed to
reactor during these 8 hours, what is the final mass of C in the reactor at the end of the
day?

6.4.1 Mass Flow Rate

It is very common to see the masses being expressed in the rate form and consequently
the principle of conservation of mass is expressed in the rate form also.
The mass flow rate is defined as the amount of mass flowing through a cross-section per
unit time and is represented by the letter

m
For a fluid flowing in and out of a control volume through pipes, the mass flow rate can
be expressed as:
dA V m
n

where A cross-sectional area (m

2
)
density of fluid (kg/m
3
)
V
n
velocity normal to cross-Sectional area
A (ms
-1
)
Unit 6 5
If we assume that the properties of a fluid vary in the direction of flow only, we can write
down the expression below for the mass flow rate:
A V m
Av
=

Equation 6.3
where density in kg/m
3

V
av
average fluid velocity normal to A, m/s
A cross-sectional area normal to flow direction,m
2

Note: since density and temperature are constants, we can use average velocity because
the velocity of fluid is maximum at the centre and minimum near the walls of the pipe as
illustrated below:






Figure 6.2 Velocity profiles


6.5 PRINCIPLE OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

You will recall that the application of the principle of the conservation of Energy or the
first law of Thermodynamics to closed systems led to the equation Q W = E

However, in the case of open systems or control volumes, we will have to take into
account the mass flow in and out of the system, as mass carries with it a certain amount
of energy and can therefore change the energy of the system.

The application of the principle of conservation of energy to a control volume leads to the
following expression:

Pipe
(a) Actual
(b) Assumed
Unit 6 6

CV of
energy in
change Net
CV leaving
mass of
energy Total
CV
entering mass of
energy Total
work and heat as
boundary crossing
energy Total


cv out in
E E - E W - Q = +

or Equation 6.4


Figure 6.3 below illustrates the 1
st
law of thermodynamics as applied to Open and Closed
Systems.






Figure 6.3: Comparison of Closed and Open Systems

In a control volume, there may be different types of work like electrical work and shaft
works.
If the control volume is insulated, then the heat transferred will be equal to zero.

Activity 3

What are the mechanisms by which energy can be interchanged between an open system
and its surroundings?

6.5.1 Flow Work

The term flow work also called flow energy describes the energy that is required to
push fluid into and out of the control volume. This situation did not arise in the case of
closed systems because there was no mass flow across the boundaries.


Closed
System
W
Q
Mass
in
Mass
out
Open
System
W
Q


Open
System
Unit 6 7

In order to obtain an expression for flow work, we will consider a fluid in a control
volume system as shown below.








Figure 6.4: Control volume for determining flow work

If the fluid is at a pressure P and with cross-sectional area A, we can derive an expression
for the energy (flow) required to push the fluid through a distance l into the control
volume. The force applied by an imaginary piston will be equal to P * A.
The flow work required to push the fluid will be equivalent to the force (P*A) acting
through a distance l.
W
flow
= (P * A) * l

= P * V
W
flow
= PV kJ Equation 6.5

and on a unit mass basis

w
flow
= Pv kJ/kg

6.5.2 Total Energy of a Flowing Fluid

As already stated in Unit 1, the total energy of a simple compressible system consists of
the sum of kinetic energy, potential energy and internal energy.
Imaginary
Piston
A
P
l
L
Unit 6 8


gz
v
u
e . p e . k u e
+ + =
+ + =
2
2
(kJ/kg)

In the case of an open system, the fluid flowing through the control volume will possess
flow energy, which is equivalent to Pv.

Thus the total energy will be equal to :

Pv gz
v
u + + + =
2
2
Equation 6.6

But the quantity u + Pv has been defined from Equation 4 in Unit 4, as being equivalent
to h. Hence, the expression for the total energy will simplify to:

h gz
v
+ + =
2
2
kJ/kg Equation 6.7


Activity 4

What is the difference between the total energy of a flowing fluid and that of a fluid at
rest?


6.6 SUMMARY

In this unit, we have explained how the principle of conservation of mass and energy is
applied to open systems. The principle of conservation of mass has brought about the
definition of mass flow rate as
Unit 6 9
A V m
av
=

and the principle of conservation of energy has enabled us to define flow work/energy
and consequently the total energy of a flowing fluid as

Pv w
flow
=


and

p.e k.e h + + =

We shall see in the next unit how the principle of conservation of energy equation can be
simplified and used for analysis of control volumes.


6.7 ANSWERS TO ACTIVITIES

Activity 1

Open system. Because there is flow of cold water inside the electric water heater (control
volume) and flow of hot water from the control volume.

Activity 2

g g g g
g
mfinal
96 8 3 20 100
m - m 100
e i
= + =
= +


Unit 6 10

Activity 3

In an open system, energy can be interchanged by heat transfer, work and through mass
flow in and out of the system.

Activity 4

The total energy of a closed system is made up of the macroscopic form of energy (k.e +
p.e) and the microscopic form of energy (internal energy).

The total energy of an open system is made up of kinetic energy, potential energy,
internal energy and flow energy associated with mass flow.