UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

2017/2018 Nov/Dec Examinations

Faculty: ENGINEERING

Department: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Paper code and Title: ME 309 THERMODYNAMICS AND HEAT

TRANSFER

Duration: 3 Hours

Examiner: Mr. B. N. Dube

Authorized Materials:
Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Fluids (SI Units)
Non programmable scientific calculator

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This paper contains SIX Questions and FIVE pages.
2. Answer ANY FOUR questions.
3. Start each question on a new page.
4. All questions carry EQUAL marks.
5. Number the answers according to the numbering system used in this question paper.
6. Unless stated, take R as 0.288 kJ/kg.K, Cp as 1.008kJ/kg.K and gamma as 1.4

NB: DO NOT TURN OVER THE QUESTION PAPER OR COMMENCE WRITING UNTIL INSTRUCTED
TO DO SO.

Page 1 of 5
QUESTION 1
a) In theory, air can be compressed isothermally, adiabatically or polytropically in a reciprocating
compressor; by making use of a P-V diagram (without clearance volume), state and explain
which of the three processes will be most efficient. [4]

b) A two-stage, single-acting, reciprocating compressor delivers 18 kg of air per minute. The

compression index and expansion index are both 1.34. The delivery temperature is 235.227°C.
The swept volume for the low-pressure cylinder is equal to 25 times its clearance volume. The
rotational frequency of the compressor is 9.6 r/s. The pressure ratio for the low-pressure
cylinder is 4:1 and for the high-pressure cylinder 3.8:1. The clearance volume for the low-
pressure cylinder is 1 200 cm³. The initial pressure and temperature for the low-pressure
cylinder are 95 kPa and 24°C respectively. The volumetric efficiencies for the low-pressure
and high-pressure cylinders are equal.
Calculate the following:
i. The absolute adiabatic temperature of the air after compression in the low-pressure
cylinder, the absolute temperature after intercooling and the heat absorbed by the
intercooler in kJ/s. [6]
ii. The power required to drive the compressor in kW. [5]
iii. The swept volume in cm³, the effective swept volume in m³/s and the volumetric efficiency
for the low-pressure cylinder. [6]
iv. The effective swept volume in m³/s and the swept volume in m³/cycle for the high-pressure
cylinder. [4]

QUESTION 2
A methyl chloride refrigerating plant operating between pressure limits of 215 kPa and 672 kPa is
tested and the following information was obtained:
Temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser = 31 ºC
Temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator = -6 ºC
Specific enthalpy of dry saturated vapour at condenser pressure = 479 kJ/kg
Specific enthalpy of dry saturated vapour at evaporator pressure = 462.8 kJ/kg
Specific enthalpy of saturated liquid at condenser pressure = 110.2 kJ/kg
Specific enthalpy of saturated liquid at evaporator pressure = 51.6 kJ/kg
Specific volume of dry saturated vapour at evaporator pressure = 0.168 m³/kg

The methyl chloride enters the compressor as a wet vapour. It enters the condenser as a dry
saturated vapour and it leaves the condenser as a saturated liquid with no undercooling. The actual
coefficient of performance is 90.23% of the ideal coefficient of performance. The compressor has
a piston with a diameter of 128.5 mm, a stroke length of 1.2 times the diameter of the piston, a
volumetric efficiency of 90% and it rotates at 420 r/min.

Page 2 of 5
a) Sketch the corresponding P-h diagram depicting the cycle. [4]
b) Calculate:
i. The ideal coefficient of performance and the actual coefficient of performance [4]
ii. The specific enthalpy of the refrigerant at the entrance to the compressor in kJ/kg and the
dryness factor. [5]
iii. The swept volume of the compressor in m³ per stroke, the swept volume and the effective
swept volume in m³/s. [5]
iv. The specific volume of the refrigerant at the entrance to the compressor in m³/kg and the
mass flow rate in kg per minute. [4]
v. The compressor power in kJ/s and the power required to drive the compressor in kW if the
mechanical efficiency is 80%. [3]

QUESTION 3
The volumetric expansion ratio of an engine working on the dual cycle principle is 1: 9.6. The
clearance volume is 6.25% of the cylinder volume and the swept volume is 4500 cm³. At the
beginning of the adiabatic compression stroke the conditions indicate a pressure of 86 kPa and a
temperature of 18 ºC. The pressure after adiabatic expansion is 263.74 kPa. Determine:

a) The cylinder volume, clearance volume and the volume before adiabatic expansion in cubic
centimeters. [6]
b) All the missing absolute temperatures and pressures in kPa at the principal points. [12]
c) The heat received and the heat rejected during the cycle in kJ/kg. [5]
d) The thermal efficiency of the cycle. [2]

QUESTION 4

a) 18.04 kg of air is used for the complete combustion of a kilogram of fuel. The fuel has the
following composition: Carbon = 87%, Hydrogen = 2.5%, Sulphur = 1%. The balance of the
fuel is non-combustible. Calculate the percentages of the products of combustion. [15]

b) 1 kg of fuel oil which has the formula C12 H4 completely burnt with the aid of 40% excess air.
The atomic mass of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen is 12, 16 and 1, respectively. Calculate the
theoretical and the actual mass of air required to burn the fuel. [8+2]

QUESTION 5
Wet steam at a pressure of 3200kPa flows through a pipe 50m long. The pipe has an external
diameter of 90mm. The pipe is covered with lagging 35mm thick which has a coefficient of thermal
conductivity of 0.057 W/m.K. The surface transfer coefficient is 5W/m2K and ambient temperature
is 15oC. The steam flow rate is 290kg/h and it enters the pipe with a dryness of 0.97. Assuming
that there is no temperature drop across the pipe, determine;

Page 3 of 5
 (a) The condition of steam as it leaves the pipe; [16]
(b) The surface temperature of the lagging; [6]
(c) Amount of heat loss per hour of that length of pipe. [3]

QUESTION 6

A gas turbine engine working on the constant pressure cycle has a compression adiabatic efficiency
of 85%.The ambient air pressure and temperature is 103.4 kPa and 288 K respectively, the actual
air temperature after compression is 515 K. 643 kJ of heat is added per kilogram of air per cycle
during combustion. Expansion adiabatic efficiency is 82%. Determine;

a) The actual and adiabatic temperatures. [11]

b) The highest pressure in the cycle. [1]
c) The compression and expansion indexes. [10]
d) The heat lost during constant pressure heat rejection per kilogram of air per cycle. [3]

“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”

Page 4 of 5
Formulae
Px  1
PaVa  mRTa rps  x
P1

V2
W  P1V1 ln  n 1

  P 
 1
xn
V1 xn x 1
W P1Ve  
n 1  
 1 
P
P1V1  P2V2

W 
n 1
T1
COPIDEAL 
R  Cp  Cv T2  T1

Cp Re f . effect
  COPactual 
Cv Work done
n 1
n 1
T2  V1  P  n T2
    2  carn.  1 
T1  V2   P1  T1

U  m . Cv . T h  u  pV

Q  U  Wd  
V e  Spec. vol at Compressor entrance  m

 P V  V e  V e  rpm
s  m  Cv . ln 2  Cp . ln 2 
 P1 V1 
Heat received - Heat rejected
T Thermal Efficiency 
S su  S g  Cp . ln su Heat received
Ts
S fg  S g  S f

S  S f  xS fg

hsu  hg  Cp (tsu  t s )

hws  h f  xh fg


Vs  d2  L
4

P2  P1  P3

Page 5 of 5