Calculating Steam Turbine Work & Power from 2 Unknowns

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the specific work and power produced by a steam turbine, given specific inlet and exit conditions. The problem involves thermodynamic principles and the energy equation, with particular focus on the implications of heat loss and the definition of quality in steam.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of having two unknowns in the energy equation, questioning how to account for heat loss and the role of kinetic energy. There is also discussion about the meaning of "100% quality" and its impact on determining exit conditions.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the definitions and principles involved. Some guidance has been offered regarding the assumptions of adiabatic processes and the interpretation of quality, but no consensus has been reached on the best approach to solve the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem does not specify whether the process is adiabatic, and there is uncertainty regarding the treatment of kinetic energy in the calculations. The original poster expresses confusion about how to proceed with the energy equation given the conditions described.

JSBeckton
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A steam turbine has an inlet of 2kg/s water at 1000kPa and 350C and velocity of 15m/s. The exit is at 100kPa, 100% quality and very low velocity. Find specific work and power produced.

I have done a lot of these problems but it usually says adiabatic or the inlet and exit temp is the same. How do i solve with the energy equation when I have 2 unknowns? (q and w)

thanks
 
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JSBeckton said:
A steam turbine has an inlet of 2kg/s water at 1000kPa and 350C and velocity of 15m/s. The exit is at 100kPa, 100% quality and very low velocity. Find specific work and power produced.
What does 100% quality mean? Check the question carefully. One has to have a temperature of the exit steam/water in order to determine the loss of energy of the steam.

AM
 
I understand that that gives me the exit temp, I just do not understand how to solve the energy equation for work when I have heat loss as well. Is the heat loss just the difference in internal energy between those two temperatures and pressures?
 
JSBeckton said:
I understand that that gives me the exit temp, I just do not understand how to solve the energy equation for work when I have heat loss as well. Is the heat loss just the difference in internal energy between those two temperatures and pressures?
The first law of thermodynamics:

[tex]dQ = dU + dW = nC_vdT + PdV[/tex]

where dQ is the heat removed from the hot reservoir, applies only to systems in thermodynamic equilbrium. Here you have a dynamic element: moving steam, so you have to take into account the kinetic energy of the steam as well.

I still don't understand how you get the exit temperature. What does "100% quality" mean?

AM
 
JSBeckton said:
A steam turbine has an inlet of 2kg/s water at 1000kPa and 350C and velocity of 15m/s. The exit is at 100kPa, 100% quality and very low velocity. Find specific work and power produced.

I have done a lot of these problems but it usually says adiabatic or the inlet and exit temp is the same. How do i solve with the energy equation when I have 2 unknowns? (q and w)

thanks

The heat flow is zero. Turbines under steady state are adiabatic unless otherwise specified. You have one unknown, solve for it.

AM, 100% quality means the liquid is a saturated vapor, x=1.0, and the specific enthalpy is equal to the value of Hg at said temperature.

Beckton and his never ending slew of thermo questions, aye caramba. :wink:
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys, sorry about all of the thermo questions, just studying for an exam and doing a bunch of problems that were not assigned so I sometimes come across something that was not covered and haven't seen that situation before, but that helps me the more situations I see, the more I understand the underlying concepts.
 
I figured it out and found that without taking into account the velocity, the anwser is 482.19 kj/kg, and 482.303 kJ,kg with the velocity considered (the right anwser in the back of the book). Is this not negligible?
 
What do you think?
 
It seems to me that we should almost always neglect kinetic energy. Should there be a rule of thumb or something?
 

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