# Homework Help: Constant and variable specific heat assumptions

1. Oct 12, 2015

### Luchekv

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A gas (treated as air) powered turbine provides power to a compressor which then sends the compressed air through an intercooler (heat exchanger).

Turbine:
Gas enters @ 0.03kg/s, 370 degrees Celsius
Gas leaves @ 300 degrees Celsius and a "lower pressure"

Compressor:
Draws fresh air @ 0.015kg/s, 30 degrees Celsius, 100kPa
Air leaves at a "higher pressure"

Heat exchanger:
The intercooler cools the compressed air down to 70 degrees celsius
Ambient air flowing through/across the intercooler is @ 30 degrees Celsius, 100kPa
Ambient air leaving the intercooler is @ 60 degrees Celsius

Q1.) Calc Power output of turbine. Constant avg spec heats Cp=1.005 @ 300K
Q2.) Calc temp of air leaving compressor. Const avg spec heats Cp = 1.005 @ 300K
Q3.) Calc mass flow rate of the ambient air leaving the intercooler (not the compressed air going to the engine) - Use variable spec heats for extracted from tables

2. Relevant equations
Q*-W*=m*[h2-h1+(V22-V12)/2+g(z2-z1]
Δh=Cp(T2-T1)

3. The attempt at a solution
Q1.) -W*=m*[h2-h1]
First I found Cp at Tavg=335 Celsius or 608K..Cp=1.05324
So then
-W=m*(Cp(T1-T2))
-W=0.03(1.05324(370-300) =2.2118Watts

Q2.)
-W*=m*[h2-h1]
-W=m*(Cp(T2-T1))
2.2118=0.015(1.005(T2-30C)
T2= 176.72 Celsius

Q3.) I'm absolutely stumped with this one..Ive gone to the "Ideal-gas properties of air" table in the book and picked the enthalpy values for T1 and T2...but don't know where to go from there.

I know I'm lacking with units, just focusing on the method and will go back and straighten that out after.

Last edited: Oct 12, 2015
2. Oct 12, 2015

### stockzahn

You know the mass flow passing the compressor as well as the inlet temperture before the intercooler and the outlet temperture after the intercooler. What happens with the energy extracted from this mass flow?

3. Oct 12, 2015

### Luchekv

I forgot to add in for Q3. "Use variable spec heats for air extracted from tables" I have updated this. I'm not quite sure what you mean, here is a diagram of the intercooler..we are trying to solve for air at the number 3.

4. Oct 12, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

What is the heat load of the inter cooler, based on the flow rate and temperatures of the working gas?

5. Oct 12, 2015

### Luchekv

By heat load do you mean Q?

6. Oct 12, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Yes

7. Oct 12, 2015

### Luchekv

Well, I know Q =m*c*(delta T). 'c' being specific heat, but I don't see how I could apply that to this situation..

8. Oct 12, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

It's $\dot{m}Δh$. You know $\dot{m}$, and you can look up the h values in your table.

9. Oct 12, 2015

### Luchekv

m* from intercooler: 0.015
Temp before entering intercooler = 176.72 C ~ 450K
Air is then cooled to 70 C ~ 340K

Assuming variable spec heats I go to the "Ideal-gas properties of air" table and read of h for the said temps
h1 =451.8
h2 = 340.42

So Q=0.015(h1-h2)
Q= 1.6707W

Now would I substitute that load and do the same thing with the enthalpies but for the ambient air stream?

10. Oct 12, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Yes

11. Oct 12, 2015

### Luchekv

You're an amazing teacher. Thank you!

Slightly off topic question...when it says assume constant spec heats...we go to the tables and we pick a value to use...but for variable we just go ahead and read the values for enthalpy directly..why is that?