Formulating the control volume for a mechanical system

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around formulating a control volume for a mechanical system to identify energy balance terms. Participants explore the relationship between two equations representing energy dynamics, one involving energy flow into and out of the control volume and the other relating to thermal energy changes within the system.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express difficulty in representing the mechanical system within a control volume to identify energy balance terms.
  • There is a proposal that the energy balance equation (1) correlates to the thermal energy equation (2), but the derivation from first principles is questioned.
  • Participants discuss whether the power loss, denoted as P_{loss}, corresponds to the energy generated, \dot E_g, or the energy entering the system, \dot E_{in}.
  • It is noted that the main form of heat dissipation is free convection, leading to the expression for energy outflow, \dot E_{out} = hA(T_s - T_{amb}).
  • Some participants assert that the term mc_p(dT/dt) represents the rate of accumulation of heat within the control volume, while others question its applicability in a closed system.
  • There is a suggestion that the relationship between the energy terms could be either \dot E_{in} - \dot E_{out} = 0 plus the mc_p(dT/dt) term or \dot E_{g} - \dot E_{out} = 0 plus the mc_p(dT/dt) term.
  • Clarifications are made regarding the boundaries of the control volume and how they affect the interpretation of energy terms.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the relationships between the energy terms, with no consensus reached on whether P_{loss} is equivalent to \dot E_g or \dot E_{in}. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the application of certain terms in the context of a closed system.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of defining the control volume boundaries, which affects the interpretation of energy terms. There are unresolved questions about the applicability of certain equations in the context of a closed system versus an open system.

bugatti79
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Folks,

I am having difficulty correctly representing a mechanical system within a correct "control volume at an instant" in order to identify the various energy balance terms given below

##\displaystyle \dot E_{st}=\frac{d E_{st}}{dt}=\dot E_{in} - \dot E_{out}+ \dot E_g## (1)

that correlates to this derived expression

##\displaystyle m*c_p*\frac{dT}{dt}=q=P_{loss}-hA(T_s-T_{amb})## (2) where q is Watts. The last term is the general term for convection and radiation.

We have the measured power loss ##P_{loss},dt, T_s,T_{amb}## from test. Then we approximate ##m, h, A,h## in order to predict ##dT## which was done successfully.

However, despite all this, i would like to know how the above expression (2) was derived from first principles, ie from (1) in the first place.

Ie, is ##P_{loss}=\dot E_g## the energy generated?

I can write out my interpretation and post it as a picture if anyone is interested in correcting me where i have gone wrong...
thanks
bugatti
 
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Eq(1) states that the energy within the control volume equals the energy coming in minus the energy going out plus internal thermal energy generation.
Eg would be a chemical reaction( either exothermic or endothermic), electrical resistance, ...
Ein , Eout would be the work or heat that enters or leaves the control volume.

Does anything in Eq(2) match up knowing that?
 
bugatti79 said:
Folks,

I am having difficulty correctly representing a mechanical system within a correct "control volume at an instant" in order to identify the various energy balance terms given below

##\displaystyle \dot E_{st}=\frac{d E_{st}}{dt}=\dot E_{in} - \dot E_{out}+ \dot E_g## (1)

that correlates to this derived expression

##\displaystyle m*c_p*\frac{dT}{dt}=q=P_{loss}-hA(T_s-T_{amb})## (2) where q is Watts. The last term is the general term for convection and radiation.

We have the measured power loss ##P_{loss},dt, T_s,T_{amb}## from test. Then we approximate ##m, h, A,h## in order to predict ##dT## which was done successfully.

However, despite all this, i would like to know how the above expression (2) was derived from first principles, ie from (1) in the first place.

Ie, is ##P_{loss}=\dot E_g## the energy generated?
Yes, ##P_{loss}=\dot E_g## and ## \dot E_{out}=hA(T_s-T_{amb})##

Chet
 
256bits said:
Eq(1) states that the energy within the control volume equals the energy coming in minus the energy going out plus internal thermal energy generation.
Eg would be a chemical reaction( either exothermic or endothermic), electrical resistance, ...
Ein , Eout would be the work or heat that enters or leaves the control volume.

Does anything in Eq(2) match up knowing that?

Chestermiller said:
Yes, ##P_{loss}=\dot E_g## and ## \dot E_{out}=hA(T_s-T_{amb})##

Chet

For this axle we know that the main form of heat dissipation is free convection (there will be some conduction to the ground) and thus ##\dot E_{out}=hA(T_s-T_{amb})##

Its not clear to me whether ##P_{loss}=\dot E_g## or ##P_{loss}=\dot E_{in}## (The heat comes from the friction between the gears and the churning of the oil)

Also I don't know where ##\displaystyle mc_p\frac{dT}{dt}## fits in in eqn 1... To me, this term is the steady flow thermal energy equation which is normally used for "open systems with flowing fluid" but we do not have fluid flowing across our "closed system" boundary??...
 
bugatti79 said:
For this axle we know that the main form of heat dissipation is free convection (there will be some conduction to the ground) and thus ##\dot E_{out}=hA(T_s-T_{amb})##

Its not clear to me whether ##P_{loss}=\dot E_g## or ##P_{loss}=\dot E_{in}## (The heat comes from the friction between the gears and the churning of the oil)

Also I don't know where ##\displaystyle mc_p\frac{dT}{dt}## fits in in eqn 1... To me, this term is the steady flow thermal energy equation which is normally used for "open systems with flowing fluid" but we do not have fluid flowing across our "closed system" boundary??...

So we either have
##\dot E_{in}-\dot E_{out}=0## plus the mcp(dT/dt) term or

##\dot E_{g}-\dot E_{out}=0## plus the mcp(dT/dt) term...?
 
I believe it is actually

##\dot E_{in}-\dot E_{out}=\dot E_{st}## where power loss, convection and mcpdT/dt are the 1, 2 and 3rd terms respectively.


Thanks guys
 
bugatti79 said:
For this axle we know that the main form of heat dissipation is free convection (there will be some conduction to the ground) and thus ##\dot E_{out}=hA(T_s-T_{amb})##

Its not clear to me whether ##P_{loss}=\dot E_g## or ##P_{loss}=\dot E_{in}## (The heat comes from the friction between the gears and the churning of the oil)

It depends on what you choose for the boundary of your control volume. Does the control volume include the gears and oil? If so, ##P_{loss}=\dot E_g##.
Also I don't know where ##\displaystyle mc_p\frac{dT}{dt}## fits in in eqn 1... To me, this term is the steady flow thermal energy equation which is normally used for "open systems with flowing fluid" but we do not have fluid flowing across our "closed system" boundary??...
No. This term is the rate of accumulation of heat within the control volume, and corresponds to your dEst/dt. This is not heat carried by flow into or out of the control volume. That would be covered by Edot,in. Edot,in includes heat by fluid flow into the control volume, heat conducted into the control volume through its boundary, and work done on the boundary of the control volume by the surroundings.

For more details, presenting the material in a more precise manner, see Bird, Stewart, and Lightfoot, Transport Phenomena.

Chet
 
Chestermiller said:
It depends on what you choose for the boundary of your control volume. Does the control volume include the gears and oil? If so, ##P_{loss}=\dot E_g##.

No. This term is the rate of accumulation of heat within the control volume, and corresponds to your dEst/dt. This is not heat carried by flow into or out of the control volume. That would be covered by Edot,in. Edot,in includes heat by fluid flow into the control volume, heat conducted into the control volume through its boundary, and work done on the boundary of the control volume by the surroundings.

For more details, presenting the material in a more precise manner, see Bird, Stewart, and Lightfoot, Transport Phenomena.

Chet

Yes, there is gears and oil. Ok So it is

##\dot E_g -\dot E_{out}= \dot E_{st}##
thanks
 

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