How can enthalpy values be calculated for an isothermal process involving steam?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating enthalpy values for an isothermal process involving steam, particularly focusing on the initial and final enthalpy values, the role of dryness fraction, and the implications of heat addition in such processes.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks relevant equations for determining initial and final enthalpy values during an isothermal process, questioning whether enthalpy changes at all.
  • Another participant suggests that if the process involves condensation, the final enthalpy value will depend on the condition of the working fluid at the exit, indicating that if saturated water is present, the final enthalpy can be found at the same temperature as the inlet.
  • A third participant proposes an equation related to energy balance, which includes terms for heat transfer, work, and mass flow, but does not specify how it directly applies to the enthalpy calculation in this context.
  • Another participant explains that for a saturated liquid-vapor mixture, if heat is added at constant pressure, the final enthalpy can be calculated by adding the heat to the initial enthalpy. They also note that during isothermal heat addition, enthalpy increases until the mixture becomes saturated vapor, after which it remains constant, mentioning a pressure drop and volume increase.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on how enthalpy behaves during isothermal processes, particularly regarding whether it changes and how to calculate final values based on different conditions of the working fluid. No consensus is reached on the specific approach to take.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding the conditions of the working fluid, such as whether it is saturated or in a mixture state, are not fully clarified. The applicability of the proposed equations to the specific scenario remains uncertain.

Jameseyboy
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What equations are relevant to finding the initial and final enthalpy values of an isothermal process?

There is an initial dryness fraction and a heat value is also added.

I know how to use steam tables to find the initial value of H but not the final. Does H even change?

Thanks
 
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You need to provide a bit more detail about the specific problem. Suppose you are referring to condensation which is essentially isothermal heat rejection. So if you know the inital value of h (from an assumption of isentropic expansion through the turbine, for example), the final value of h will depend on the condition of the working fluid at the end. If you are told saturated water is present at the exit, that just means you can find the value of hf at the same temperature as that at the inlet (isothermal, T=constant).
 
I think this equation might solve your problem.

\frac{dE}{dt}=\dot{Q}-\dot{W}+\overbrace{\sum_{i}\dot{m_i}\left(h_i+\frac{v_{i}^{2}}{2}+z_i \right)}^{Inlet flow}-\overbrace{\sum_{j}\dot{m_j}\left(h_j+\frac{v_{j}^{2}}{2}+z_j \right)}^{Outlet flow}
 
I assume you know how to find the enthalpy of a saturated liquid- vapour mixture. If heat is transferred at constant pressure, ie. at saturation pressure, just add the amount of heat to the initial enthalpy value, to get to the final enthalpy value.
If heat addition is not isobaric, but isothermal, the enthalpy should increase till the mixture gets converted into saturated vapour. Beyond that, it would remain constant. You will see a pressure drop and increase in volume.
 

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