How can you determine the mass flow rate

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the mass flow rate of cooling water in a Rankine cycle, given specific parameters such as net power output and temperature changes. The context includes homework-related inquiries and technical explanations regarding heat transfer and specific heat calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that the mass flow rate is constant throughout the system and seeks to relate it to the power output and temperature change.
  • Another participant suggests using the equation for heat transfer, indicating that the mass flow rate can be calculated from the heat absorbed by the water as its temperature increases.
  • There is a clarification that Q represents the heat out at the condenser and that Cp is the specific heat at constant pressure for water.
  • One participant emphasizes the need to evaluate Cp at the mean temperature between the inlet and outlet temperatures of the cooling water.
  • Questions arise regarding how to find Cp and the value of Q dot, with one participant noting that Q dot is given as 100 MW.
  • Another participant mentions that Cp can be found in steam tables, which list properties of substances at various temperatures.
  • A participant shares a related example problem involving different parameters and expresses uncertainty about finding Cp in the steam table.
  • There is a question regarding the interpretation of heat transfer rates in the context of power input and net power.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about specific values and methods for calculating the mass flow rate and Cp. There is no consensus on the best approach to solve the problem, and multiple viewpoints on the interpretation of the data are presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need for specific heat values and the application of steam tables, indicating potential limitations in accessing or interpreting this information. The discussion also highlights the dependence on definitions and assumptions related to heat transfer and thermodynamic principles.

Who May Find This Useful

Students and individuals studying thermodynamics, particularly those working on Rankine cycle problems or related heat transfer calculations.

darkmagic
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Homework Statement



How can you determine the mass flow rate, given that net power output is 100 MW, of the cooling water if it enters the condenser at 20 C and leaves at 35 C.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I thought that mass flow rate is the same all through out. I have the power and the net work but the required is mass flow rate at those given temperature.

The question is from the rankine cycle.
 
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How can the problem be solved, the mass flow rate of the cooling water at the condenser?
 
You have the power lost at 100MW.

The heat lost is absorbed by the water, making it's temperature rise from 20 C to 35 C.

[tex]\dot{Q}[/tex] = [tex]\dot{m}[/tex][tex]C_{p}[/tex][tex]\left(T - Ti)[/tex]

That's the mass flow-rate you require to achieve the required heat loss.
 
Q is the Q out at the condenser and the cp is the specific heat at constant pressure of water?
 
[tex]\dot{Q}[/tex] in this case is the flowrate of heat, which is measured in Watts.

[tex]C_{p}[/tex] is the specific heat of water flowing through a control volume, which in this case is your condensor. Evaluate the specific heat at the mean temperature [tex]T_{m}[/tex], which is simply the average between the outlet and inlet temperatures.
 
how can i know cp and Q dot?
 
[tex]C_{p}[/tex] can be found from generic steam tables that list the properties of substances at different temperatures.

[tex]\dot{Q}[/tex] is already given to you.
 
so Q dot is the 100MW. In what part of the steam table can I find the cp values?
 
Here is an example problem:

net power output is 45MW
Turbine inlet pressure and temperature are 7MPa and 500C
Condenser pressure of 10kPa
Cooling water rate of 2000kg/s

Find:

thermal efficiency of the cycle
mass flow rate of steam
temperature rise of cooling water

I got the thermal efficiency, which is 38.9% and
mass flow rate of 35.998 kg/s

I do not know the temperature rise.
What should I do?
I do not know where the cp can be found at the steam table.

Additional question:

What can be mean by this?

The heat transfer to the steam in the boiler occurs at the rate of 400000 kW.
Does this mean that the power input in the boiler is 400000 kW? or
This mean that the net power is 400000 kW?
 
  • #10
what do i do next?
 
  • #11
Please someone answer me
 
  • #12
how can this be done?
 

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