How Do You Calculate Boiler Efficiency and Energy Transfer?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating boiler efficiency and energy transfer in a thermodynamics context. Participants are addressing a homework problem that involves determining the energy required to heat water and the efficiency of a boiler system.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a problem statement involving the heating of water and asks for help with calculations related to energy transfer and efficiency.
  • Participants provide hints regarding the importance of unit consistency and suggest reviewing the numeric information given in the problem statement.
  • There is a question raised about whether the water is simply heated to 100°C or if it is converted to steam at that temperature, which affects the need for latent heat in calculations.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about the necessity of certain values provided in the problem, indicating that not all may be relevant.
  • Concerns are raised about potential errors in transposing values for specific heat capacity and latent heat, prompting a request for clarification.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need to clarify the problem's requirements, particularly regarding the state of water at 100°C. However, there is no consensus on the correct approach to the calculations or the relevance of all provided values.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of unit consistency and the ambiguity in the problem regarding whether latent heat is necessary for the calculations. There are also unresolved questions about the relevance of certain parameters provided in the problem statement.

Aaron9890
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Thermodynamics question help?? is this right??

Homework Statement



A boiler is supplied with water at a rate of 0.3 kg/s through a pipe of diameter 50mm

a) calculate the energy per second that must be supplied to the boiler,raising the water temperature to 100C, when the water is supplied at 15C

b) If the input power to the boiler is 3.1GJ/h, Calculate the efficiency of the boiler and heat transfer process


The density of water - 1000kg/m^3
specific heat capacity for water - 4.7kj/kgK
latent heat evaporation for water - 2.26MJj /kg
steam pipe outside diameter - 55mm
steam pipe wall thickness - 2.5mm
modulus of elasticity for steel - 210GPA
coefficient of linear expansion of steel - 18 x 10^-6/C

Homework Equations



Q = MCAO + ML (mass flow rate x heat capacity x change in temp) + (mass flow rate x latent heat for evaporation of water)

Thermal efficiency = Q out / Q in

The Attempt at a Solution



M = 0.3 kg/s
c = 4.7 KJ/kgK in J = 4700J/kgK
AO = 100C - 15C = 85C
L -= 2.26MJ/KgK in J = 2260000J/kgK

so Q = MCAO + ML
Q = (0.3)x(4700)x(85) + (0.3) x (2260000)
Q = 797 850 J/s or 0.79785MJ/s


Thermal Efficency = Qout / Qin
Thermal Efficency = 797.850J / 3100000000J
=? (please help me out on this one)
 
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Hint: Watch your units.
 


for the efficiency??
 


Hint: Look at the numeric information given in the problem statement more closely.
 


Hint: how does the 50mm figure in?
 


all the values in the list there are at the bottom of the page i have, they are for a number of questions, i think there are 6 but only some will apply for this question. So i don't have to use them all!
 


Aaron9890 said:
all the values in the list there are at the bottom of the page i have, they are for a number of questions, i think there are 6 but only some will apply for this question. So i don't have to use them all!

Good, 'cause you can toss that one out.
 


c = 4.7 KJ/kgK in J = 4700J/kgK
L -= 2.26MJ/KgK in J = 2260000J/kgK

did i transpose on of these wrong
 


Well, there's a question here. Is the water just raised to 100oC or is it then changed to steam at 100oC? The question doesn't say. If the former, do you need L? (I suppose 'boiler' does imply steam but who knows ...)

Anyway, like Lawrence told you - watch your units. What should the units of L be, assuming you need L in the first place?
 

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