Mechanical Engineering Placement Thermodynamics Problem

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a thermodynamics problem related to a mechanical engineering placement, specifically focusing on the compression of hydrogen gas in a pump. Participants are addressing the application of the first law of thermodynamics, the ideal gas law, and the characteristics of adiabatic and polytropic processes.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their struggle with applying the first law of thermodynamics to the problem, indicating they have calculated internal energy and enthalpy but are uncertain about the next steps.
  • Another participant suggests using the ideal gas law with the known pressures and temperatures, emphasizing the implications of the adiabatic process on heat transfer.
  • A question is raised about whether pressure can be removed from the closed loop in the first law of thermodynamics, indicating a need for clarification on the application of the law.
  • There is a mention of needing to determine the polytropic index and constant for the polytropic process, suggesting that this aspect requires further exploration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to have differing views on the application of the first law of thermodynamics and the ideal gas law, with no consensus reached on how to proceed with the calculations or the treatment of pressure in the equations.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the integration of pressure into the first law and the specific characteristics of the polytropic process, indicating potential limitations in their understanding of these concepts.

Who May Find This Useful

Students and professionals in mechanical engineering, particularly those studying thermodynamics and gas compression processes.

bianca1992
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Hi all I am struggling with this classs example

A pump compressing hydrogen from a low pressure to a high pressure tank where the tanks pressure is constant and H2 is an ideal gas.
Hydrogen: (H2: MW = 2, Cv = 10 kJ/kgK)
Low pressure tank: (P = 4 bar, T = 30oC)
High pressure tank: (P = 100 bar).

1) Apply the first law of thermodynamics eliminating terms not needed
2) Find the compressor outlet temp when the compression goes along an adiabatic and polytrophic process
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Since you stated this is a homework problem, what formulas are you using and what have you attempted so far?
 
Hi,

For the first law I have used Q-W = difference in energy and attempted to find the temp via finding the internal energy and enthalpy using deltau = cv x delta T and delta h = cp x delta T where I got 8520 KJ and 12063 KJ but now I am not sure how if I should integrate and remove pressure from the first law and find the temp now.
 
The problem states that Hydrogen can be considered an ideal gas, so it seems to me that all you really need to do is apply the ideal gas law using pressure and temperature at the input, and pressure at the output. Adiabatic means there is no heat entering or leaving the system during the process, so the gas is not cooled or heated by any other process.

As for the polytropic process, that will take a bit of fitting work to figure out what the polytropic index and constant is. Are you familiar with a polytropic process's form?
 
firstly for the first law does one simply remove pressure from the closed loop first law of thermodynamics?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
7K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
5K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
6K