Moving boundary with electrical input

AI Thread Summary
The problem involves an insulated piston-cylinder device containing 5L of saturated liquid water at 175kPa, where half of the liquid evaporates during a constant pressure process while a paddle wheel does 400kJ of work. The electrical input is provided by a current of 8A flowing for 45 minutes through a resistor, and the voltage needs to be determined. The energy balance equation is set up as V*I*t + P(V_1 - V_2) + 400kJ = U_2 - U_1, where U values are derived from property tables for saturated water. To find the mass of water, the initial temperature corresponding to the saturation pressure must be identified, allowing for the calculation of specific volume and ultimately the voltage. The discussion highlights the need for clarity on initial conditions and properties to solve for the desired voltage.
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Homework Statement


Insulated piston-cylinder device contains 5L of saturated liquid water at constant pressure of 175kPa. Water is stirred by a paddle wheel. A current of 8A flows for 45 minutes through a resistor in the water.

If 1/2 of the liquid is evaporated during the constant pressure process and the paddle wheel work is 400kJ determine the voltage of the source.


Homework Equations


V=IR
v_avg = v_f + X*v_fg
Wboundary = integral(P*dV)

The Attempt at a Solution



There is no heat loss so no Q_out
I took 1/2 of the liquid evaporating to mean that quality, X is 1/2.

The energy balance would be Q - W = dU + dKE + dPE. KE and PE are both zero.

Electrical work is V*I*t

This is constant pressure so Wboundary = P*(V_1 - V_2)

So, with all this summarized I -think- I get.

V*I*t + P(V_1 - V_2) + 400kJ = U_2 - U_1

To get U_2 and U_1 I looked in my property table for saturated water at 175kPa

U_1 is 487 kJ/kg
I used U_avg = U_f + X*U_fg to find U_2
U_2 = 487 + 0.5 * 2038
U_2 = 1505 kJ/kg

So I am stuck with some unit of kJ/kg. How do I get rid of these kg^-1? I'm guessing I do something with v (specific volume) based on how many liters of water I have.

I also need the Volumes.

Could someone help? Thank you
 
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They tell you the initial volume of water. But it seems that you would have to know the initial temperature (not given) and pressure (given) in order to figure out how many kg of water there are. Perhaps you are to assume room temperature at the beginning?
 
Ah, wait. At what temperature is liquid water saturated, when P=175 kPa? That will be the initial temperature. From that you can figure out the density of water, and hence the mass.
 
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