Thermodynamics friction less piston problem

In summary, the conversation discusses an ideal friction-less cylinder-piston arrangement with a free-moving piston and two sets of stops. The volume available for the contained fluid is 0.5 m3 when the piston is on the lower stops and 0.7 m3 when it reaches the upper stops. The piston has a mass that requires an internal pressure of 3.5 bar to lift it. The system contains a liquid-vapour mixture of water at 1 bar and 14% quality at State 1. It is heated until the water is fully evaporated, resulting in a saturated vapour at State 2. The initial temperature is determined to be 99.6 degrees c. The final pressure is 5.67
  • #1
annnoyyying
44
0

Homework Statement


Consider an ideal friction-less cylinder-piston arrangement, in which the piston is free to move between two sets of stops. When the piston rests on the lower stops, the volume available for the contained fluid is 0.5 m3; when the piston reaches the upper stops, the volume is 0.7 m3. The piston has a mass such that an internal pressure of 3.5 bar is required to lift it.

Initially (State 1), the system contains a liquid-vapour mixture of water at 1 bar and 14% quality. The system is heated until the water is fully evaporated (i.e., to saturated vapour; State 2).

a) Determine the initial temperature in the cylinder.

b) Determine the final pressure and temperature in the cylinder.

c) Calculate the work done by the fluid.

d) What is the heat transferred during the process?

If the system in State 1 was cooled, instead of heated, to ambient temperature (25ºC; State 3) what would be the final pressure, and what would be the quality?

Homework Equations


for closed system, du = q+w
w = -PdV

The Attempt at a Solution


The initial temperature is 99.6 degrees c according to the steam tables. (because the temperature has to be the temperature of saturation at 1 bar or else there would be no liquid-vapour coexistence?)
at quality = 0.14
specific volume of saturated liquid = 0.001043 m3/kg
specific volume of saturated vapour = 1.6939 m3/kg
using x=(v-vl)/(vg-vl)
(v being specific volume of vapour liquid, vl being specific volume of saturated liquid, vg being specific volume of saturated vapour)
v = 0.2380 m3/kg
taking 1kg water basis,
V = 0.2380 m3
but initial volume available in the cylinder for the water is 0.5m3
so actual mass of water present to begin with is 0.5/0.2380 = 2.1kg

I'm thinking that at state 2 the specific volume is going to be 0.3333m3/kg as the volume will now be 0.7m3 instead of 0.5m3, so 0.7/2.1 = 0.3333 The pressure is 5.67 bar with a temperature of 156.6 degrees c?

If the above is correct, then comes the question of how the process is going to be like (on a pv diagram)...
Please shed some light on this.
 
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  • #2
Your results are correct so far. Here's a hint: You now have enough information without doing any more calculations to precisely establish the entire P vs V variation from State 1 to State 2.

Chet
 
  • #3
How should the full process look like though? Say if it is isochoric from state 1 to 8.1 bar with heating, does it turn into saturated vapour? How does it proceed to state 2? Does the saturated vapour at 8.1 bar get isobarically heated to superheated steam to the specific volume in state 2 then back down to saturated vapour at the reduced pressure at state 2? So basically up to intersect saturated vapour, across to superheated region, then down again to saturated vapour?
 
  • #4
annnoyyying said:
How should the full process look like though? Say if it is isochoric from state 1 to 8.1 bar with heating, does it turn into saturated vapour? How does it proceed to state 2? Does the saturated vapour at 8.1 bar get isobarically heated to superheated steam to the specific volume in state 2 then back down to saturated vapour at the reduced pressure at state 2? So basically up to intersect saturated vapour, across to superheated region, then down again to saturated vapour?
No. None of this. You start out at 1 bar and 0.5 m3. The piston starts to rise when you get to 3.5 bar and 0.5 m3. During the time that the volume is between 0.5 m3 and 0.7 m3, the piston holds the pressure in the cylinder constant at 3.5 bar. After the piston hits the stop, the volume stops increasing, and the pressure begins rising again, reaching 5.67 Bars at State 2. So, how much work is done?

Chet
 
  • #5
So on the pv diagram there should be a straight line going up from state one to 3.5 bar, then a horizontal line at 3.5 bar from 0.2380 to 0.3333, then another straight line up to 5.67 bar to intersect with the saturated steam line?
Work can only be done at the horizontal stage?
 
  • #6
annnoyyying said:
So on the pv diagram there should be a straight line going up from state one to 3.5 bar, then a horizontal line at 3.5 bar from 0.2380 to 0.3333, then another straight line up to 5.67 bar to intersect with the saturated steam line?
Work can only be done at the horizontal stage?
Yes and yes. Don't forget to multiply by the mass, or use the actual volumes.

Chet
 
Last edited:
  • #7
So i calculated the work done to be -70 kj and the total heat transferred to be 3969 kj
What happens to the water if it was cooled to 25 degrees c from state 1? The volume stays at0
 
  • #8
What happens to the water if it was cooled to 25 degrees from the initial state. Does the specific volume remain the same? If the specific volume stays the same then pressure decreases and quality increases?
 
  • #9
annnoyyying said:
So i calculated the work done to be -70 kj and the total heat transferred to be 3969 kj
What happens to the water if it was cooled to 25 degrees c from state 1? The volume stays at0
I get +70 kJ for the work done by the gas. Please show the details of how you got the heat.
 
  • #10
annnoyyying said:
What happens to the water if it was cooled to 25 degrees from the initial state. Does the specific volume remain the same? If the specific volume stays the same then pressure decreases and quality increases?
The combined weighted average specific volume stays the same. The quality decreases.

Chet
 
  • #11
Oh yes the work is +70kj by the gas being -70kj done on the fluid.
Working to find heat:
Closed system, du=q+w
No work done at vertical stages 1 bar to 3.5bar and 3.5bar to 5.67 bar so du=q.
For isobaric evapouration stage, du=q+w, W is -70kj as calculated before, do some algebra and cancel out, only need u values for initial and final states to find q as u is a state variable. So Q = U final - U initial - W
 
  • #12
annnoyyying said:
Oh yes the work is +70kj by the gas being -70kj done on the fluid.
Working to find heat:
Closed system, du=q+w
No work done at vertical stages 1 bar to 3.5bar and 3.5bar to 5.67 bar so du=q.
For isobaric evapouration stage, du=q+w, W is -70kj as calculated before, do some algebra and cancel out, only need u values for initial and final states to find q as u is a state variable. So Q = U final - U initial - W
You're confident that you determined Uinitial correctly, yes?

Chet
 
  • #13
according to my steam tables (rogers and mayhew)
at state 1
u liquid = 417 kJ/kg
u vapour = 2506 kJ/kg
quality = 0.14
u initial = 417 + 0.14(2506-417) = 709.46 kJ/kg

at state 2
u vapour = u final = 2566 kJ/kg

du = 1856.54 kJ/kg
2.1 kg water present = dU = 3898.7 kJ
Q = dU - W = 3898.7- (-70) = 3968.7 kJ
 
  • #14
annnoyyying said:
according to my steam tables (rogers and mayhew)
at state 1
u liquid = 417 kJ/kg
u vapour = 2506 kJ/kg
quality = 0.14
u initial = 417 + 0.14(2506-417) = 709.46 kJ/kg

at state 2
u vapour = u final = 2566 kJ/kg

du = 1856.54 kJ/kg
2.1 kg water present = dU = 3898.7 kJ
Q = dU - W = 3898.7- (-70) = 3968.7 kJ
Looks good. Very nice job.

Chet
 
  • #15
Thank you very much for your help. I would not have been able to do this without you.
 
  • #16
annnoyyying said:
Thank you very much for your help. I would not have been able to do this without you.
Don't be so hard on yourself. All you needed was a few hints. My impression was that you had a feel for this, but needed some experience.

Chet
 
  • #17
Yes I was struggling to start the problem. But I am still extremely grateful for your help.
 

1. What is a frictionless piston problem in thermodynamics?

A frictionless piston problem in thermodynamics is a theoretical scenario where a piston is able to move without any resistance or friction. This allows for simplified calculations and analysis of thermodynamic processes.

2. How is a frictionless piston problem different from a real-life piston?

In real-life, there is always some amount of friction between moving parts, including a piston. This friction results in energy loss and affects the efficiency of the system. In a frictionless piston problem, this factor is eliminated for theoretical analysis purposes.

3. What are some key assumptions made in a frictionless piston problem?

Some key assumptions made in a frictionless piston problem include the absence of friction, constant temperature, and an ideal gas system with no energy transfer in the form of heat. These assumptions help simplify the problem and make it more manageable for analysis.

4. What are some applications of frictionless piston problems in thermodynamics?

Frictionless piston problems are commonly used in thermodynamics to analyze and understand various processes and systems, such as heat engines, refrigeration cycles, and gas turbines. They also help in developing theoretical models and predicting the behavior of real-life systems.

5. How do frictionless piston problems relate to the laws of thermodynamics?

Frictionless piston problems are closely related to the laws of thermodynamics, particularly the first and second laws. The first law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed, while the second law states that in any natural process, the total entropy of the system and its surroundings will always increase. Frictionless piston problems help in understanding and applying these laws in thermodynamic systems.

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