Thermodynamics: water in a piston-cylinder device

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on a thermodynamics problem involving a piston-cylinder device containing steam at 3.5 MPa, superheated by 5°C. The user seeks to determine the initial temperature, enthalpy change, and final state of the water after cooling to 200°C. The initial temperature is calculated using saturation tables, while the enthalpy change is derived from the difference between the enthalpy of saturated liquid and superheated steam at the given pressure. The final state of the water requires additional intensive properties to ascertain whether a mixture exists at the final conditions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of steam tables and saturation properties
  • Knowledge of enthalpy calculations in thermodynamics
  • Familiarity with the concepts of superheated and saturated states
  • Basic principles of piston-cylinder devices in thermodynamic systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Study steam tables for various pressures and temperatures
  • Learn about enthalpy change calculations in phase transitions
  • Research the properties of saturated and superheated steam
  • Explore the behavior of fluids in piston-cylinder devices under constant pressure
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students and professionals in mechanical engineering, particularly those focusing on thermodynamics, as well as anyone involved in the design and analysis of thermal systems using piston-cylinder devices.

fishingspree2
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Homework Statement


A piston–cylinder device initially contains steam at
3.5 MPa, superheated by 5°C. Now, steam loses heat to the
surroundings and the piston moves down hitting a set of stops
at which point the cylinder contains saturated liquid water.
The cooling continues until the cylinder contains water at
200°C. Determine (a) the initial temperature, (b) the enthalpy
change per unit mass of the steam by the time the piston first
hits the stops, and (c) the final pressure and the quality (if
mixture).

2. The attempt at a solution

a. is easy... I lookup Tsat@3.5MPA in a table and add 5°C to it.

b) we are looking for h2-h1 where h2 is hf@3.5MPA,Tsat and h1 is hg@3.5MPA,Tsat+5

c) This is where I am stuck. I only have one intensive property, which is temperature=200°C. I need to find another one to find the state of the final water. Since it is impossible to tell whether or not we have a mixture with the temperature and the pressure only, I am guessing the other intensive property I need to find is the specifc volume. However I have no idea how to do that.

After the piston hits the stops, the volume is constant and the pressure changes. Thus, if at 200°C we still have some gas, then obviously the final pressure is Psat@200°C. However, I can't tell if we still have some gas.

Can anyone please help
Thank you
 
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I think what is happening here is that they expect you to assume that the pressure is constant through the changes at 3.5 MPa.
 

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