Water mixing temperature- different flow rates

AI Thread Summary
To determine the resultant temperature of water mixing at different flow rates, the mass and energy balance equation is applied, specifically using enthalpy values for the respective flow rates. The equation h_3 = (m_dot1*h1 + m_dot2*h2) / (m_dot1 + m_dot2) is crucial, where m_dot represents mass flow rates and h represents enthalpy. It's important to ensure that the inlet temperatures are below the saturation temperature of water at the specified pressure to use this method accurately. If the enthalpy at the exit does not match a value in the steam table, interpolation can be used for a more precise temperature. This approach is more reliable than simply calculating a weighted average.
Elodie Sandou
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Homework Statement


What is the temperature of the resultant flow if you have 15 l/s of 14 degC water mixing with 76.4 l/s of 41 deg C water?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



delta T colder water = delta T warmer water
 
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Elodie Sandou said:

Homework Statement


What is the temperature of the resultant flow if you have 15 l/s of 14 degC water mixing with 76.4 l/s of 41 deg C water?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



delta T colder water = delta T warmer water

This would be a typical mixing chamber type problem, but you'll need to know the pressure. The mass and energy balance yields:

h_3 = \frac{\dot{m_1}h_1 + \dot{m_2}h_2}{\dot{m_1} + \dot{m_2}}

The m_dots with subs 1 and 2 are the respective mass flow rates coming into the mixing chamber. The h's are the respective enthalpies. They can be looked up in a steam table based on the inlet temperatures. This assumes of course that the inlet temperatures are below the saturation temperature of water at the specified pressure (i.e. it is in the compressed liquid state). Assuming that criterion is satisfied, the enthalpy of a compressed liquid can be approximated as a saturated liquid at the given temperature.

Once you have the enthalpy at the exit (h_3) you can look up the corresponding temperature in a steam table (or REFPROP if you have that database). If the exact enthalpy doesn't appear in your table you can interpolate and get a reasonable answer (depending on what accuracy you want).

Hope that helps.

CS
 
Dear CS,
Thank you very much for your help! I had asked 4 engineers previous to this, but they all suggested a weighted average. Thanks again.
 
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