MEC451 THERMODYNAMICS JAN-APR 2011

ASSIGNMENT 2

QUESTION 1

a) An automotive engine rejects 190 kW of heat at 35°C. The engine consumes fuel at
a rate of 6 g/s. If the fuel has a heating value of 44,000 kJ/kg, determine the thermal
efficiency of this engine. What is the highest thermal efficiency that can be achieved
by this engine if the highest cycle temperature is 1027°C?
(8 marks)

b) Air enters an adiabatic nozzle steadily at 300 kPa, 600 K and 250 m/s and leaves at
100 kPa. The inlet area of the nozzle is 100 cm2. If the isentropic efficiency of the
nozzle is 85 percent, determine:

i) the mass flow rate of air through the nozzle (kg/s), and
ii) the exit velocity of air (m/s).

Take density and specific heat of air to be 1.184 kg/m 3 and 1.005 kJ/kg.K
respectively.
(12 marks)

QUESTION 2

A four-cylinder spark ignition engine has a bore of 60 mm, a stroke of 88 mm and clearance
volume of 25.8 cm3. The pressure and temperature at the beginning of compression are 1
bar and 15 °C respectively. The maximum temperature in the cycle is 800 °C at the end of
constant volume heat transfer. Its rated speed is 2500 rpm and it is tested at this speed
against a brake which has a torque arm of 45 cm. The net brake load is 130 N and the fuel
consumption is 5.81 l/h. The specific gravity of the petrol used is 0.81 and it has a net
calorific value of 40,000 kJ/kg. The engine is tested in an atmospheric condition at 101.325
kPa and 15°C and the air-fuel ratio of 14.5/1.

For the engine described above, calculate:

i) the thermal efficiency,
ii) the engine torque,
iii) the brake thermal efficiency,
iv) the specific fuel consumption, and
v) the volumetric efficiency of the engine.

Take k = 1.4 and Cv = 0.718 kJ/kg.K

(20 marks)

QUESTION 6
MEC451 THERMODYNAMICS JAN-APR 2011
ASSIGNMENT 2

A steam power plant operates on a Rankine cycle. Steam enters the turbine at 10 MPa and
the quality of steam entering the condenser is measured as 88 percent at 10 kPa. The net
work output of the cycle is 598.21 kJ/kg and the efficiency of the pump is 95 percent.

Show the cycle on a T-s diagram and determine:

i) the isentropic efficiency of the turbine, and

ii) the thermal efficiency of the power plant.
(20 marks)