UNIVERSITY OF MALTA FACULTY OF ENGINEERING B.ENG. (HONS.

) COURSE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STREAM YEAR IV SEMESTER I JANUARY 2006 SESSION OF EXAMINATIONS MEC 4406 Thermal Environmental Engineering 0915 - 1145 hours This paper contains FIVE questions. You are to attempt FOUR. Stationery: Steam Tables Psychrometric Chart Freon 12 Chart Use of Calculators are allowed 27th January 2006

1.

A vapour compression refrigeration plant using Freon 12 is fitted with a liquid suction heat exchanger. At the compressor inlet the Freon enters with 15 of superheat. The plant has a refrigeration capacity of 40 kW and is to operate with a condenser temperature of 30 C and an evaporator temperature of -10 C. The compressor is a four cylinder single stage having an isentropic efficiency of 82 %, a volumetric efficiency of 85 % and runs at 20 rev/s. Assume that no pressure losses occur during the cyclic operation, determine: (i) (ii) (iii) power required to operate the plant coefficient of performance of the plant the compressor bore if the stroke = diameter.

Make a line diagram of the system and sketch a T-S diagram marking the salient points. (8, 8, 9 marks)

2.

Cooling water flows through a condenser at a rate of 12,000 kg/h. The coolant is itself cooled in a cooling tower, the water enters at 70 C and is collected in a pond at the tower base at 30 C. Cooling air enters the base of the tower at 15 C, 1.013 bar and R.H. = 60 %. It leaves the top of the tower which is 4 m in diameter at 31 C, 1.013 bar and 100 % saturated. Make-up water enters the collecting pond at 15 C. Calculate (i) the cooling air flow rate in m3/h (ii) the make-up water flow rate in kg/h (iii) the velocity of the air leaving the tower. (8, 8, 9 marks)
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3.

A room is to be maintained at 21 C (d.b.) and 50 % R.H. when the outside air conditions are 28 C (d.b.), 60 % R.H. The air is supplied to the room at 13 C and 40 % of it must be fresh air. The room has a sensible heat gain of 8.16 kW and a latent heat gain of 2.7 kW. If the a/c plant is to consist of a cooler, heater and a fan, determine (i) dew point temperature of the mixed air entering cooler; (ii) the load on the cooler; (iii) the load on the heater. (13, 6, 6 marks)

4.

A thermoelectric cooling module is made up of 80 p-n couples, each couple is 10 mm2 in cross-sectional area and 2.5 mm long. The module is to maintain a sensitive instrument at 288 K. When the module receives 12 amps the hot surface is at a temperature of 310 K. Determine: (i) the heat transferred from the instrument (ii) the C.O.P. of the cooling module (iii) maximum heat pumping (iv) C.O.P. at maximum heat pumping. Take

p = 218 v/k Kp = 1.25 W/mk p = 1.00 10-5ohm. M

n = 222 v/k n = 1.5 10-5 ohm. m

(6, 6, 6, 7 marks) Kn = 1.25 W/mk

5.

(a) A window measures 3 m wide by 2 m high. It is situated in a wall recess 0.3 m deep and it is positioned 15 West of South. Calculate the heat gained by the room for the following conditions: Suns altitude and azimuth 50 and 10 E respectively. Intensity of direct and diffused radiation 830 W/m2 and 175 W/m2 respectively. Inside room and outside room temperatures 17 C and 12 C respectively. Overall heat transfer coefficient (from room to outside) is 5 W/m2K. (17 marks) (b) Give the position of the window if it is rotated such that for the same Suns altitude and azimuth the window is completely shaded. Transmissivity through glass 0.8, absorptivity negligible. (8 marks)

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