Lab Manual

ABSTRACT
Marcet Boiler is a bench top unit designed for the demonstration of the basic principal of boiling
phenomenon to study the relationship between the pressure and temperature of saturated steam in
equilibrium with water. This experiment was also conducted to demonstrate the vapour pressure
curve. Water at room temperature was boiled until 185.0 C and every changes of pressure, the
temperature was recorded until 10.0 bar. Air was removed first to avoid any of inaccuracy. After
the heater was turned off and being cooled, the temperature was recorded again until the steam
pressure reached atmospheric pressure. The reading of increase and decrease in temperature was
being calculated to find temperature at average. Average temperature at first reading is 106.15 C
and increase until184.60 C with 29 readings. The graph also shows that the curve of pressure
and temperature are directly proportional as the temperature increase with pressure. The graph of
absolute pressure against dT/dP (measured slope) was slightly deviate compared to absolute pres
sure against Tvg/hfg (calculated slope). This occurred maybe because of a few errors during the
experiment was conducted. Steam was allowed to come out from the vent valve for about
30seconds before the valve was closed is the main procedure. Air maybe not completely flowed
out from the valve so the reading was not being constantly increased. Besides that, maybe
temperature was taken while the pressure still not stable

EXPERIMENT 5: MARCET BOILER

1.0 OBJECTIVE
i.

To demonstrate the relationship between the pressure and temperature of saturated steam
in equilibrium with water

ii.

To determine the vapour pressure curve.

2.0 THEORY/INTRODUCTION
An ideal gas obeys the equation of state that relates the pressure, specific volume or density, and
absolute temperature with mass of molecule and the gas constant, R.
PV

Where,
P= Absolute pressure
V= Volume
n= Amount of substance (moles)
R= Ideal gas constant

mRT
M

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T= Absolute temperature (K)

However, real gas does not absolutely obey the equation of state. A few changes on the ideal
gas equation of state allow its application in the properties of real gas.
When energy increases within water, the increasing of activities among the molecules
enables the increase in the number of molecule escape from the surface until an equilibrium state
is reached. The state of equilibrium depends on the pressure between the water surface and
steam. At lower pressure, the molecules become easier leaving the water surface while less
energy required in achieving the state of equilibrium (boiling point). The temperature where
equilibrium occurs at a given pressure level is called saturated temperature.
The Marcet Boiler is used to investigate the relationship between the pressure and
temperature of saturated steam in equilibrium with water at all temperature levels between the
atmospheric pressure and 10 bars. The experimental slope (dT/dP)SAT obtained is compared to the
theoretical value determined through calculation from the steam table. Clausius-Clapeyron
states:

dT

dP
dT

dP

SAT

SAT

Tv fg
h fg

T (v f v g )
h f hg

Where,
h f +hfg =hg
h fg =hg h f

dT

dP

SAT

In which,
vf = specific volume of saturated liquid
vg = specific volume of saturated vapor
hf = enthalpy of saturated liquid
hg = enthalpy of saturated vapor
hfg = latent heat of vaporization

T (v f v g )
h fg

Tv g
h fg

as vg >> vf

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3.0 APPARATUS
i.

HE169 Marcet boiler which shown in Figure 1

a.

Pressure transducer

b.

Temperature controller/Indicator

c.

Pressure indicator

d.

Control panel

e.

Bench

f.

Bourdon tube pressure gauge

g.

Temperature sensor

h.

Pressure relief valve

i.

Water inlet port & valve

j.

Heater

Figure 1: HE169 Marcet boiler

4.0 PROCEDURES
1. Turn on the power supply switch.
2. If the boiler is initially filled with water, open the valves at the level side tube to check
the water level. Pour in additional distilled water if necessary. Then, close the valves.
3. Set the temperature controller to 185C, which is slightly above the expected boiling
point of the water at 10 bar (abs).
4. Open the valve at feed port and turn on the heater.

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Important: Always make sure that the valves at the level sight tube are closed before
turning on the heater as the sight tube is not designed to withstand high pressure and
temperature.
5. Observe the steam temperature rising as the water boils.
6. Allow steam to come out from the valve for about 30 seconds, and then close the valve.
This step is important to remove air from the boiler as the accuracy of the experimental
results will be significantly affected when air is present.
7. Record the steam temperature and pressure when the boiler is heated until the steam
pressure reaches 10 bar (abs).
Warning: Never open the valves when the boiler is heated as pressurized steam can
cause severe injury.
8. Then, turn off the heater and the steam temperature and pressure will begin to drop.
Allow boiler cool down to room temperature.
9. Record the steam temperatures at different pressure readings when the boiler is heated
and cooled.
10. Switch off the heater and allow the boiler temperature to drop.
Note: Do not open the valve at the water inlet port as it is highly pressurized at high
temperature.
5.0 RESULTS
Atmospheric pressure

: _____________ bar

Atmospheric temperature

: _____________ (0C)

Lab Manual

Table 1 Data Collected and Calculated Results

Pressure, P (bar)

i.
ii.
iii.

Temperature, T
Measured
Slope,
dT/dP

Calculated
Slope,
Tvg/hfg

absolut
e

Gauge

Increase
(0C)

Decrease
(0C)

Average
Tavc (0C)

Average
Tavc (K)

1.0

0.5

99.85

99.85

99.85

372.85

0.2773

1.5

1.0

111

111

111

384

0.2025

2.0

1.5

130.15

110.15

120.15

393.15

0.1584

2.5

2.0

127.5

127.5

127.50

400.50

0.1329

3.0

2.5

133.75

133.75

133.75

406.75

0.1134

3.5

3.0

139.15

139.95

139.95

412.95

0.1001

4.0

3.0

143.95

143.9

143.9

416.95

0.0663

4.5

3.5

148.30

148.30

421.30

0.0816

5.0

4.0

152.20

152.2

152.2

425.2

0.0751

5.5

4.5

155.90

155.9

155.9

428.90

0.0694

6.0

5.0

159.30

159.3

159.3

432.30

0.06478

6.5

5.5

162.45

162.45

162.45

435.45

0.06087

7.0

6.0

165.40

165.4

165.4

438.40

0.05108

7.5

6.5

168.20

168.4

168.4

441.40

0.04552

8.0

7.0

170.80

170.8

170.8

443.80

0.04632

148.30

Prepare a graph with temperature, T against absolute pressure, P.

Measure/calculate the slope of the graph using certain points.
Tv fg
dT

h
Plot dP SAT versus P and fg versus P on a same graph.

6.0 DISCUSSION
i.

Give the reason why it is necessary to remove air from the boiler at the beginning of the

ii.

experiment.
Compare the graph plotted from experiment data to that of the calculated data with

iii.

explanation.
Comment on any discrepancy and sources of error of the experiment.

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iv.

Discuss the liquid and vapor behavior observed through the experiment and list some
examples of its industrial applications.
Discussion:
Marcet boiler was made by Nathan Chamberlain, Boston, USA, in the year1850. He
made this boiler for measuring the vapor pressure of saturated liquid. Later this Marcet
boiler was used to study the evaporation filtration of water. Pressure and temperature are
two fundamental quantities of materials in thermodynamics. These two factors have
relation directly proportional to each other.
When a container contains saturated liquid and are heated to its boiling
temperature, the liquid will be changing its state from liquid to steam. If the steam
are not allowed to escape from the container, their internal pressure will increase.
Because, when the liquid becomes gas by heating, the internal molecular energy will
increase and the atoms will be more excited. All the excited atoms will hit each other and
split with more speed or velocities. As their mass remains constant, so their forces on
each other will increases. And when their forces on them increases, and are not allowed
to occupy more area, they exerts pressure on the container, which gradually increases
with temperature. Hence it is calculated and proved from the graph, that temperature is
directly proportional to the pressure. The error percentage should not cross or exceed
10%, as the experiment was done in enclosed surface and no volume of experimenting
samples are allowed to escape from the system. That is done in closed system It is
important to remove gas at the beginning to avoid the flaws of reading due to
pressure difference .Marcet boiler is being used as water boiler, gasifier, power plant,
cooking utensils, steam plant industries, etc

Conculsion:
From the experiment, it is found from the graph and calculation, temperature of a
saturated steam is directly proportional to the pressure in equilibrium with water. The
percentage error on the experiment for first two values were found higher than those third
value and onward. This happened due to take improper reading from the pressure gauze
and some technical fault. The rest of the result for
Percentage error are found O zero percent, which is also not practically possible.
This happened due to taking the two figure after decimal, which reduce the contrast of the
reading. Disgracing some negligible faults, this experiment can be consider successful, to
improve the result of the experiment, it should be carried out at room temperature
switching off all the air-conditions, and also by repeating the experiment and taking the
average value. If some insulation were kept on the Marcet boiler to reduce heat loss, the
experiment could be more accurate