Beirut Arab University

Department of Mechanical Engineering

MCHE-204 Foundation of Mechanical Engineering
Extra Exercises on First Law of Thermodynamics

Problem 1
A gas is compressed from an initial volume of 0.42 m3 to a final volume of 0.12
m3. During the process, the pressure changes with volume according to the
relation P = aV + b, where a = -1200 kPa/m3 and b = 600 kPa. Calculate the
work done during this process
(a) by plotting the process on a P-V diagram and finding the area under the
process curve
(b) by performing the necessary integrations.
Problem 2
Steam at a pressure of 9 bars and 0.9 dry occupies a volume of 0.42 m3 in the
cylinder of a steam engine. It is expanded according to the law PV 1.3 = C to
a pressure of 3 bars. Determine (a) the mass of steam present, (b) the final
volume, (c) the final dryness fraction, (d) the work done, (e) the change in
internal energy, and (f) the heat transfer.
Problem 3
Superheated steam enters a horizontal turbine at a pressure of 20 bar, a
temperature of 250C, and a velocity of 60 m/s. The steam leaves the turbine
at a pressure of 0.3 bar, a dryness fraction of 0.95, and a velocity of 300 m/s.
A heat loss of 15 kJ/kg of steam occurs during its passage through the turbine.
Determine for the steam flowing through the turbine: (a) the change in kinetic
energy per kg of steam, (b) the enthalpy per kg of steam at entry, (c) the
enthalpy per kg of steam at exit, (d) the work done by each kg of steam, and
(e) the total power produced if the mass flow rate is 5 kg/s.
Problem 4
A frictionless pistoncylinder device contains 2 kg of nitrogen at 27C. Nitrogen
is now compressed slowly according to the relation PV1.4 = constant until it
reaches a final temperature of 87C. Calculate the work input during this
process. The gas constant for nitrogen is R = 0.2968 kJ/kgK.