DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology

University of the Philippines Los Baos
College, Laguna 4031 Philippines Telefax No. (063) 49-536-2315

ChE 142 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS I

PROBLEM SET NO. 2
Prepared by: Prof. Myra G. Borines

1. An ideal gas, initially at 30 0C and 100 kPa undergoes the following

cyclic processes in a closed system:

a. In mechanically reversible processes, it is first compressed

adiabatically to 500 kPa, then cooled at constant pressure of 500
kPa to 30 0C and finally expanded isothermally to its original state.
b. The cycle traverses exactly the same changes of state but each
step is irreversible with an efficiency of 80% compared with the
corresponding mechanically reversible process.

Calculate Q, W, U and H for each step of the process and for the cycle.
Take Cp= 7/2 R and Cv= 5/2 R.

2. One mole of an ideal gas Cp 7 2 R and Cv R undergoes a two-step

5
2
process: (1) From T = 800 K and P = 4 bar the gas is cooled at constant
volume to T = 300 K; (2) the gas is then heated at constant pressure until
its temperature reaches 800 K. If this two-step process is replaced by a
single isothermal expansion of the gas from 800 K and 4 bar to some final
pressure P, what is the value of P that makes the work of the two
processes the same?

3. A rigid, non-conducting tank with a volume of 120 ft3 is divided into two
equal parts by a thin membrane. Hydrogen gas is contained on both sides
of the membrane. On one side its temperature and pressure are 300 oF
and 5 psia, and on the other side 100 0F and 20 psia.
The membrane is suddenly ruptured and complete mixing results. What
is the final temperature of the gas? Hydrogen may be considered an ideal
gas with Cp 7 and Cv=5 Btu/lb 0F.
4. A 10 ft3 tank is used to contain propane with a bursting pressure of 400
psia. Safety considerations dictate that the tank be charged with no more
propane than would exert a pressure half of the bursting pressure at a
temperature of 260 0F. How many pound mass of propane may be
charged to the tank? Note that propane at these conditions cannot be
considered an ideal gas.

5. For each given condition, predict the state of the substance (i.e
subcooled liquid, saturated vapor, etc)?

a. Water at 647.1 K and 220.55 bar

b. Methane at 200 K and 1 atm. Methane has a normal boiling point
of 111.4 K.
c. A substance at 160 K and 1 atm if its boiling point is 184.6 K at 1
atm.

6. The specific volume of isobutane liquid at 300 K and 4 bar is 1.824

cm3/g. Estimate the specific volume at 415 K and 75 bar.

ANSWERS:

1.
Step Reversible Process (J/mol) Irreversible Process (J/mol)
U H Q W U H Q W
1 3678.53 5149.94 0 3678.53 3678.53 5149.94 -919.63 4598.16
2 -3678.53 -5149.94 -5149.94 1471.41 -3678.53 -5149.94 -5517.79 1839.26
3 0 0 4056.41 -4056.41 0 0 3245.13 -3245.13
cycle 0 0 -1093.53 1093.53 0 0 -3192.28 3192.28

2. P= 2.14 bar

3. T=131.11 0F

4. m= 12.50 lbs

5. a) saturated liquid and saturated vapor in equilibrium

b) superheated vapor
c) subcooled liquid

6. 2.5 cm3/g