What is Mechanical Engineering?

answer: Mechanical Engineering is the branch of engineering which deals with the designing,
constructing , maintaining and manufacturing various mechanical systems.

What is the difference between machine and engine?

Answer: Engine converts heat energy to Mechanical Energy but machine converts all forms of energy to
mechanical energy except heat energy.

What is viscosity? What is newton’s law of viscosity?

answer: Viscosity is the property of fluid which measures the resistance of the fluid to the gradual
deformation due the shear stress.

Newtons Law of Viscosity states that : the shear stress on the fluid is proportional to the velocity
gradient.

What are newtonian and non-newtonian fluids ? Give examples.

answer : Newtonian fluids follow the newtons law of viscosity and non-newtonian fluids do not follow
the law.

Newtonian fluid : Water, air etc. Non-Newtonian Fluid : blood, tar , paste etc.

What is Pump? What is turbine? / What is the difference between turbine and pump?

answer: Pump is a device which transfers mechanical energy to fluid. Turbine does the opposite. It
transfers flow energy of the fluid to the mechanical energy.

What are turbo machines?

answer: Turbo machines are devices which transfer energy to or from the fluid by the dynamic action of
rotating blades.
How the characteristics of a flow is determined?

answer: By Reynolds Number . If Re <2300 then the flow is laminar . if 2300 <Re<4000 then the flow is
transient and if Re>4000 then the flow is turbulent .

What is Reynolds number ?

answer: Reynolds Number is the ratio of inertia force to viscous force . Re = ρvL/μ

What is Bernoulli’s equation? Why it is used?

answer: pressure head + velocity head + datum head = constant

P1/γ + (v2 )1/2g + z1 = P2/γ +( v2)2 /2g + z1 = constant

What is the difference between centrifugal pump and +ve displacement pump?

answer: In Centrifugal pump the flow rate changes with the head but in positive displacement pump the
flow rate remains the same.

What is cavitation in centrifugal pump? Why priming is done in centrifugal pump?

answer: If the suction side develops a pressure less than the vapor pressure of the water then water will
start to boil and create water bubbles and it will spoil the impeller material. It is called cavitation.

When impeller rotates it adds a rotating motion to the adjacent fluid and as a result K.E and Pressure in
the fluid increases and a negative pressure is developed in the suction side of the impeller . So
water/fluid flows continuously through the impeller. But when the pipe is filled with air , the impeller
rotates but the pressure difference is negligible as a result no water flows through the pump. Thats why
priming is done.

What is the difference between heat engine & heat pump?

answer: Heat Engine produces work and transfers energy from high temp. to low temp source medium.
In Heat pump external work is needed to transfer energy from low to high temp. medium.

What is the difference between Impulse Turbine and Reaction Turbine?

Answer: In Impulse Turbine all the pressure energy is converted to kinetic energy but in reaction turbine
a part of the pressure energy is converted to kinetic energy and rest remains as pressure energy.

What is NPSH?

Answer: NPSH = Net Positive Suction Head. It is the measure of minimum pressure which is required at
the suction pipe to keep the pump from cavitation.

That’s it for today mechanical engineers . Keep following basic mechanical engineering and you will get
more info about mechanical engineering questions. mechanical engineering interview questions part 2 is
coming up (see the link on the top) .

mechanical engineering interview questions – Refrigeration

What is Refrigeration ? What is the unit of refrigeration ?

Refrigeration is the process where heat is transferred from low temperature to high temperature
medium with the help of external work. It’s unit is ton of refrigeration.

What is COP ?

answer: COP = Co-efficient of Performance . It is used to measure the performance of a refrigeration

system. It is generally expressed by the ratio of evaporation work or refrigeration effect to the
compressor work or net work .

What is ton of refrigeration ?

answer: 1 ton of refrigeration means heat absorbed while melting 1 ton (2000 lb) of ice at zero degree
Celsius at 24 hours .

What is BTU ?
answer: BTU = British Thermal Unit ; 1 BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of
one lb water by one degree Fahrenheit.

What is sub-cooling and super heating in refrigeration system ? Why these are used ?

answer: Sub-cooling or under cooling is done before throttling or expanding the refrigerant and it
ensures that no vapor enters the expansion valve.

Super-heating is done before compression and it ensures that no liquid enters the compressor.

Which thermodynamic cycle is implied in refrigeration system ?

answer: Reversed Carnot or Reversed Rankin Cycle.

Draw the T-S diagram and schematic arrangement of reversed Carnot Cycle and Reversed Rankin Cycle
in a basic vapor compression refrigeration system.

Draw the T-S, P-h diagram of refrigeration system with sub-cooling and super-heating in vapor
compression refrigeration system .

answer: T-S and P-h diagram with subcooling and superheating.

What is the most commonly used refrigerant ?

answer: R134a

What is Vapor compression and Vapor Absorption Refrigeration system ? (Difference between) / What
are the advantages of Vapor absorption systems over Vapor compression ?

answer : Please follow this link for the answer.

Detect absorbers and refrigerant in these systems – Li-Br and NH3 – H2O .

answer: In Li-Br – Water is the refrigerant and Li-Br is the absorbent.

In NH3 – H2O : NH3 is the refrigerant and water is absorber.

What is LMTD method ?

answer : LMTD refers to Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference . It is used to measure the
temperature difference in double pipe heat exchangers. The more the LMTD the more heat will be
transfered.

What is the difference between a cooler and an air conditioner ?

answer : For a cooler to become air conditioner it must meet the following requirements :

It must control the 1. temperature 2. Humidity 3 . motion of air 4. purity of air.

What is the difference between cooling tower and condenser ?

answer: Condenser is a heat exchanger which converts saturated vapor into liquid. For doing so the
condenser temperature must be below than the saturation temp.

Cooling tower is the device in which recirculating condenser water is cooled by the evaporative method
with direct contact to the atmosphere.

What is a chiller ?

answer: Chiller is a device / machine for cooling something.

Mechanical engineers ! The third part is coming up very soon. So stay with basic mechanical
engineering. Thanks ! Enjoy !! Cheers !!!

Which law must be satisfied to build a refrigeration system ?

answer: Second Law of Thermodynamics (Clausius Statement) .

Mechanical Engineering Interview Questions for Graduates and Students

What is fluid ? What is fluid mechanics ?

Answer : A fluid is a substance which always responses to shear stress and doesn’t have any definite
shape. It may or may not have any definite volume.

How to determine the characteristics of fluid flow ?

Answer: By the values of Reynolds Number.

What are laminar and turbulent flows ?

Answer : When a fluid is flowing around an object or flowing through an object, the flow may be smooth
or may be distorted. The smoother flow occurs due to low velocity and distorted flow occurs due to high
velocity. This low velocity smoother flow is called laminar flow and distorted flow is called turbulent
flow.

What is buoyancy force ?

Answer : Buoyancy is the upward force which is felt on an object simply immersed into a fluid.

Which dimensionless number is used to determine the speed of aircraft ?

Answer : Mach Number.

What are compressible and incompressible flows ?

Answer : compressible flow – variable density fluid flow .

Incompressible flow – fixed density fluid flow .

What is meant by compressibility property of fluid ?

Answer : Compressibility is the property of those fluids which doesn’t have any fixed density.

What is meant by flow property of fluid ?

Answer : Flow property means the responsiveness of the fluid to the shear stress.

What is meant by no-slip condition in fluids ?

Answer : No-slip condition occurs at the microscopic level where the fluid is flowing on a solid surface
and the velocity of the fluid is zero at the contact surface .

What are the different units of viscosity ?

Answer : In SI – Kg (m.s) . In CGS slug (ft.s) . The values of viscosity is often very small so for that reason a
more reasonable unit is used which is called cP or centipoise.

Significant Mechanical Engineering Interview Questions (Refrigeration)

Name the Cycles used in refrigeration systems .

Ans : Reversed Carnot Cycle .

Draw the P-V Diagram of Reversed Carnot Cycle .

mechanical engineering interview questions

p-v diagram for reverse carnot cycle

Ans :

Why Reversed Carnot Cycle is not possible practically ?

Ans : It is not because adiabatic processes are not possible to obtain due to losses in the pipes
condensers, compressors and evaporator.

Which Cycle is used in Air – Refrigeration System ?

Ans : Bell – Coleman Cycle

In refrigeration system why heat rejected is more than heat absorbed ?

Ans: For cooling purpose it is necessary to reject more heat than the heat absorbed. Mathematically
Heat Rejected = Heat absorbed + Work Done .

How Defrosting is done in a refrigerator ?

Ans : Defrosting is done by stopping the compressor for a short time.

Why Copper is not used in ammonia refrigeration system ? / Which metal is used in the pipelines when
the refrigerant is ammonia ?

Ans . In ammonia refrigeration system Steel is used as the pipe line material because ammonia attacks
copper.

What is the difference between heat pump and refrigerators ?

Ans : Heat pumps gives heat by taking work input on the other hand refrigerator ejects heat by taking
heat input.

What is basis of Refrigeration System ? (Important mechanical engneerin)

Ans : Second Law of Thermodynamics .

Show the Practical Refrigeration Cycle With T-S and P-h diagram with Subcooling and Super Heating .

Ans : Please Follow This Link : T-S and P-h Diagram with Subcooling and Superheating for VC

Describe Dry and Wet Compression in Refrigeration System .

Ans : The starting point of compression in the T-S diagram determines the final state of vapor after
compression. If the final state of vapor is dry and saturated then the compression is known as wet
compression and if the final state of vapor is super heated then it is known as dry compression.
The refrigerant enters as a vapor in compressor from the evaporator. If the vapor draw into the
compressor is drier than the initial condition on the same pressure range the vapor becomes
superheated.

How to improve Refrigerating effect ?

Ans : By applying superheating and subcooling.

What is Undercooling or Subccooling is refrigeration system ? How Subcooling or undercooling is done ?

Ans: The COP can be improved by undercooling or pre-cooling. It is the process where the liquid
refrigerant is allowed to cool below the saturation temperature. Subcooling is done by circulating
greater amount of cooling agent i.e water through the condenser or by using water cooler than natural
temperature water.

What is advantage of vapor compression refrigeration system ?

Ans: Smaller size for a given refrigeration effect , Higher COP, Lower power consumption, Less
Complicated in design and operation.

Stay tuned for the next part of the mechanical engineering interview questions .

Basic Refrigeration and Air conditioning Questions

What is the basic difference in Vapor compression and Vapor absorption Refrigeration System ?

Ans : These two refrigeration systems are different in power consumption, COP, Mechanical parts,
Performance while load variation etc. For more information go through this link .

Difference between Vapor compression and Vapor absorption Systems.

T-S and P-h Diagram of Vapor compression system with sub-cooling and super-heating

Which has higher COP ? Vapor compression or Vapor absorption ? Explain .

Ans : Vapor Compression has the higher COP. Generally the COP of Vapor compression ranges from 3-4
but COP of Vapor absorption is generally 1. It happens because COPvc = Refrigeration Work /
Compressor Work . But COPabs = Refrigeration Effect / (generator work + pump work ) .

Why The term relative COP is used ?

Ans : To state the ratio of actual COP to theoretical COP .

Classify Air-Conditioning Systems .

Ans : 1. Window Type Air Conditioning System . 2 . Packed Air Conditioning System 3. Cenrtal Air
Conditioning System .

Engineering Mechanics

What is limiting friction ?

Ans : When an object is sliding over another frictional force is developed in the contact surface. This
friction force creates a resistance. The maximum value of this frictional force is called the limiting
friction.

What is Center of Gravity ?

Ans : Center of Gravity or CG is the point where the whole mass of a body acts (irrespective of position
of that body).
Locate the center of gravity of these simple geometries – Uniform rod , rectangle or parallelogram ,
triangle, semi circles, hemisphere, right circular solid cone .

Ans :

Uniform rod : At its middle point

rectangle or parallelogram : Intersect points of its diagonals

triangle : where all the 3 medians of the triangle intersects

Semi-circle : at a distance 4r/3π from the base. (measured along the vertical radius)

hemisphere : at a distance 3r/8 from the base. (measured along the vertical radius)

right circular solid cone : h/4 from base from the vertical axis.

Fluid Mechanics

How the pressure of the liquid is measured ?

Ans : The pressure of the liquid can be measured by manometers.

What are manometers ?

Ans : These are pressure measuring devices for liquid. To measure the pressure in a point in the liquid
manometers balance the liquid column to another column or the same column of liquid.

How manometers are classified ?

Ans : 1. Simple manometers like : piezometer and U-tube manometer.

2. Differential manometer.

What are the uses of manometer ?

Ans : Simple Manometers are used to measure 1. high pressure of liquids 2. pressure in pipes and
channels 3. vacuum pressure.

Differential manometers are used for measuring pressure difference between two points in a pipe .

Thermodynamics

What are the main objectives of boiler trial ?

Ans: Boiler trial helps to determine the generating capacity and thermal efficiency of the boilers. Heat
balance sheet can be made by the boiler trial .

Name the different Thermodynamic Cycles

Ans : Otto Cycle, Diesel Cycle, Stirling Cycle, Joule or Brayton Cycle, Carnot Cycle, Ericsson Cycle etc.

What is the difference between turbocharger and supercharger ?

Ans : Turbocharger and Supercharger both have the same function. These devices are blowers which
supplies extra air to the engine. As a result engine gets useful amount of oxygen to produce a proper
ignition.

The main difference between the devices is that turbocharger uses exhaust heat from the exhaust gases
as a power source. But Supercharger uses a part of the engine power to run. Turbocharger is not directly
connected to the engine. It decreases the carbon emission because it has smog altering system.
Supercharger on the other hand is connected to the engine with the help of a belt. It produces smog.

basic mechanical questions

What is the difference between the centrifugal pump and positive displacement pump ?

Ans : usually all the pumps are classified into this two categories. Actually in centrifugal pump flow rate
varies with the change of pressure/pressure head. But in positive displacement pump the flow rate is
always the same whether there is a pressure difference or not.

Differentiate between scavenging and supercharging / turbocharging ?

Ans: In Scavenging the burnt gases from the engine cylinder is pushed out by the fresh air that before
the exhaust stroke ends. Turbocharging/Supercharging is the process of adding extra air to the engine
for a better ignition.

Give the names of different Thermodynamic Processes .

Ans : Isothermal Process : Constant Temperature process

Isochoric Process : Constant Volume Process

Isobaric Process : Constant Pressure Process

Throttling Process : Constant Enthalpy Process

Isentropic or Adiabatic Process : Constant Entropy Process

Why more lubricating oil is needed in two-stroke engines than four stroke engines ?

Ans : In two stroke engine the lubricant is mixed with the fuel. As a result some of the lub oil is blown
out with the process of scavenging and getting fresh charge. This phenomenon is not seen in four stroke
engines.

What are Internal Combustion (IC) Engines ?

Ans : These are engines in which combustion of the fuel takes place inside the engine cylinder.

What are the usual sequence of operation in IC engines ?

Ans : The sequence involve : Suction Stroke, Compression stroke, Combustion, Expansion or Working
Stoke and the exhaust .

What is the main difference between petrol engine and diesel engine ?

Ans: In petrol engine the ignition is initiated by the spark plug but in diesel engine the fuel and air
mixture auto-ignites after reaching a certain temperature.

Describe different types of scavenging process or Define Crossflow Scavenging, Back flow or loop
scavenging and Uniflow scavenging .

Ans :

Crossflow Scavenging: In Crossflow scavenging the inlet port and the outlet port is situated in the
opposite sides in the engine cylinder. This type of scavenging is used in 2 stroke engines.

Back flow or loop Scavenging: In this type of scavenging the inlet and outlet port are on the same side.
Uniflow Scavenging: In this method the fresh charge can enter through one or two inlets . The exhaust
port is situated on the top of the cylinder.

Typical Natural Gas Composition is-

Answer: Typical Natural gas composition includes

Methane – 95 % , Ethane – 3.2 % , Nitrogen – 1 % , CO2 – 0.5 % , O2 – 0.02 %

Typical Calorific Values for natural gas –

Answer: Higher Heating Value – 52300 kJ/kg or 12500 kcal /kg . Lower Heating Value – 50000 kJ/kg 0r
11950 kcal/kg

What is Hoop Stress and longitudinal stress in a thin walled cylinder?

Answer: When a thin cylinder is subjected to internal pressure longitudinal and hoop stress are observed
in the cylinder. Hoop Stress is the circumferential normal stress developed at the tangential direction.
Hoop stress acts towards the circumference perpendicular to the length of the cylinder. Longitudinal
stress acts along the length of the cylinder.

Hoop stress is expressed as , σh = p d / 2 t and longitudinal stress is expressed as σl = p d / 4 t.

Here p = internal pressure,

d = internal diameter

t = thickness
What is Lateral strain?

Answer: When a body is subjected to longitudinal stress it extends or gets compressed in the direction
of the stress (tensile force or compressive force). But it will also get thicket or thinner in the transverse
direction. The ratio of this change in the length (breadth for rectangular shape and dia for the circular
bar) in the direction perpendicular to the force and the original length is known as lateral strain.

What are the differences between elbows and bend? Which has greater head losses?

Answer: Bend and elbow are used for changing the direction of the flow and is attached with the piping
system. Bends are simply bends they are generally custom made. On the other hand elbows are well
defined engineered bends. Elbows can be have angle 45 or 90 degrees or they can be custom made.

Using Elbows or bends will cause some head losses which is known is minor head loss. If the flow is
turbulent in the pipe lines then elbows will have greater head losses than bends. Because in bends it
takes lesser time for the fluid to take the turns.

What is the function of flywheel?

Answer: The main function of the flywheel is to store kinetic energy in the form of moment of inertia. It
also reduces the vibration in the engine and produces an even crank shaft rotational speed.

In IC engine which part is known as column?

Answer: In IC engine the connecting rod is known as the column.

What is the function of orifice meter?

Answer: The orifice meter or orifice plate is used for measuring flow rate of a fluid. It is also used for
flow restriction and pressure reducing purpose.
What is Vena Contracta?

Answer: When fluid is passed through the flow meters like orifice or nozzles there is a point in the fluid
stream where the diameter of the stream is minimum and velocity is maximum. In this place we find the
least cross sectional area. This is known as the vena contracta.

How to identify petrol and diesel engines.

Answer: There are many differences in the running cycle of the two engine types. Petrol engine is spark
ignition and Diesel engine is compression ignition. Petrol engine = Otto cycle and Diesel engine = Diesel
cycle.

But the difference between them which is visible practically is the presence of spark plug on the petrol
engine. Diesel engine doesn’t have a spark plug it has an atomizer.

Mention some desirable properties of Coal.

Answer:

Coals needs to have high calorific values

They should be of low sulfur content.

Low ash content.

Sometimes the coal is needed to be grinded before use. It should have good grindability.

What are the main classification of coals?

Answer: According to the rank the coal is classified as – Peat, Lignite, Sub-bituminous, Bituminous and
Anthracite. Peat has the lowest rankings and Anthracite has the highest.

How the rank of the coal is obtained?

Answer: The rank of the coal is determined by the Carbon: Hydrogen ratio. The ratio of the carbon
increase from 75% to 93 % and the hydrogen content decreases from 20 % to 3 %
Give the Equation of generator that includes pole numbers, frequency and synchronous speed
generator.

Answer: N = 120f / P (N = synchronous speed, P = No of poles, f = Frequency)

Draw schematic diagram of air standard gas turbine with regeneration. Show the T-s Diagram.

Answer: Please follow this link. Gas Turbine Cycle with reheat , regeneration and intercooling

Show a Typical Composition of different types of coals.

Answer:

basic mechanical engineering -composition of coals

What is deaerator? Mention its functions.

Answer: For a boiler to run smoothly, the feedwater must be free from contaminants. Feedwater
contains dissolved gases which can be proved very detrimental for the boiler material. Dissolved gases in
the boiler feedwater can be of corrosive nature. In these cases deaerator can be proved very useful.
Deaerators are the devices that remove dissolved gases from the boiler feed water. Corrosion can be
minimized by reducing the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide to a level where the corrosive nature
of the gases is minimized.

What is Higher Heating Value (HHV) and Lower Heating Value (LLV) and Gross Heating value (GHV)?

Answer : Please follow the links . Higher and Lower Calorific Value

What is HFO, FFO, LDO and HSD?

Answer: HFO = Heavy Fuel Oil, FFO = Furnace Fuel Oil, HSD = High Speed Diesel, LDO = Light Diesel Oil.

Define Refrigeration – Ans : Refrigeration may be defined as a process of producing cold by extracting
heat from a body or space and heat thus removed is rejected to atmosphere or space where it is
unobjectionable.
What is Mechanical Refrigeration ? Ans : Producing cold by machine.

Classify the different Refrigeration Systems .

Ans : It may be of the following three types 1. Vapor Compression Refrigeration System 2. Vapor
absorption Refrigeration System 3. Air Refrigeration Systems .

What are the basic Units of Mechanical Refrigeration systems ?

Ans : Refrigeration system has 4 basic units

a. An Evaporator – The cooling Unit

b. A pump or Compressor

c. A Condenser – The heat disposer

d. A liquid mixing device – Expansion valve or cylinder or capillary tube

Which Unit Produces Cooling Effect in the refrigeration system ?

Ans : The evaporator

What is the Unit of Refrigeration ?

Ans : As Power Unit of mechanical devices is given by H.P , for electrical equipment the unit of power is
kW or MW . In the same way the unit of refrigeration is ” Tonnes of Refrigeration ” .

What is One Tonne of Refrigeration ?

Ans: One Tonne of Refrigeration means machine is capable of removing heat from a body equal to the
heat absorbed by one tonne of ice when it melts from 0 ° C to 0 ° C Water in 24 hours . Here one tonne
is equal to 2000 lb .

What is the capacity of one tonne machine in MKS system ?

Ans : In MKS system a machine having capacity to produce cooling effect of 50 kcal/minute is known to
be a “One Tonne Machine” .

Define Co-efficient of Performance. Ans : In case of engine the performance is judged the efficiency of
the engine. That is – Efficiency = Work Done / Heat Supplied .

And in case of refrigeration the process is first reversed that is we have to supply work to obtain lower
temperature or say for that removal of heat. Thus performance of refrigeration is just reversed . That is
– N/W

Where – N = The rate of heat abstracted from the body in given time technically called “Net
Refrigeration Effect” and W = Work Done .

Thus COP = Net Refrigeration Effect / Work Done Supplied . This is Called Theoretical COP .

What is Relative COP ?

Ans : It is the ratio of actual COP and Theoretical COP .

Describe Refrigeration system with Reversed Rankin Cycle . Draw T-S and P-h Diagram of the cycle with
Sub-cooling and Super-heating. .

Ans: Please Follow This Link . T-S and P-h diagram with subcooling and superheating.