THERMODYNAMICS

TRANSIENT PROBLEMS
HANDOUT

This handout addresses the solution procedure when using the First Law of Thermodynamics to
solve transient engineering problems.
Simplified forms of the First Law for some specific problems are presented.

In words, we can write a general form of a conservation equation as:

Inflow minus outflow equals accumulation (or diminution)

This applies to either mass or energy.

CONSERVATION OF MASS

For closed systems, where all the boundaries of the control volume are closed, as in a well-sealed
piston-cylinder device, there is no inflow or outflow, and the mass in the control volume is
constant (m1 = m2).

For open systems, mass can flow freely in and out of the control volume, and in general for
transient problems the rate of change of mass in the control volume is expressed as:

dmCV
= m˙ in " m˙ out
dt

For steady state, steady flow problems, which usually applies to turbines, pumps, compressors,
nozzles, and diffusers, among other devices, dm/dt = 0 and the mass flow rate into the control
! volume equals the mass flow rate out of the control volume.

CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

For closed systems, the First Law is expressed simply as:

ΔE = Q – W

For open systems, we must also consider the energy associated with the fluids (liquids or gases)
flowing in and out of the control volume.

dE CV ˙ ˙ # V2 & # V2 &
˙
= Q " W + min % h + ˙
+ gz( " mout % h + + gz(
dt $ 2 ' $ 2 '

!
 For steady state systems dE/dt = 0 and the mass flow rate in equals the mass flow rate out, so this
equation can be simplified to:

Q˙ W˙ # V2 & # V2 &
" + %h + + gz( " % h + + gz( = 0
m˙ m˙ $ 2 ' in $ 2 ' out

TRANSIENT / UNSTEADY PROBLEMS

!
Some common examples of open flow problems where the steady-state assumption will not
apply are emptying and filling of vessels, and the initial transient startup of steady devices. For
these problems we must use the full form of the transient First Law, written above, though we
may be able to simplify it later, depending on the specific problem.

In many of these problems changes in kinetic and potential energy are negligible, so we can
approximate eCV = uCV, and eflow = hflow. (EXCEPTION: If a leak develops in a high pressure gas
vessel, then the kinetic energy of the escaping gas could be very important, especially if you are
standing nearby!)

With these approximations we can write:

d(m u)CV ˙ ˙
= Q " W + m˙ in hin " m˙ out hout
dt

SPECIAL CLASSES OF PROBLEMS - For tank filling and emptying problems typically no
work is done, though heat transfer is possible.
!
1. TANK FILLING - No mass is leaving the tank.

d(m u)CV ˙
= Q + m˙ in hin
dt

Typically the inflow is coming from a large supply so that we can treat hin as a constant. This
allows us to integrate the differential equation to obtain an algebraic equation:
!
m2 u2 " m1u1 = Q˙ #t " m
˙ in hin #t

INITIALLY EMPTY (VACUUM) TANK – where m1 = 0

!
Q
u2 = + hin
m2

Furthermore, if the tank is insulated so that Q = 0, then u2 = hin, and the final pressure in the tank,
P2, need not be equal to the supply pressure, Pin.
!
2. TANK EMPTYING - No new mass enters the tank.
 d(m u)CV ˙
= Q " m˙ out hout
dt

In the most general case the hout changes as the uCV changes, and P drops as mass leaves the tank
(for an ideal gas), and we have to solve a transient differential equation. If however the hout is
! constant, then the integration becomes simpler and we have:

m2 u2 " m1u1 = Q˙ #t " m˙ out hout #t

This might apply if we have a saturated two-phase mixture in the tank, and either saturated liquid
at constant temperature is drained from the bottom of the tank, or saturated vapor at constant
! temperature is removed from the top of the tank. For such a saturated mixture the quality, X, of
the mixture in the tank will change with time (usually increasing as the mixture becomes more
vapor and less liquid as mass is removed). Another possibility for a tank filled only with a gas is
that it could be maintained in an isothermal environment, where Q is added to keep the
temperature, T, in the tank a constant. For such cases, recognizing that m2-m1 = moutΔt, this
equation simplifies even further.

m2 u2 " m1u1 = Q˙ #t " (m2 " m1 )hout

For the special case of an adiabatic process where the above assumptions apply:
! m2 u2 " m1u1 = "(m2 " m1 )hout

3. TRANSIENT STARTUP - Whether or not any terms will automatically drop out depends on
the problem. Usually you will have to perform some integration. Often a plot of working fluid
!
temperature vs. time is desired to see how long it takes for the system to reach the steady-state
operating temperature.

IDEAL GASES WITH CONSTANT SPECIFIC HEATS (Tank emptying and filling problems
with a single gas phase in the tank)

Many applications use air at pressures low enough that we can treat it as an ideal gas.
Furthermore if the temperature changes are moderate, we can also take the specific heats as
constant, to good approximation, so that:

u2 – u1 = cV (T2 –T1) and h2 – h1 = cP (T2 –T1)

and the ratio of the specific heats, k = cP / cV. Note: k = 1.4 for air at standard temperature and
pressure. Usually the volume of the tank, V, is constant, so the mass, m, will vary as the pressure
and temperature change.

PV
m=
RT