DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

LAB 2: Separating and Throttling Calorimeter

SURNAME : NGOBENI
INITIALS : F
STUDENT NO : 201461362
COURSE : B.Eng. Tech MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
MODULE : STEAM PLANT
DATE : 08 SEPTEMBER 2019

I confirm that this assignment is my work, is not copied from any other person's work, and has not
previously submitted for assessment either at the University of Johannesburg or elsewhere.

Signed………………………………………. Date ………………………………………….

Table of Contents

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................. i
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 1
Theory ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................ 2
APPARATUS .............................................................................................................................................. 2
PROCEDURE ............................................................................................................................................. 3
OBSERVATIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Data and Results ..................................................................................................................................... 3
ANALYSIS OF RESULTS......................................................................................................................... 3
Discussion ................................................................................................................................................ 5
CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................................... 5
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................ 6
APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................. 7
List of Figures

Figure 1: T-S diagram of the separating and throttling calorimeter.............................................................. 1

Figure 2: Experimental setup ........................................................................................................................ 2
Figure 3: Schematic of separating and throttling calorimeter ...................................................................... 7

List of Tables
Table 1: Observations ................................................................................................................................... 3
ABSTRACT

The purpose of this experiment was to find the dryness fraction of wet steam using a combined
separating and throttling calorimeter. It was observed that with increasing the boiler steam pressure
there is an increase in steam temperature and when the part of the steam enters into the separating
calorimeter steam pressure before throttling is higher than steam pressure after throttling. It is also
observed that steam pressure decreases after throttling. Corresponds to the steam pressure after
throttling, from the steam table it was noted that steam temperature measured is greater than the
saturation temperature. Therefore the steam becomes superheated steam. The experiment was
conducted successfully.
.

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INTRODUCTION

Theory

Wet steam consists of dry saturated steam and water particles in suspension. The dryness fraction
of steam is outlined as the quantitative relation of the mass of dry saturated steam to the full mass
of wet steam containing. It is represented by ‘x’

The separating calorimeter is a vessel used initially to separate some of the moisture from the
steam, to ensure superheat conditions after throttling. The steam is made to change direction
suddenly; the moisture droplets, being heavier than the vapor, drop out of suspension and are
collected at the bottom of the vessel.
The throttling calorimeter is a vessel with a needle valve fitted on the inlet side. The steam is
throttled through the needle valve and exhausted to the condenser. Suppose M kg of wet steam
with a dryness fraction of x (state A) enters the separating calorimeter. The vapor part will have a
mass of xM kg and the liquid part will have a mass of (1-x)M kg. In the separating calorimeter
part of the liquid, say M1 kg will be separated from the wet steam. Hence the dryness fraction of
the wet steam will increase to x1 (state B) which will pass through the throttling process valve.
After the throttling process, the steam in the throttling calorimeter will be in a superheated state
(state C).

Figure 1: T-S diagram of the separating and throttling calorimeter.

From the steady flow energy equation;
Q – W = hC - hB
Since throttling takes place over a very small distance, the heat transfer is negligible, i.e.,

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Q = 0. Then the steady flow energy equation for the throttling process becomes,
hC = hB
Hence, enthalpy after throttling = enthalpy before throttling
hC = hf1 + x1 hfg1
If the pressure of the steam before throttling, the pressure, and temperature of the steam after
throttling is known the value of x1 can be calculated using steam tables.
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚
Dryness Fraction = 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑖𝑥𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒

𝑋 𝑀
Therefore, 𝑋 = 𝑀 1+𝑀2
1 1
Where M2 is the mass of condensate.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this experiment was to determine the dry fraction of the wet steam using a
separating and throttling calorimeter.

APPARATUS

Figure 2: Experimental setup

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Steam bench :
• Steam generator
• Separating and throttling calorimeter
• Measuring Beaker

PROCEDURE

1. The boiler was started the boiler and supply steam to the separating and throttling calorimeter
unit.
2. Start the cooling water flow through the condenser.
3. The steam valve was then opened and allow the steam to flow through the calorimeters to warm
through the steam.
4. The throttle valve was opened and adjusted to give a pressure at exhaust of about 5cm Hg
measured on the manometer.
5. Separating calorimeter was then drained.
6. The experiment was started the readings at 2-3 minutes intervals were taken.
7. When a reasonable quantity of condensate is collected the quantity of separated water and the
quantity of condensate were measured.

OBSERVATIONS
Data and Results
Table 1: Observations

Readings 1 2 3 Average
Steam pressure in main P1 (bars) 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5
Steam pressure after throttling P2 (bars) 1.029 1.029 1.029 1.029
The temperature of main T1 °C 140 140 140 140
Temperature after throttling T2 °C 116.9 116.9 116.9 116.9
Quantity of Separated water ml (kg) 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Quantity of condensate m2 (kg) 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50
Atmospheric pressure Patm (bars) 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
Sample calculations
The average difference in mercury level due to water = 742 mmHg x3/3
= 742 mmHG
= 742/750.062
= 0.98925 = 1.0 bar

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Average Barometric pressure = 1.0x3/3 P main = Patm+P
= 1.0 bar = 1.0+2.5
=3.5 bar
SEPARATOR Average steam pressure = 3.5x3/3
= 3.5 bar
Average steam temperature = 140x3/3
= 140 °C
Average amount of collected water = 254mlx3/3
= 254 ml
= 0.254 kg
From property table at P = 3.5 bar
ℎ𝑓 = 584 𝐾𝐽/𝑘𝑔

ℎ𝑓𝑔 = 2148 𝐾𝐽/𝑘𝑔

𝑀2
Calculation for 𝑿𝟏 𝑋1 = 𝑀
2 +𝑚1

2500
𝑋1 = 2500+254

𝑋1 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟎𝟕𝟕𝟕
THROTTLE Average steam pressure = (0.029+1.0)x3/3
= 1.029 bar
Average steam temperature = 116.9x3/3
= 116.9 °C
The average amount of condensed water = 2500 mlx3/3
= 2500 ml
= 2.5 kg
From property table, using interpolation P = 1.029 bar
𝒉𝒈 − 𝟐𝟔𝟕𝟓 𝟏. 𝟎𝟐𝟗 − 𝟏
=
𝟐𝟔𝟖𝟎 − 𝟐𝟔𝟕𝟓 𝟏. 𝟏 − 𝟏
𝒉𝒈 = 𝟐𝟔𝟕𝟔. 𝟒𝟓 𝑲𝑱/𝒌𝒈

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 𝑻𝒔 −𝟗𝟗.𝟔 𝟏.𝟎𝟐𝟗−𝟏
Saturated steam temperature =
𝟏𝟎𝟐.𝟑−𝟗𝟗.𝟔 𝟏.𝟏−𝟏

𝑻𝒔 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎. 𝟑𝟖𝟑 °𝑪

Calculation for 𝑿𝟐 𝒉𝒇 + 𝒙𝟐 𝒉𝒇𝒈 = 𝒉𝒈𝟐 + 𝑪𝒑 (𝑻𝒔𝒖𝒑 − 𝑻𝒔𝒂𝒕 )

𝟓𝟖𝟒 + 𝑿𝟐 𝟐𝟏𝟒𝟖 = 𝟐𝟔𝟕𝟔. 𝟒𝟓 + 𝟐. 𝟏(𝟏𝟏𝟔. 𝟗 − 𝟏𝟎𝟎. 𝟑𝟖𝟑)

𝑿𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟗𝟎
Actual dryness fraction of the steam entering the combined separating and throttling
calorimeter, X
𝑿 = 𝑿𝟏 ∗ 𝑿𝟐
= 𝟎. 𝟗𝟎𝟕𝟕𝟕𝑿𝟎. 𝟗𝟗𝟎
= 𝟎. 𝟖𝟗𝟖𝟗𝟖
Discussion

The dryness fraction of steam describes how dry steam is, with a value of 1 representing steam
that is 100% dry. From the experiment, we can see that the dryness fraction for separating
calorimeter is lower than throttling calorimeter because in separating calorimeter the steam is
wetter. The temperature of in throttling calorimeter is higher than its saturated steam temperature
because it is already in a superheated state. The amount of water (10%) within the sample of steam
below observation is often attributed to errors that will have occurred throughout the experiment,
resulting in the unfinished separation of water. Possible sources square measure human errors
within the variety of optical phenomenon or reading accuracy once measurements were taken, and
calculations. There was conjointly proof of steam escaping into the space leading to systematic
errors that could have altered room temperature and pressure.

CONCLUSION

From the results obtained, the dryness fraction is 0.90777 at the separator, this showed us that at
that point in time the steam is 91% dry and 9% wet. We got 0.990 at throttling calorimeter so
that showed us that the steam is near to superheat because its value is close to 1 at that point so
the combined separating and throttling calorimeter’s dryness faction was found by using the
equation where both X1 and X2 were multiplied to get the value of 0.89896. This shows that the
state of the steam continues to be wet as a result of the worth of the dryness fraction of steam
being smaller than one. If the steam whose dryness fraction is to be determined is very wet, then
throttling to atmospheric pressure is not enough to ensure superheated steam at the exit. In this
case, it's necessary to dry the steam before throttling. This is done by passing a part of steam
from the steam main through separating measuring system. The aim of this experiment was
achieved.

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REFERENCES

1. Gupta J.K, Khurmi R.S. (2000) A textbook of thermal engineering. New Delhi, S. Chand &
CompanyLtd.
2. https://www. Academia.edu/31529545/lab_report_marcet_boiler (Accessed 04 September
2019)

3. www.scribd.com

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APPENDICES

Figure 3: Schematic of separating and throttling calorimeter