Curtin University of Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Thermodynamics 236

Tutorial 1

1 Identify and mark, if any, boundaries of thermodynamic system (closed system), control
volume (open system) and surroundings for the following operations. Comment whether
the processes can be considered quasi-static. Discuss possible energy interactions across
the boundaries.

(a) A rubber balloon is connected to a rigid tank of helium at high pressure via a
valve which is initially closed. The valve is slowly opened and the balloon is
inflated.

(b) A heated metal billet is dropped into an oil bath for heat treatment.

(c) A gas is contained in a vertical cylinder by a weighted piston. The piston is
initially held in position and the gas is heated to a higher pressure. The piston is
then released.

(d) The air in a room with closed windows is conditioned by an air conditioner in
order to maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity


2 A metal cylinder is fitted with a frictionless piston of mass 10 kg. An additional mass of
150 kg is placed on the piston. A barometer in the neighbourhood indicates a pressure of
760 mm of Hg (density of Hg=13600 kg/m
3
). Calculate the gauge pressure and the
absolute pressure of the gas in the cylinder. The area of the piston is 0.2m
2
.

Heat is supplied to the gas until its absolute pressure becomes 4.0 bar while the piston is
locked in position by a peg. Find the force on the peg.

Ans. 109.2 kPa, 7.85 kPa, 58.2 kN


3 A pressure vessel with a spring-loaded relief valve is shown in Fig 1. Initially, the piston
of mass m rests firmly on the shoulder of the vessel due to the initial compression X
o
of
the spring. The excess pressure in the vessel is relieved when the piston moves to a point
X
1
above the shoulder. The area of the piston is A and the spring constant of the spring is
k. The atmospheric pressure in the vicinity is p
o
.

(a) Find an expression for the pressure in the vessel when the piston is just about to rise
from the shoulder.

(b) Show that the pressure in the vessel varies linearly with volume of the gas in the
vessel until the excess pressure is relieved.

(c) Derive an expression for the maximum permissible pressure in the vessel.
Vent for excess
pressure release
X
1
Piston of mass m
and area A
Gas
Volume V
o
Spring constant k
Initial compression X
o
Figure 1
Pressure vessel



4 Describe the characteristics and sketch the paths of the following processes on p-v and T-v
diagrams for a pure substance:

(a) Constant pressure cooling of superheated vapour to liquid phase.

(b) Constant volume heating of wet vapour, passing through the critical point.

(c) Isothermal expansion, starting from subcooled liquid state.





















Professor Tilak T Chandratilleke-Department of Mechanical Engineering