[Chemical Engineering Laboratory 2 ]

SEGI University

EXPERIMENT 7: MARCET BOILER

Candidate’s Name: SARANYA DEVI RAGUPATHY

Student ID: SUKD1801744

Group Member’s Name:

LEE LIANG CHEN

TAN MEI HUI

JULIE BARUA

ANDREW YEOW TZE HAO

Lecturer/ Supervisor: MS NORSUHADAT

Date of Submission: 2 MAY 2019

ABSTRACT

The experiment is going to be carried out to demonstrate the relationship between the pressure
and temperature of saturated steam in equilibrium. Marcet boiler is going to be used as
apparatus. The Marcet boiler filled with water is to be healed first, until a certain absolute
pressure reached. Then the heater will be turned off and will be allowed to cool down to
its initial temperature. The increasing and decreasing temperature will be recorded for further use
and calculation of the experiment.

OBJECTIVE

Demonstrating the relationship between pressure and temperature of asaturated steam in

equilibrium with water and determining the pressure vapor curve.

INTRODUCTION

Thermodynamics study about the interchange of heat and work between a system and the
surroundings, which occurs when the system undergoes a process. Thermodynamic also
concerned about the changes in the properties of fluid. Most thermodynamics substances such as
gases and vapors are often referred as P-V-T substances.

An ideal gas obeys the equation of state that relates the pressure, specific volume or density, and
absolute temperature with mass of molecule and the gas constant, R.

mRT
PV 
M

Where,

P= Absolute pressure

V= Volume
n= Amount of substance (moles)

R= Ideal gas constant

T= Absolute temperature (K)

However, real gas does not absolutely obey the equation of state. A few changes on the ideal
gas equation of state allow its application in the properties of real gas.

When energy increases within water, the increasing of activities among the molecules enables
the increase in the number of molecule escape from the surface until an equilibrium state is
reached. The state of equilibrium depends on the pressure between the water surface and steam.
At lower pressure, the molecules become easier leaving the water surface while less energy
required in achieving the state of equilibrium (boiling point). The temperature where equilibrium
occurs at a given pressure level is called saturated temperature.

The Marcet Boiler is used to investigate the relationship between the pressure and temperature
of saturated steam in equilibrium with water at all temperature levels between the atmospheric
pressure and 10 bars. The experimental slope (dT/dP)SAT obtained is compared to the theoretical
value determined through calculation from the steam table. Clausius-Clapeyron states:

 dT  Tv fg
  
 dP  SAT h fg

 dT  T (v f  v g )
  
 dP  SAT h f  hg

Where,

ℎ𝑓 + ℎ𝑓𝑔 = ℎ𝑔
 ℎ𝑓𝑔 = ℎ𝑔 − ℎ𝑓

 dT  T (v f  v g ) Tv g
    as vg >> vf
 dP  SAT h fg h fg

In which,

vf = specific volume of saturated liquid

vg = specific volume of saturated vapor

hf = enthalpy of saturated liquid

hg = enthalpy of saturated vapor

hfg = latent heat of vaporization

APPARATUS
 HE169 Marcet boiler which shown in Figure 1

 Pressure transducer

 Temperature controller/Indicator

 Pressure indicator

 Control panel

 Bench

 Bourdon tube pressure gauge

 Temperature sensor

 Pressure relief valve

 Water inlet port & valve

 Heater
 Figure 1: HE169 Marcet boiler

Procedure
1. The unit of Marcet Boiler was later connected to the nearest power supply.
2. Valve at the feed port and the level sight tube were opened. After that, the boiler was
filled with distilled water through the feed port and the water level was measure to be at
about half of the boiler’s height.
3. Then, the valves at the level sight tube were closed and the power supply are turned on.
4. The temperature controller was set at 185.0 °C which is slightly above the
expected boiling point of the water at 10.0 bar(abs).
5. The valve at feed port was opened and the heater was turned on. The valve at the level
sight tube are made sure to be closed before turning on the heater as the sight tube is not
designed to withstand high pressure and temperature.
6. The rise of steam temperature was observed as the water boils. The steam from the valve
was allowed to come out for 30 seconds before the valve was closed. This step is
important to remove air from the boiler, as the accuracy of the experimental results will
be significantly affected if air is present.
 7. The steam temperature, gauge pressure at1.00 bar (abs) and time taken for the steam to
reach 1.00 bar (abs) were recorded.
8. This step was repeated by increase the interval of pressure with 0.5 bar (abs) until the
steam pressure reaches 10.0 bar (abs).
9. After that, the heater was allowed to cool down to room temperature. All the results were
recorded and tabulated

RESULTS

Atmospheric pressure :

Atmospheric temperature :

Table 1.1

Pressure, P Temperature, T

Average
absolute Gauge absolute Increase Average
DecreaseºC Tavc
(bar) (bar) (Kpa) ºC Tavc K
ºC

1 0 101 99 99 99 372
1.5 0.5 150.03 111.2 111.2 111.2 384.2
2 1 199.06 120.1 120.3 120.2 393.2
2.5 1.5 248.09 127.3 127.7 127.5 400.5
3 2 297.12 133.5 133.9 133.7 406.7
3.5 2.5 346.65 138.9 139.5 139.2 412.2
4 3 395.18 143.6 144.2 143.9 416.9
4.5 3.5 444.21 148 148.4 148.2 421.2
5 4 493.24 152 152.2 152.1 425.1
 Table 1.2

Measured Slope, dT/dP Calculated Slope, Tvg/hfg

𝑑𝑇 𝑇𝑣𝑔
dP ( ) k/Kpa
dT (K) 𝑑𝑃 Tvg hfg ℎ𝑓𝑔
(Kpa)

644.96 2259 0.28

12.2 50 0.25 448.66 2226.41 0.2
9 50 0.18 348.57 2201.54 0.16
7.3 50 0.14 287.99 2180.6 0.13
6.2 50 0.12 245.74 2162.89 0.11
5.5 50 0.11 213.32 2146.67 0.09
4.7 50 0.09 190.1 2131.62 0.09
4.3 50 0.08 173.43 2119.35 0.08
3.9 50 0.07 157.76 2106.37 0.07
i. Prepare a graph with temperature, T against absolute pressure, P.

Temperature vs Pressure
440
y = 0.13x + 364.92
430
R² = 0.9658
420
Temperature

410
400
Average Tavc K
390
Linear (Average Tavc K)
380
370
360
0 200 400 600
pressure

ii. Measure/calculate the slope of the graph using certain points.

Gradient: 0.13

 dT  Tv fg
iii. Plot   versus P and versus P on a same graph.
 dP  SAT h fg

versus P and versus P

0.35

0.3 y = -0.001x + 0.1233

R² = 0.0024
0.25
y = -0.023x + 0.3184
0.2 R² = 0.8392

0.15
𝑇𝑣𝑔/ℎ𝑓𝑔
0.1
dt/dp
0.05 Linear (𝑇𝑣𝑔/ℎ𝑓𝑔)
Linear (dt/dp)
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
 SAMPLE CALCULATION:
Sample Calculation For The Average Temperature Tavg :-

T increase + T decrease
Average Temperature , Tavg = 2

111.2 + 111.2
Eg . Row number 2 = = 111.2 °C
2

= 111.2 + 273

= 384.2 K

Sample Calculation For dP :-

Eg : Row number 2 : dP @1.5 = Pabs@1.5 – P abs@1.0

= 1.5 – 1.0

= 0.5 bar x 100 Kpa / 1 bar

= 50 Kpa

Sample Calculation For dT

Eg : Row number 2 dT 1.5bar = Tavg@1.5 – Tavg@1.0

= 384.2 – 372

= 12.2 K
 dT 
Sample Calculation for   :-
 dP  SAT

 dT  12.2
Eg : Row number 2:   1.5bar = 50
 dP  SAT

= 0.25 k / Kpa
 Sample Calculation for Vf :-

110°C – 115 °C 1.2094 – 1.0360

Eg : Row number 2 : = (all value obtained from steam table)
115 °C 111.2 °C 1.0360− Vf

Vf = 1.1678 (384.2k)

= 448.66 m3 . K / kg

Sample calculation for hfg

110°C – 115 °C 2229.7 – 2216 .0

Eg : Row number 2 : =
115 °C 111.2 °C 2216.0 − hfg

hfg = 2226.41KJ /Kg

Sample Calculation for slope Tvg/hfg :

Tvg 644.96m3 .k/kg

@1.5bar = x 1kj / 1Kpa.m3= 0.28 K / Kpa
hfg 2259kj/kg

PRECAUTIONS
1. The temperature controller is set to 185.0oc, that is slightly above the expected boiling
point of water at 10bars (abs).

2. The valve at the feed port was opened while the heater was turnedon.3.

3. The valve at the level sight tube are made sure to be closed before turning on the heater
as the sight tube is not designed to withstand high pressure and temperature.

4. The rise of the steam temperature could be observed when the water boils.
 5. The steam from the valve was allowed to come out for 30 seconds before the valve was
closed
6. (this step is very important to remove the air from the boiler as the accuracy of the
experiment results would be significantly affected if air is present)

7. The steam temperature, gauze pressure at 1.00bar (abs) and time taken for steam to reach
until 8.00bar (abs) is recorded.

8. After the experiment, the heater is allowed to cool down to room temperature.

9. The time taken for the heater or boiler to cool down is also recorded.

10. All the readings of result are recorded and tabulated on a table.

DISCUSSION
i. Give the reason why it is necessary to remove air from the boiler at the beginning of the
experiment.
Marcet boiler was made by Nathan Chamberlain, Boston, USA, in the year1850. He made
this boiler for measuring the vapor pressure of saturated liquid. Later this Marcet boiler
was used to study the evaporation filtration of water. Pressure and temperature are
two fundamental quantities of materials in thermodynamics. These two factors have
relation directly proportional to each other. When a container contains saturated liquid and
are heated to it’s boiling temperature, the liquid will be changing it’s state from liquid to
steam. If the steam
are not allowed to escape from the container, their internal pressure will increase. Because,
when the liquid becomes gas by heating, the internal molecular energy will increase and
the atoms will be more excited. All the excited atoms will hit each other and split with
more speed or velocities. As their mass remains constant, so their forces on each other will
increases. And when their forces on them increases, and are not allowed to occupy
 more area, they exerts pressure on the container, which gradually increases with
temperature. Hence it is calculated and proved from the graph, that temperature is directly
proportional to the pressure.

ii.Compare the graph plotted from experiment data to that of the calculated data with
explanation. Comment on any discrepancy and sources of error of the experiment. Discuss
the liquid and vapor behavior observed through the experiment and list some examples of
its industrial applications.
he error percentage should not cross or exceed 10%, as the experiment was done in
enclosed surface and no volume of experimenting samples are allowed to escape from the
system. That is done in closed system. It is important to remove gas at the beginning to
avoid the flaws of reading due to pressure difference. Marcet boiler is being used as water
boiler, gasifier, power plant, cooking utensils, steam plant industries, etc.

CONCLUSION
From the experiment, it is found from the graph and calculation, temperature of a saturated steam
is directly proportional to the pressure in equilibrium with water. The percentage error on the
experiment for first two values were found higher than those third values and onward. This
happened due to take improper reading from the pressure gauze and some technical fault. The
rest of the result for
Percentage error are found “O” zero percent, which is also not practically possible.
This happened due to taking the two figure after decimal, which reduce the contrast of the
reading. Disgracing some negligible faults, this experiment can be consider successful, to
improve the result of the experiment, it should be carried out at room temperature switching off
all the air-conditions, and by repeating the experiment and taking the average value. If some
insulation were kept on the Marcet boiler to reduce heat loss, the experiment could be more
accurate.
 REFERENCE
1. Acedemia (February 2015). Thermodynamics (Marcel boilers) [online] Available at
https://www.academia.edu/11843064/CHE144_-_Lab_Report_Marcet_Boiler_2015_
[Accessed 2 May 2019].
2. Techquimentacedemia (July 2017). Marcet boiler calculation [online] Available at
https://www.tecquipment.com/saturated-steam-the-marcet-boiler [Accessed 1 May 2019].
3. slideshare.net (November 2012). Marcet Boiler[online]
https://www.slideshare.net/ShwanSarwan/marcet-boiler [Accessed 1 May 2019]