Faculty of

Mechanical Engineering

FINAL EXAMINATION
SEMESTER II, 2014/2015 SESSION

COURSE CODE : SKMM 2433

COURSE NAME : APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS AND HEAT
TRANSFER
PROGRAMME : SKMT/SKMV
DURATION : 3 HOURS
DATE : JUN 2015

INSTRUCTION TO CANDIDATES :

1. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

WARNING !

Students caught copying/cheating during the examination are

liable for disciplinary actions and the faculty may recommend
the student to be expelled from the University

THIS EXAMINATION PAPER CONSISTS OF (8) PRINTED PAGES ONLY

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SKMM 2433

Q1 a) Using schematic and T-s diagrams, explain how modification of basic cycle using reheat
process affects the work ratio and cycle efficiency of a gas turbine power plant?
(5 marks)

b) A gas turbine power plant operates with two-stage expansion and a reheat process. The
compressor is driven by the high-pressure turbine while the low-pressure turbine delivers
9 MW of power to drive an electric generator. Air enters the compressor at 100 kPa and
25C and the pressure ratio of the compressor is 6. The gases temperature at the entry to the
high-pressure turbine is 820C while the temperature of gases leaving the reheater is 800C.
The isentropic efficiency of the compressor is 0.85 and the isentropic efficiency of each
turbine is 0.8. Sketch the schematic diagram of the plant and the cycle on a T-s diagram and
calculate,
i) the mass flow rate of the combustion gases, kg/s
ii) the total heat input, kW, and
iii) the thermal efficiency, %.

For the compression process take cp = 1.005 kJ/kgK and = 1.40 and for the combustion
and expansion process take cp = 1.15 kJ/kgK and =1.33.
(20 marks)
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SKMM 2433

Q2 a) Sketch the reversed Carnot cycle on a T-s and P-h diagrams and give three (3) reasons why
this cycle is not a realistic model for refrigeration system.
(5 marks)

b) A refrigeration system uses refrigerant-134a as the working fluid and operates on a vapor
compression cycle between 1.2 MPa and 0.24 MPa. The refrigerant enters the compressor at
a temperature of 0 oC and leaves the condenser at a temperature of 36 oC. The mass flow
rate of the refrigerant is 0.05 kg/s. Show the cycle on a T-s and P-h diagrams with respect to
saturation lines. Changes in kinetic and potential energies can be neglected. If the isentropic
efficiency of the compressor is 90 percent, determine,
i) the refrigerant temperature at the compressor outlet, oC
ii) the rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space, kW
iii) the rate of heat rejection to the environment, kW
iv) the power required by the compressor, kW, and
v) the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration system.
(20 marks)

Q3 a) i) What is forced convection?

ii) In which mode of heat transfer is the convection heat transfer coefficient usually higher,
natural convection or forced convection? Why?
(5 marks)

b) An electrical cable with a radius of 1.94 mm is placed in 1 atm air stream at temperature of
30 C. The cable is then subjected to airflow with velocity of 50 m/s perpendicular to the
wire. An electric current is passed through the wire, raising its surface temperature to 50 C.
Calculate,
i) the Reynolds number,
ii) the Nusselt number, (please refer to the formulas provided)
iii) the heat transfer coefficient, W/m2.C, and
iv) the heat loss per unit length, W/m.

Please refer Table A-22 for properties of air and Appendix 1 for empirical correlations.
(20 marks)
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SKMM 2433

Q4 a) Physically, what does the Grashof number represent? How does the Grashof number differ
from the Reynolds number?
(5 marks)

b) A thin circular plate with a diameter of 600 mm is placed in a room at a temperature of

30 oC. One side of the plate is maintained at a temperature of 90 oC while the other side is
insulated. Determine the heat transfer coefficient and the rate of heat transfer, in Watts,
from the plate by natural convection if the plate is
i) horizontal with hot surface facing up
ii) vertical

Please refer Table A-22 for properties of air and Table 20-1 for empirical correlations.
(20 marks)