Section A

• Section A involves 4 questions.

• Section A carries 40 marks out of 100.
• You are not required to submit any workings for Section A.
• Questions are randomised within Section A.
• Answers within Multiple Choice and Multiple Response questions are randomised.
• Indicative time for completing Section A is 30 minutes.
• You can move on to the next question at any time, you cannot go back to the previous question.
Question A1 [10 marks]
A mechanical vapor compression air conditioner that operates with ammonia condenses at
15.54 bar with no subcooling and evaporates at 2.908 bar with no superheating.
Part 1a What is the ideal Carnot COP of the cycle? Select one (3 marks)
(a) 6.26
(b) 4.00
(c) 5.26
(d) 5.00

Condensation: 𝑝𝑠,𝐻 = 15.54 𝑏𝑎𝑟 → 𝑇𝐻 = 40℃

Evaporation: 𝑝𝑠,𝐶 = 2.908 𝑏𝑎𝑟 → 𝑇𝐶 = −10℃
𝑇𝐶 −10 + 273
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑡,𝐴𝐶 = = = 5.26
𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐶 40 − (−10)

Part 1b What is the heat per unit mass absorbed by the evaporator? Select one (3 marks)
(a) 1337.9 kJ/kg
(b) 1061.1 kJ/kg
(c) 1433.0 kJ/kg
(d) 1473.3 kJ/kg

ℎ𝑓(40℃) = 371.9 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔 ℎ𝑔(−10℃) = 1433 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

𝑞𝑒𝑣 = ℎ𝑔(−10℃) − ℎ𝑓(40℃) = 1433 − 371.9 = 1061.1 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Part 1c What is the work per unit mass generated by the compressor if the entropy of the ammonia
entering the condenser is 5.655 kJ.kg-1.K-1? Select one (4 marks)
(a) 1380.0 kJ/kg
(b) 278.6 kJ/kg
(c) 318.9 kJ/kg
(d) 1751.9 kJ/kg

ℎ𝑔(−10℃) = 1433 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔 ℎ40℃ & 𝑠=5.655𝑘𝐽⁄ = 1751.9 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

𝑘𝑔 𝐾

𝑤𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟 = ℎ40℃ & 𝑠=5.655𝑘𝐽⁄ − ℎ𝑔(−10℃) = 1751.9 − 1433 = 318.9 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

𝑘𝑔 𝐾
Question A2 [10 marks]
Part 2a What is the relative humidity of water vapour at a partial pressure of 0.025 bar and 30 °C.
Select one. (4 marks)
(a) 65%
(b) 59%
(c) 100%
(d) 170%

𝑝𝐻2 𝑂 = 0.025 𝑏𝑎𝑟 𝑝𝑠𝑎𝑡 (30℃) = 0.04242 𝑏𝑎𝑟

𝑚𝐻2 𝑂 𝑝𝐻2 𝑂 0.02500
𝜙= = = = 0.589 = 59%
𝑚𝑠𝑎𝑡 (30℃) 𝑝𝑠𝑎𝑡 (30℃) 0.04242

Part 2b What is the dew-point of water vapour at a partial pressure of 0.025 bar. Select one. (3
marks)
(a) 21.1 ℃
(b) 30.1 ℃
(c) 5.2 ℃
(d) 10.2 ℃

𝑝𝐻2 𝑂 = 0.02486 𝑏𝑎𝑟 → 𝑇𝑠(𝑝=0.02486) = 21℃

𝑝𝐻2 𝑂 = 0.025 𝑏𝑎𝑟 → 𝑇𝑠(𝑝=0.025) = ?
𝑝𝐻2 𝑂 = 0.02642 𝑏𝑎𝑟 → 𝑇𝑠(𝑝=0.02642) = 22℃
0.025 − 0.02486
𝐷𝑒𝑤 − 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 = 𝑇𝑠(𝑝=0.025) = ∙ (22 − 21) + 21 = 21.1℃
0.02642 − 0.02486

Part 2c What is the density of saturated water vapour at 20 °C? Select one. (3 marks)
(a) 57.84 kg/m3
(b) 1000 kg/m3
(c) 0.054 kg/m3
(d) 0.017 kg/m3

1 1 𝑘𝑔
𝜌𝑔(20℃) = = = 0.017 ⁄ 3
𝑣𝑔(20℃) 57.84 𝑚
Question A3 [10 marks]

Part 3a An engine has a thermal efficiency of 0.36 and heat input of 20 kW. What is the power
output? Select one. (2 marks)
(a) 55.6 kW
(b) 7.2 kW
(c) 10.6 kW
(d) 18.2 kW

𝑊̇ = 𝜂𝑄̇ = 0.36 × 20 = 7.2 kW

Part 3b An ideal Otto cycle engine has a thermal efficiency of 0.6. What is its compression ratio?
Assume  =1.4. (4 marks)
(a) 12.23
(b) 11.56
(c) 9.88
(d) 10.98

1−𝛾
𝜂Otto = 1 − 𝑟c
→ 𝑟c = (1 − 𝜂)1⁄(1−𝛾) = (1 − 0.6)1⁄(1−1.4) = 9.88

Part 3c An ideal Diesel engine has a compression ratio of 20 and a cut-off ratio of 2.5. What is its
efficiency? Assume γ=1.4. Select one. (4 marks)
(a) 0.625
(b) 0.524
(c) 0.498
(d) 0.685

1−𝛾 𝛾
𝑟𝑐(𝑟𝑐𝑜 − 1) 201−1.4 (2.51.4 − 1)
𝜂Diesel =1− =1− = 0.625
𝛾(𝑟𝑐𝑜 − 1) 1.4(2.5 − 1)
Question A4 [10 marks]
Part 4a What is the Mean Effective Pressure (MEP) of a 4-stroke reciprocating engine with a
displacement of 2.0 litres and a torque output of 225 Nm? Select one. (3 marks)
(a) 20.25 bar
(b) 19.68 bar
(c) 14.14 bar
(d) 16.82 bar

2𝜋𝑛c 𝜏 2𝜋 × 2 × 225
𝑝me = = = 1,413,717 Pa = 14.14 bar
𝑉d 2 × 10−3

Part 4b Iso-octane, C8H18, is burnt with 50 % excess air. What is the mass air-fuel ratio? Assume air is
composed of 79 % nitrogen and 21 % oxygen by volume Select one. (4 marks)
(a) 22.6
(b) 15.1
(c) 17.3
(d) 12.5

C8 H18 + 𝑎O2 → 𝑏CO2 + 𝑐H2 O

Balance the carbon: b = 8

Balance the hydrogen: 2c = 18 ∴ c = 9

Balance the oxygen: 2a = 2b + c = 16 + 9 = 25 ∴ a = 12.5

Stoichiometric equation in air:

C8 H18 + 12.5(O2 + 3.76N2 ) → 8CO2 + 9H2 O + 47N2

12.5(2 × 16 + 3.76 × 2 × 14)

Stoichiometric Air Fuel Ratio = = 15.05
8 × 12 + 18
50% excess air:
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜
% 𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝐴𝑖𝑟 = ( − 1) × 100
𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑖𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜
% 𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝐴𝑖𝑟
→ 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 = 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑖𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 ( + 1)
100
= 15.05 × 1.5 = 22.6
Part 4c An ideal simple gas turbine (Joule cycle) has a pressure ratio of 8:1. What is its thermal
efficiency? Assume  =1.4. Select one (3 marks)
(a) 0.448
(b) 0.526
(c) 0.401
(d) 0.625

1 1
𝜂 =1− 𝛾−1 =1− 0.4 = 0.448
𝑟𝑝
𝛾 81.4

End of Section A
Section B

• Section B involves 4 questions.

• Section B carries 60 marks out of 100.
• You are required to submit workings for Section B.
• Questions are randomised within Section B.
• Indicative time for completing Section B is 60 minutes.
• You can move on to the next question at any time, you cannot go back to the previous question.

Question B1 [15 marks]

A vapour compression heat pump uses R134a as its working fluid. The evaporation temperature is
0 °C and there is 10 K of superheat on leaving the evaporator. The condensing temperature is 60 °C
and there is 10 °C subcooling. The compressor is 90 % efficient.

a) Draw a clearly labelled p-h and T-s diagram of the cycle (6 marks)

b) Calculate the COP and the Carnot COP (5 marks)

c) Calculate the flow rate of refrigerant for 15 kW heating power (4 marks)

Solution

a)

b)
c)
Question B2 [15 marks]

In a steam plant, saturated water is passed through a feed pump that raises its pressure to 80 bar.
After boiling it is superheated to 450 °C and passes through a reversible adiabatic turbine that
reduces its pressure to 10 bar. It is then reheated to 450 °C and passes through another reversible
adiabatic turbine that reduces its pressure to 0.5 bar. After passing through the condenser, the
water returns to the feed pump. The work done by the pump can be neglected.
Sketch the cycle on a T-s and p-h diagrams (5 marks)
Calculate its efficiency (10 marks)
Question B3 [15 marks]

An ideal (air standard) 4-stroke Diesel engine has a compression ratio of 20:1, a cut-off ratio of 2:1
and a displacement of 1.5 litres. Intake air conditions are 2 bar and 40 °C. Assuming  =1.4,
cp=1005 J kg-1K-1, cv=718 J kg-1K-1 and Rair=287 J kg-1K-1, calculate:

a) The temperature after compression (3 marks)

b) The temperature after heat input (4 marks)

c) The heat input per cycle (kJ) (4 marks)

d) The power output at 2,000 rpm (4 marks)

𝑉d 𝑟c 1.5 × 18
𝑉1 = = = 1.5789 litres
𝑟c − 1 18 − 1
𝑉2 = 𝑉1 − 𝑉d = 1.5882 − 1.5 = 0.0789 litres
𝑉3
𝑟𝑐𝑜 = → 𝑉3 = 𝑉2 𝑟co = 0.0789 × 2 = 0.1578 litres
𝑉2
𝛾−1
a) 𝑇2 = 𝑇1 𝑟𝑐 = (40 + 273) × 200.4 = 𝟏, 𝟎𝟑𝟕 𝐊
b) 𝑇3 = 𝑇2 𝑟co = 1,037 × 2 = 𝟐, 𝟎𝟕𝟓 𝐊
𝑝1 𝑉1 2×105 ×1.5789×10−3
c) Mass of air: 𝑚air = 𝑅𝑇1
= 287×(40+273)
= 0.0035153 kg

𝑸𝐢𝐧 = 𝒎𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟑 − 𝑻𝟐 ) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟓𝟏𝟓𝟑 × 𝟏, 𝟎𝟎𝟓(𝟐, 𝟎𝟕𝟓 − 𝟏, 𝟎𝟑𝟕) = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟕 𝐤𝐉

1−𝛾 𝛾
𝑟𝑐 (𝑟𝑐𝑜 −1) 20−0.4 (21.4 −1)
d) 𝑾𝐧𝐞𝐭 = 𝜼𝑸𝐢𝐧 = (1 − ) 𝑄in = (1 − ) 3,670 = 0.64678 ×
𝛾(𝑟𝑐𝑜 −1) 1.4(2−1)
3,670 = 𝟐. 𝟑𝟕 𝐤𝐉
𝑊net 𝑁rpm 2,370 × 2,000
𝑊̇net = = = 𝟑𝟗. 𝟓 𝐤𝐖
60 × 2 revs/cycle 120
Question B4 [15 marks]

A simple closed-cycle gas turbine power plant can be modelled as an air-standard Joule cycle engine
with isentropic compression and expansion. The properties of air are: cp = 1.005 kJ.kg-1.K-1,  = 1.4.

Air enters the compressor at 20 °C and 105 Pa and is compressed to 9x105 Pa. It is then heated at
constant pressure to 970 °C before being expanded back to 105 Pa.

Calculate the following, giving your answers to 3 s.f.

a) The specific work output of the expander (per kg of air). (3 marks)

b) The work ratio. (3 marks)

c) The cycle efficiency. (3 marks)

The power plant is modified by the inclusion of a second isentropic expansion stage with re-heating
between the expanders. Calculate the following, giving your answers to 3 s.f.

d) The pressure ratio across each of the turbines for work output to be maximised. (3 marks)

e) The combined specific work output of the expanders (per kg of air). (3 marks)

Solution

𝑝2 9 × 105
𝑟𝑝 = = =9
𝑝1 1 × 105
𝑇2 𝑇3 (𝛾−1)/𝛾
= = 𝑟𝑝 = 90.4⁄1.4 = 1.873
𝑇1 𝑇4
𝑇1 = 20 + 273 = 293 K
𝑇3 = 970 + 273 = 1243 K
𝑇2 = 293 × 1.873 = 549 K
𝑇4 = 1243/1.873 = 664 K
a) 𝑤turbine = 𝑐𝑝 (𝑇3 − 𝑇4 ) = 1.005 × (1243 − 664) = 582 kJ/kg
b) 𝑤comp = 𝑐𝑝 (𝑇2 − 𝑇1 ) = 1.005 × (549 − 293) = 257 kJ/kg
𝑤𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑤turbine − 𝑤comp 𝑤comp 257
𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 = = =1− =1− = 0.558
𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑤turbine 𝑤turbine 582
𝑤𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑤𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 −𝑤𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟 582−257
c) 𝜂 = 𝑞𝑖𝑛
= 𝑐𝑝 (𝑇3 −𝑇2 )
= 1.005(1243−549) = 0.466

Reheat with maximum specific work out:

T3=Tb
Ta=Tc
pa=pb
p3/pa=pb/p4
d) 𝑟𝑝,3𝑎 = 𝑟𝑝,𝑏𝑐 = √𝑟𝑝 = √9 = 3
𝑇3 (𝛾−1)/𝛾
e) 𝑇𝑎
= 𝑟𝑝,3𝑎
𝛾−1
𝛾
𝑇𝑎 = 𝑇3 /𝑟𝑝,3𝑎 = 1,243/30.4/1.4 = 908 K

𝑤3𝑎 = 𝑐𝑝 (𝑇3 − 𝑇𝑎 ) = 1.005 × (1243 − 908) = 337 kJ/kg

𝑤𝑏𝑐 = 𝑤3𝑎
𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑤3𝑎 + 𝑤𝑏𝑐 = 2 × 337 = 674 kJ/kg
End of Section B

End of QMP