For a given heat flow and for the same thickness, the temperature drop

across the material will be maximum for [GATE-1996]

(a) Copper (b) Steel (c) Glass-wool (d) Refractory brick
For a given heat flow and for the same thickness, the temperature drop
across the material will be maximum for [GATE-1996]
(a) Copper (b) Steel (c) Glass-wool (d) Refractory brick
For a given heat flow and for the same thickness, the temperature drop
across the material will be maximum for [GATE-1996]
(a) Copper (b) Steel (c) Glass-wool (d) Refractory brick
HEAT TRANSFER
1. For a given heat flow and for the same thickness, the temperature drop across the material
will be maximum for [GATE-1996]

(a) Copper (b) Steel (c) Glass-wool (d) Refractory brick

GATE-3. A steel ball of mass 1kg and specific heat 0.4 kJ/kg is at a temperature
of 60°C. It is dropped into 1kg water at 20°C. The final steady state
temperature of water is: [GATE-1998]
(a) 23.5°C (b) 300°C (c) 35°C (d) 40°C
GATE-3. A steel ball of mass 1kg and specific heat 0.4 kJ/kg is at a temperature
of 60°C. It is dropped into 1kg water at 20°C. The final steady state
temperature of water is: [GATE-1998]
(a) 23.5°C (b) 300°C (c) 35°C (d) 40°C
2. A steel ball of mass 1kg and specific heat 0.4 kJ/kg is at a temperature of 60°C. It is dropped
into 1kg water at 20°C. The final steady state temperature of water is: [GATE-1998]

(a) 23.5°C (b) 300°C (c) 35°C (d) 40°C

In descending order of magnitude, the thermal conductivity of

a. Pure iron, [GATE-2001]
b. Liquid water,
c. Saturated water vapour, and
d. Pure aluminium can be arranged as
3. In descending order of magnitude, the thermal conductivity of , [GATE-2001]
a. Pure iron
b. Liquid water,
c. Saturated water vapours, and
d. Pure aluminium can be arranged as

(a) a b c d (b) b c a d (c) d a b c (d) d c b a

4. In a case of one-dimensional heat conduction in a medium with constant properties, T is the
∂T
temperature at position x, at time t. Then ∂ t is proportional to:
[GATE-2005]

T ∂T ∂2 T ∂2 T
(a) x (b) ∂ x (c) (d)
∂x ∂t ∂ x2

5. One dimensional unsteady state heat transfer equation for a sphere with heat generation at
the rate of 'q' can be written as [GATE-2004]

1 ∂
( )
∂T q 1 ∂T
(a) r ∂r r ∂r + k = α ∂t (b)
r 2 ∂r
r (
1 ∂ 2 ∂T q 1 ∂T
+ =)
∂r k α ∂t
2
∂ T q 1 ∂T ∂2 T q 1 ∂T
(c) + = (d) 2 + rT + k = α ∂t
∂r 2 k α ∂t ∂r

6. A building has to be maintained at 21°C (dry bulb) and 14.5°C. The outside temperature is
–23°C (dry bulb) and the internal and external surface heat transfer coefficients are 8 W /m2 K
and 23 W /m2 K respectively. If the building wall has a thermal conductivity of 1.2 W /mK , the
minimum thickness (in m) of the wall required to prevent condensation is:
[GATE-2007]
(a) 0.471
(b) 0.407
(c) 0.321
(d) 0.125

7. For the three-dimensional object shown in the figure below, five faces are insulated. The
sixth face (PQRS), which is not insulated, interacts thermally with the ambient, with a
convective heat transfer coefficient of 10 W /m2 K . The ambient temperature is 30°C. Heat is
uniformly generated inside the object at the rate of 100 W¿ m 3. Assuming the face PQRS to be at
uniform temperature, its steady state temperature is:
[GATE-2008]
(a) 10°C
(b) 20°C
(c) 30°C
(d) 40°C

8. In a composite slab, the temperature at the

interface (T ¿¿ intex)¿ between two materials is
equal to the average of the temperatures at the
two ends. Assuming steady one- dimensional
heat conduction, which of the following statements is true about the respective thermal
conductivities? [GATE-2006]

(a) 2 k 1=k 2
(b) k 1=k 2
(c) 2 k 1=3 k 2
(d) k 1=2 k 2

9. A steel steam pipe 10 cm inner diameter and 11 cm outer diameter is covered with insulation
having the thermal conductivity of 1 W/mK. If the convective heat transfer coefficient between
the surface of insulation and the surrounding air is 8 W /m 2 K , then critical radius of insulation is:
[GATE-2000]

(a) 10 cm (b) 11 cm (c) 12.5 cm (d) 15 cm

10. It is proposed to coat a 1 mm diameter wire with enamel paint (k =0.1 W /mK ) to increase
heat transfer with air. If the air side heat transfer coefficient is 100 W /m2 K , then optimum
thickness of enamel paint should be: [GATE-1999]
(a) 0.25 mm (b) 0.5 mm (c) 1 mm (d) 2 mm

11. For a current wire of 20 mm diameter exposed to air (h=20 W /m2 K ) , maximum heat
dissipation occurs when thickness of insulation ¿) is:
[GATE-1993;
1996]
(a) 20 mm (b) 25 mm (c) 20 mm (d) 10 mm

12. Two rods, one of length L and the other of length 2L are made of the same material and
have the same diameter. The two ends of the longer rod are maintained at 100°C. One end of the
shorter rod is maintained at 100°C while the other end is insulated. Both the rods are exposed to
the same environment at 40°C. The temperature at the insulated end of the shorter rod is
measured to be 55°C. The temperature at the mid-point of the longer rod would be:
[GATE-1992]

(a) 40°C (b) 50°C (c) 55°C (d) 100°C

13. A fin has 5mm diameter and 100 mm length. The thermal conductivity of fin material is
400 Wm−1K−1. One end of the fin is maintained at 130ºC and its remaining surface is exposed
to ambient air at 30ºC. If the convective heat transfer coefficient is 40 Wm-2K-1, the heat loss
(in W) from the fin is: [GATE-2010]
(a) 0.08 (b) 5.0 (c) 7.0 (d) 7.8
14. Economy of a multiple effect evaporator is not influenced much by the
(A) Boiling point elevations
(B) Temperature of the feed
(C) Rate of heat transfer
(D) Ratio of the weight of the thin liquor to thick liquor

15. For evaporation of viscous solution in a multiple effect evaporator, the preferred feeding
scheme is
(A) Forward
(B) Backward
(C) Parallel
(D) None of these
16. What is the absorptivity of a black body?
(A) 1
(B) 0
(C) 0.78
(D) 0.95

17. Multiple effect evaporators are used to

(A) Increase the steam economy & decrease the capacity
(B) Increase the steam economy & the capacity
(C) Decrease the steam economy & the capacity
(D) Decrease the steam economy & increase the capacity

18. The average heat transfer co-efficient for laminar film condensation on vertical surface is
inversely proportional to (where, ΔT = Temperature drop across condensate film)
(A) (ΔT)2
(B) √(ΔT)
(C) (ΔT)1/4
(D) (ΔT)3/2

19. Heat transfer co-efficient (h1) for liquids increases with

(A) Increasing temperature
(B) Decreasing temperature
(C) Decreasing Reynolds number
(D) None of these

20. Which characteristic of a fluid is not important in deciding its route in a shell and tube heat
exchanger?
(A) Corrosiveness
(B) Fouling characteristic
(C) Viscosity
(D) None of these

21. Steady state one dimensional heat flow by conduction as given by Fourier's low does not
assume that
(A) There is no internal heat generation
(B) Boundary surfaces are isothermal
(C) Material is anisotropic
(D) Constant temperature gradient exists

22. An evaporator while concentrating an aqueous solution from 10 to 40% solids evaporates
30000 kg of water. The amount of solids handled by the system in kg is
(A) 4000
(B) 9000
(C) 4600
(D) 3000
23. A backward feed multiple effect evaporator is better than forward feed for concentrating
cold feed, because it provides
(A) Higher economy
(B) Lower capacity
(C) Both (a) & (b)
(D) Lower economy

24. Analogy between mass and heat transfer is not applicable in case of
(A) Same velocity profile or equal eddy diffusivities
(B) Thermal or pressure mass diffusion
(C) Viscous heating or chemical reaction
(D) Both (b) and (c)

25. 1000 Kg of liquid at 30°C in a well stirred vessel has to be heated to 120°C, using immersed
coils carrying condensing steam at 150°C. The area of the steam coils is 1.2 m2 and the overall
heat transfer co-efficient to the liquid is 1500 W/m2.°C. Assuming negligible heat loss to the
surrounding and specific heat capacity of the liquid to be 4 kJ/kg.°C, the time taken for the
liquid to reach desired temperature will be
(A) 15 min
(B) 22 min
(C) 44 min
(D) 51 min

26. The critical radius of insulation for a spherical shell is (where, K = thermal conductivity of
insulating material h0 = heat transfer coefficient at the outer surface)
(A) K/h0
(B) 2K/h0
(C) h0/K
(D) h0/2K
27. Heat waves
(A) Cannot pass through vacuum
(B) Travel in straight line
(C) Can be reflected by a mirror
(D) Both (b) and (c)

28. Out of 100 kcal/second of incident radiant energy on the surface of a thermally transparent
body, 300 kcal/second is reflected back. If the transmissivity of the body is 0.25, the emissivity
of the surface will be
(A) 0.35
(B) 0.45
(C) 0.55
(D) 0.85

29. The properties of mercury at 300 K are: density = 13529 kg / m3, specific heat at constant
pressure = 0.1393 kJ/kg-K, dynamic viscosity = 0.1523 ×10−2 N . s /m2 and thermal conductivity =
8.540 W/mK. The Prandtl number of the mercury at 300 K is:
[GATE-2002]
(a)0.0248(b) 2.48(c )24.8 (d) 248

30. The value of the temperature gradient in the glass at the water-glass interface in k/m is:
( a ) – 2×10 4 ( b ) 0.0(c )0.5× 104 (d)2× 104

31. The heat transfer coefficient h in W /m2 K is:

(a) 0.0(b)4.8 (c) 6( d) 750

32. If velocity of water inside a smooth tube is doubled, then turbulent flow heat transfer
coefficient between the water and the tube will: [GATE-1999]
(a) Remain unchanged
(b) Increase to double its value
(c) Increase but will not reach double its value
(d) Increase to more than double its value

MASS TRANSFER
1. In a binary distillation column, if the feed contains 40 mole % vapor, the q line will have a
slope of
(A) 1.5
(B) -0.6
(C) -1.5
(D) 0.6

2. The individual mass transfer co-efficient (moles/m2s) for absorption of a solute from a gas
mixture into a liquid solvent are, K L = 4.5 and K G = 1.5. The slope of the equilibrium line is 3.
Which of the following resistance (s) is (are) controlling?
(A) Liquid side
(B) Gas side
(C) Interfacial
(D) Both liquid and gas side

3. Steady state temperature reached by a small amount of liquid evaporating into a large amount
of unsaturated vapor-gas mixture is called the __________ temperature.
(A) Dry-bulb
(B) Wet-bulb
(C) Dew point
(D) Adiabatic saturation

4. In case of unsaturated air

(A) Dew point < wet bulb temperature
(B) Wet bulb temperature < dry bulb temperature
(C) Both (a) and (b)
(D) Neither (a) not (b)

5. The apex of an equilateral-triangular coordinate (in ternary liquid system) represents a/an
(A) Pure component
(B) Binary mixture
(C) Ternary mixture
(D) Insoluble binary system

6. __________ extractor is used for the concentration of radioactive nuclear waste.

(A) Pulsed column
(B) Sieve plate
(C) Mixer-settler
(D) Bollman
7. Removal of __________ exemplifies an adsorption unit operation.
(A) Uranium from its ore
(B) Water from petrol
(C) Ammonia from coke oven gas
(D) Mustard oil from mustard seed

8. Use of packed towers for distillation is generally limited to the

(A) Small sizes
(B) Multi-component distillation
(C) High pressure operation
(D) Vacuum distillation

9. Dimension of mass diffusivity is the same as that of

(A) Kinematic viscosity
(B) Dynamic viscosity
(C) Surface tension
(D) Pressure

10. Paper industry employs __________ driers.

(A) Cylinder
(B) Rotary
(C) Spray
(D) Fluidized bed

11. Pick out the wrong statement

(A) A horizontal line on the humidity chart indicates the temperature changes at constant molal
humidity
(B) When water is cooled from 80 to 70°C by exposure to the air with a wet bulb temperature of
60°C, then both the approach & the range would be 10°C
(C) For unsaturated air-water vapor mixture at atmospheric conditions, the wet bulb temperature
& adiabatic cooling lines are the same
(D) Relative saturation of unsaturated mixture of water vapor & air cannot be increased by
either reducing the mixture temperature or by increasing the total pressure

12. Laboratory determination of the diffusivity of vapor is done by __________ method.

(A) Wetted wall column
(B) Gilliland's
(C) Winkelmann's
(D) Wike's
13. The relation among various mass transfer co-efficients (M.T.C) for ideal gases is given by
(where, K c & K m are M.T.C. for equimolar counter diffusion with concentration & mole fraction
respectively as the driving force. and, K p = M.T.C. for diffusion of a gas through a stagnant inert
gas with pressure as driving force.)
(A) K c = K p = K m
(B) K c = K p/RT = K m . RT/P
(C) K c = K p . RT = K m . RT/p
(D) None of these

14. Pick out the wrong statement:

(A) Change in barometric pressure does not affect the relative humidity
(B) In case of a packed tower, the operating velocity is about half of the flooding velocity,
generally
(C) 'Elution' means the desorption of the adsorbed solute by a solvent
(D) The equilibrium moisture content of the solid can be reduced by increasing the absolute
humidity

15. The temperature of water cooled in cooling tower is always __________ temperature of
entering air.
(A) More than the wet bulb
(B) Less than the wet bulb
(C) Equal to the wet bulb
(D) Equal to the dry bulb

16. Mass transfer rate between two fluid phases does not necessarily depend on the __________
of the two phases.
(A) chemical properties
(B) physical properties
(C) degree of turbulence
(D) interfacial area

17. In a solution containing 0.30 Kg mole of solute and 600 kg of solvent, the molality is
(A)0.50 (B)0.60 (C)2 (D)1

18. Fenske equation determines the

(A)maximum number of ideal plates.
(B)height of the distillation column.
(C)minimum number of theoretical plates.
(D)optimum reflux ratio.
19.The term "cooling range" in a cooling tower refers to the difference in the temperature of
(A)cold water leaving the tower and the wet bulb temperature of the surrounding air.
(B)hot water entering the tower and the wet bulb temperature of the surrounding air.
(C)hot water entering the tower and the cooled water leaving the tower.
(D)none of these

20.Which of the following is the most suitable for extraction in a system having very low-
density difference?
(A)Mixer-settler extractor
(B)Centrifugal extractor
(C)Pulsed extractor
(D)Packed extraction tower

21. During constant rate period, the rate of drying decreases with the
(A) Decrease in air temperature
(B) Increase in air humidity
(C) Both (a) and (b)
(D) Neither (a) nor (b)

22. At what percentage (by volume) of alcohol composition, it forms an azeotrope with water?
(A) 90
(B) 91.5
(C) 95
(D) 99

23. Which of the following is considered equivalent to one theoretical stage in Mc-Cabe
Thiele's method?
(A) Partial condenser
(B) Total condenser
(C) Reboiler
(D) Both (b) and (c)

24. Steam distillation is not recommended to be used, if the

(A) Azeotropic mixture is to be separated and the final product is miscible with water
(B) Liquids decompose, if distilled directly at atmospheric pressure
(C) Material cannot be distilled by indirect heating even under low pressure, because of the high
boiling temperature
(D) Material to be distilled is thermally unstable or has the tendency to react with other
components associated with it, at the boiling temperature
25. It takes 6 hours to dry a wet solid from 50% moisture content to the critical moisture content
of 15%. How much longer it will take to dry the solid to 10% moisture content, under the same
drying conditions? (The equilibrium moisture content of the solid is 5%).
(A) 15 min
(B) 51 min
(C) 71 min
(D) 94 min

26. Which of the following liquid temperature (T) vs. vapor-gas mixture enthalpy (H) diagram
is valid for humidification operation?

27. In Azeotropic mixture, the equilibrium vapor composition is

(A) More than liquid composition
(B) Less than liquid composition
(C) Same as liquid composition
(D) Independent of pressure

28. In rectifying section of a continuous distillation column, the

(A) Vapor is enriched with low boilers
(B) Vapor is enriched with high boilers
(C) Liquid is stripped of high boilers
(D) None of these
29. The reason for preferring packed towers over plate towers in distillation practice is that the
packed tower operation gives
(A) Low pressure drop and high hold up
(B) High pressure drop and low hold up
(C) Low pressure drop and low hold up
(D) High pressure drop and high hold up

30. Diameter of raschig rings used in packed tower in industry is normally around __________
inches.
(A) 2
(B) 8
(C) 12
(D) 18

31. The ratio of Murphree plate efficiency to point efficiency is 1 in a __________ flow model.
(A) Plug
(B) Perfectly mixed
(C) Both (a) & (b)
(D) Neither (a) nor (b)

32. Plate efficiency

(A) Is a function of the mass transfer between liquid and vapour
(B) Increases due to foaming
(C) Increases due to liquid entrainment
(D) Increases due to weeping and dumping of liquid

33. Weeping in a distillation column

(A) Increases tray efficiency
(B) Provides large interfacial surface for mass transfer
(C) Results due to very high gas velocity
(D) Results due to very low gas velocity

34. The expression, y(1 - x)/x(1 - y) is for

(A) Absorption factor
(B) Relative volatility
(C) Selectivity
(D) Murphree efficiency

35. The process employing desorption of the absorbed solute by a solvent is called
(A) Elution
(B) Osmosis
(C) Reverse osmosis
(D) Sublimation

Fluid Mechanics
1.Assuming constant temperature condition and air to be an ideal gas, the variation in
atmospheric pressure with height calculated from fluid statics is
(A) Linear
(B) Exponential
(C) Quadratic
(D) Cubic

2.For a Newtonian fluid:

(A) Shear stress is proportional to shear strain

(B) Rate of shear stress is proportional to shear strain
(C) Shear stress is proportional to rate of shear strain
(D) Rate of shear stress is proportional to rate of shear strain

3.An incompressible fluid (kinematic viscosity x 10−7 m2 /s , specific gravity, 0.88) is held
between two parallel plates. If the top plate is moved with a velocity of while the bottom one is
held stationary, the fluid attains a linear velocity profile in the gap of between these plates; the
shear stress in Pascal on the surface of bottom plate is:

(A)65.1
(B)0.651
(C)6.51
(D)651

4.The difference in pressure (in N /m2 ) across an air bubble of diameter 0.001 immersed in
water (surface tension ) is _____________

(A)Between 287 and 289

(B)Between 280 and 284
(C)Between 290 and 295
(D)Between 281 and 283

5.The SI unit of kinematic viscosity (υ) is

(A) m2 / s
(B) m/s 2
(C) m3 / s 2
(D) m/s

6.If ′P′ is the gauge pressure within a spherical droplet, then gauge pressure within a bubble of
the same fluid and of same size will be:

P
(A) 4
P
(B) 2
(C) P
(D)2 P

7.The dimension of surface tension is:

(A) N /m2
(B) J /m2
(C) N /m
(D) none of above

8.Within a boundary layer for a steady incompressible flow, the Bernoulli equation
(A)Holds because the flow is steady
(B)Holds because the flow is incompressible
(C)Holds because the flow is transitional
(D)Does not hold because the flow is frictional

9.If is the distance measured from the leading edge of a flat plate, the laminar boundary layer
thickness varies as
1
(A) x
(B) x 4 /5
(C) x 2
(D) x 1/ 2

10.Flow separation in flow past a solid object is caused by

(A) A reduction of pressure to vapour pressure
(B) A negative pressure gradient
(C) A positive pressure gradient
(D) The boundary layer thickness reducing to zero

11. Navier Stokes equation represents the conservation of

(A) Energy
(B) Mass
(C) Pressure
(D) Momentum

12. For steady flow of a viscous incompressible fluid through a circular pipe of constant
diameter, the average velocity in the fully developed region is constant. Which one of the
following statements about the average velocity in the developing region is TRUE?

(A) It increases until the flow is developed

(B) It is constant and is equal to the average velocity in the fully developed region
(C) It decreases until the flow is fully developed
(D) It is constant but always lower than the average velocity in the fully developed region

13. In a free vortex, the

(A) Velocity changes linearly with radial distance
(B) Flow is necessarily rotational
(C) Radial component of velocity is same everywhere
(D) Stream lines are not circular
14. Applicability of Bernoulli's equation is limited to a/an __________ fluid, that does not
exchange shaft work with the surroundings.
(A) Incompressible
(B) Non-viscous
(C) Both (a) and (b)
(D) Neither (a) nor (b)

15. The location of centre of pressure, which defines the point of application of the total
pressure force on the surface, can be calculated by applying the principle of moments according
to which "sum of the moment of the resultant force about an axis is equal to the sum of the
components about the same axis". The centre of pressure of a rectangular surface (of width 'w')
immersed vertically in a static mass of fluid is at a depth of (where, y = depth of the liquid)
(A) 1/(y/3)
(B) 2y/3
(C) 1/(y/4)
(D) 3y/4

−0.5 −0.4
16. The equation relating friction factor to Reynold number, f =4 loge (N ℜ /√ f ) , is called the
__________ equation.
(A) Nikuradse
(B) Von-Karman
(C) Blasius
(D) Colebrook

17. Fluid flow through a packed bed is represented by the __________ equation.
(A) Fanning's
(B) Ergun's
(C) Hagen-Poiseuille’s
(D) None of these

18. Which of the following relationship is valid for the equilibrium position of the float in a
Rotameter? (Where, Df = Drag force on the float Bf = Buoyant force on the float W f = Weight of
the float).
(A) Df + Bf = W f
(B) Df = Bf + W f
(C) Df + Bf + W f =0
(D) None of these

19. Air vessel of a reciprocating pump is initially filled with

(A) Atmospheric air
(B) Compressed air
(C) Water
(D) None of these

20. Fluid resistance to shear depends upon its

(A) Rate of transfer of molecular momentum
(B) Cohesion
(C) Both (a) and (b)
(D) Neither (a) nor (b)
21. A centrifugal pump is used to pump water through a horizontal distance of 150 m, and then
raised to an overhead tank 10 m above. The pipe is smooth with an I.D of 50 mm. What head
(m of water) must the pump generate at its exit (E) to deliver water at a flow rate of 0.001 m3 /s?
The Fanning friction factor, f is 0.0062.

(A) 10 m
(B) 11 m
(C) 11.8 m
(D) 30 m

22. Forces acting on a particle settling in fluid are __________ forces.

(A) Gravitational & buoyant
(B) Centrifugal & drag
(C) Gravitational or centrifugal buoyant drag
(D) External, drag & viscous

23. Fanning friction factor equation applies to the __________ fluid flow.
(A) Non-isothermal condition of
(B) Compressible
(C) Both (a) and (b)
(D) Neither (a) nor (b)

24. The ratio of the depth of flow to the diameter of the channel for maximum discharge in a
circular channel in open channel flow is
(A) 0.1
(B) 0.55
(C) 0.95
(D) 1.85

25. A pressure of 10 m head of water is equivalent to __________ kN /m2.

(A) 98
(B) 147
(C) 196
(D) 49

26. In case of turbulent flow of fluid through a circular pipe, the

(A) Mean flow velocity is about 0.5 times the maximum velocity
(B) Velocity profile becomes flatter and flatter with increasing Reynolds number
(C) Point of maximum instability exists at a distance of 2r/3 from the pipe wall (r = pipe radius)
(D) Skin friction drag, shear stresses, random orientation of fluid particles and slope of velocity
profile at the wall are more

27. The maximum discharge through a circular channel takes place, when the depth of the fluid
flow is __________ times the pipe diameter.
(A) 0.25
(B) 0.5
(C) 0.66
(D) 0.95