Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

BITS F111 THERMODYNAMICS

First Semester, 2021-22 MID SEM (Open Book)
Date : 12/01/2022 Max. Marks: 90 Max. Time: 90 min.
 The Question paper has two parts: Part A and Part B
 Answer Part A in question paper itself in the space provided.
 Answer Part B in the answer book.
 Submit A and answer book separately.
 State clearly, assumptions if any and underline them.
ID No. Name
PART-A
Q.1a A pure substance in a closed system is heated from 100 kPa, 20 °C (state 1) to 1000 kPa, 200
°C (state 2). In one case, pressure is raised at T = Const., then T is raised at P = Const. In a
second case, the opposite order is used. Does that make a difference for 1Q2 and 1W2, and (1Q2
− 1W2)? [5M]

Solution:
For 1Q2 and 1W2 there will be difference as both are path functions while for (1Q2 − 1W2) there
will not be any change as it will be ∆E as per first law and is a point function.

Q.1b A substance (n-Butane) is at 957.6 kPa, 340.16 K in a rigid tank. Using only the critical
properties determine its phase. Justify your answer. [5M]

Solution:
Pr = 0.252, Tr = 0.8, so it may be a saturated liquid, saturated liquid-vapor mixture or
saturated vapour, depending upon its quality.

Q.2a A stirring device is attached to a rigid tank containing a fluid. The stirring device
transfers 48.16 kJ of work to the fluid. A resistance heater is also connected to the
system (is a part of the system), through which a current of 1.2 A is passed for 3 min
from a 240 V power source. During this time 30 kJ of heat is also being supplied to the
system. Determine the net work transfer, net heat transfer and internal energy change
of the system during the process in kJ. [5M]
Solution:
Electrical work=VIt=240*1.2*3*60/1000= -51.84 kJ
Work done by the stirring device on the system = -48.16 kJ
Net work transfer of the system = -100kJ
Heat transfer = 30 kJ
δQ=dU+δW
Hence, dU= δQ-δW=30-(-100)= 130 kJ

Note: Submit this part A of question paper along with answerbook. Page 1 of 2
 Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
BITS F111 THERMODYNAMICS
First Semester, 2021-22 MID SEM (Open Book)
Date : 12/01/2022 Max. Marks: 90 Max. Time: 90 min.
Q.2b What are the different phases (solid, liquid and vapour) in which water can exists at 1 MPa?
Provide the temperature range (approximate) for each of the phases. [5M]
Solution:
T < 0oC Solid ref. fig 2.4
0 oC <T <179.91oC Liquid (Table B.1.2 and Fig 2.4)
T>179.91 oC vapour

Q.3a Consider an ideal gas expands from 100 kPa, 0.25 m3, and 330 K (state 1) such that the volume
doubles (state 2). Arrange the following processes in ascending order of pressure drop: (i) an
isothermal process (ii) a polytropic process with n = 1.25, (iii) polytropic process with n = 0.75?
Justify your answer. [5M]

Solution:
(i) P2 = 50 kPa, (ii) 42.04 kPa (iii) 59.46 kPa
So the order of ∆P will be (ii), (i), (iii)

Q.3b Consider the closed system of an unknown refrigerant where pressure is limited to 500 kPa.
The refrigerant is initially at a 293.15 K and a pressure of 200 kPa. The refrigerant goes
through a process in such a way that the final stage is saturated vapor (with reference to liquid
–vapor equilibrium) with a specific volume 0.12591 m3/kg. Which of the three substances
given below fits the description? Justify for each substance. (i) Carbon dioxide (ii) Ammonia
(iii) R-410a [5M]
Solution:
(i) For CO2 not possible as specific volume at saturation state doesn’t go above 0.05579 at
saturation condition
(ii) For Ammonia – Not possible, as at vg = 0.12591 m3/kg, corresponding saturation pressure
is greater than 1000 kPa.
(iii) For R-410a – it is possible as vg = 0.12591 m3/kg at 200 kPa pressure.

Note: Submit this part A of question paper along with answerbook. Page 2 of 2
 Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
BITS F111 THERMODYNAMICS
First Semester, 2021-22 MID SEM (Open Book)
Solution (with tentative marking scheme)
Date : 12/01/2022 Max. Marks: 90 Max. Time: 90 min.

PART-B
Q.4. Water with an initial quality of 20% is taken in
a piston cylinder arrangement shown in the Fig.
The stops are 68.86 mm above the piston as shown
in figure. The water is heated such that the final
temperature is 400 °C. Piston has a mass of 50 kg.
There is an atmospheric pressure of 100.7616 kPa
outside the piston. Take g = 9.81 m/s2. Determine
a) The mass of the water inside the cylinder (in
grams)
b) The temperature when the piston just hits the
stops (in °C)
c) The final pressure of the steam (in kPa)
d) Work done during the process (in J)
e) Heat transfer during the process. (in J)
Represent the process on P-v plot.
Do not use interpolation, just use the closest value from the tables. [18M]
Solution
Area of piston = 3.1415*0.0252/4 = 4.9087*10-4 m2
Weight of piston = 50 *9.81 = 490.5 N
Pressure due to weight of the piston = Weight / Area = 490.5 N / 4.9087*10-4 m2
= 999238.3947 Pa
Total pressure = Pressure due to weight + Patm = 1100 kPa [3 M]
(a) v1 = 0.001133 + 0.2*0.17639 = 0.036411 m3/kg
V1 = Piston area*0.03 = 1.4726*10-5 m3
⸫ mass m = V1/ v1 = 1.4726*10-5 m3 / 0.036411 m3/kg = 4.04438*10-4 kg = 0.404438 grams
[3 M]
(b) Temperature when the piston hits the stops
Vstops = V2 = Piston Area*0.09886 = 4.8527*10-5 m3
vstops = v2 = Volume / mass = 0.119987 = 0.12 m3/kg
vstops < vg@1100 kPa,
⸫ temperature is equal to Tsat@1100 kPa = 184.09 °C. [3 M]
(c) Final pressure of steam
The final conditions are: Temperature = 400 °C and sp. Volume = 0.12 m3/kg
From superheated tables, we find P3 = 2500 kPa at T3 = 400 °C and 0.12 m3/kg
[2 M]
d) The work done 1W3
= P (Vstops – V1) = 1100 (4.8527*10-5 -1.4726*10-5) = 37.1811 J [2 M]

e) Heat transfer
m(u3 – u1) = 1Q3 − 1W3

Page 1 of 4
 Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
BITS F111 THERMODYNAMICS
First Semester, 2021-22 MID SEM (Open Book)
Solution (with tentative marking scheme)
Date : 12/01/2022 Max. Marks: 90 Max. Time: 90 min.
1Q3 = m(u3 – u1) + 1W3
u3 = 2939.03 kJ/kg and u1 = 780.08 + 0.2 x 1806.32= 1141.284 kJ/kg
1Q3 = 4.04438*10-4 x (2939.03 – 1141.284) + 37.1811= 764.258 J [3 M]

[2 M]

Q.5. A rigid tank A with volume 0.6 m3 contains R-134a of mass 15 kg at 10 °C.
Another rigid tank B of volume 0.8 m3 is contained with R-134a at 120 °C and 400 kPa.
A piston/cylinder (C) arrangement contains 238 g R-134a at 50 °C with a volume of 20
L. The piston mass is such that it starts floating when pressure on the piston becomes
equal to 500 kPa. When the piston is at the upper stops, the cylinder volume is 50 L.
All the three (A, B, and C) are connected via a valve, as shown in Figure. The valve is
now slowly opened and heat is transferred to the system till the whole of R134-a comes
to a uniform state at 600
kPa. Is the piston at the
upper stops in the final
state? Determine the
final temperature, work
done, and heat transfer
during this process. Do
not use interpolation,
just use the closest value
from the tables. [22M]
Solution:
Yes, the piston is at upper stops since P2 (600 kPa) > Pfloat (500 kPa).
Tank A:
𝑉 0.6
𝑉𝐴 = 0.6𝑚3 ; 𝑚𝐴 = 15𝑘𝑔; 𝑇𝐴 = 100 𝐶, 𝑣𝐴 = 𝑚𝐴 = 15 = 0.04 𝑚3 ⁄𝑘𝑔
𝐴
𝑇𝐴 = 100 𝐶; 𝑣𝑔 = 0.04945 𝑚3 ⁄𝑘𝑔
Since 𝑣𝐴 < 𝑣𝑔 , this implies sat. liquid-vapour mixture [2 M]
𝑚3 𝑚3
At 𝑇 = 100 𝐶; 𝑣𝑓 = 0.000794 ; 𝑣𝑓𝑔 = 0.04866
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
𝑣𝐴 = 𝑣𝑓 + 𝑥𝑣𝑓𝑔 , ∴ 0.04 = 0.000794 + 𝑥 × 0.04866 ∴ 𝑥 = 0.8057 [2 M]
𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽
𝑇 = 100 𝐶; 𝑢𝑓 = 213.25 𝑘𝑔 ; 𝑢𝑓𝑔 = 170.42 𝑘𝑔

Page 2 of 4
 Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
BITS F111 THERMODYNAMICS
First Semester, 2021-22 MID SEM (Open Book)
Solution (with tentative marking scheme)
Date : 12/01/2022 Max. Marks: 90 Max. Time: 90 min.
𝑘𝐽
𝑢𝐴 = 𝑢𝑓 + 𝑥𝑢𝑓𝑔 = 213.25 + 0.8057 × 170.42 = 350.5596 [2 M]
𝑘𝑔
Tank B:
𝑉𝐵 = 0.8 𝑚3 ; 𝑇𝐵 = 120 0 𝐶; 𝑃𝐵 = 400 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑚3 𝑉𝐵 0.8
𝑣𝐵 = 0.07767 𝑘𝑔
; 𝑚𝐵 = 𝑣𝐵
= 0.07767 = 10.2999 = 10.3𝑘𝑔 [2 M]
Cyliner-piston C:
𝑚𝐶 = 238 𝑔𝑚 = 0.238 𝑘𝑔; 𝑉𝑐 = 20𝐿 = 0.02𝑚3
0.02 𝑚3
𝑣𝑐 = = 0.0840 (𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒)
0.238 𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝐽
𝑎𝑡 𝑇 = 500 𝐶 ⇒ 𝑃 = 300𝑘𝑃𝑎; 𝑢𝑐 = 418.09 𝑘𝑔 [3 M]
Calculating the work done:
𝑉1 = 0.6 + 0.8 + 0.02 = 1.42𝑚3
𝑉1𝑎 = 0.6 + 0.8 + 0.05 = 1.45𝑚3 = 𝑉2
𝑊 = 𝑃𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑡 (𝑉2 − 𝑉1 ) = 500(1.45 − 1.42) = 15 𝑘𝐽 Ans1 [3 M]
Calculating the final temperature:
𝑉 1.45 𝑚3
Final pressure 𝑃 = 600𝑘𝑃𝑎; 𝑣2 = 𝑚 = 15+10.3+0.238 = 0.05678 𝑘𝑔 [1 M]
𝑇2 = 1600 𝐶; 𝐴𝑛𝑠2. (𝐶𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒) [2 M]
𝑘𝐽
𝑢2 = 515.46 𝑘𝑔 [1 M]
Calculating heat transfer:
𝑄 = 𝑊 + 𝑚2 𝑢2 − 𝑚𝐴 𝑢𝐴 − 𝑚𝐵 𝑢𝐵 − 𝑚𝐶 𝑢𝐶
𝑚2 = 15 + 10.3 + 0.238 = 25.538𝑘𝑔
𝑄 = 15 + 25.538 × 515.46 − 15 × 350.5596 − 10.3 × 478.40 − 0.238 × 418.09 =
12947.4489 𝑘𝐽 Ans3 [4 M]

Q.6. Argon at 39.85 °C with a volume of 0.5 m3 is

initially contained in a cylinder-piston (cross-
sectional area 0.7 m2 and length 5.7 m) system
with a massless piston loaded with a water at 20
°C and the outside atmosphere (atmospheric
pressure, Po = 101.203 kPa) as shown in figure. If
the piston just touches the stops, the volume of
Argon would be 0.8 m3. Heat is now added until
the temperature reaches to 251.85 °C. Plot the
process on a P-V diagram, and calculate the final
pressure (in kPa), work done (in kJ) and the heat
transfer (in kJ) during the process. (Neglect the
volume of the piston and stops, take g = 9.807
m/s2) [20M]
Solution: Substance: Argon
𝑇1 = 39.850 𝐶 = 313 𝐾; 𝑉𝐴𝑟 = 𝑉1 = 0.5 𝑚3
𝑉𝑐𝑦𝑙 = 0.7 × 5.7 = 3.99 𝑚3 𝑉𝐻2𝑂 = 𝑉𝑐𝑦𝑙 − 𝑉1 = 3.99 − 0.5 = 3.49 𝑚3

Page 3 of 4
 Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
BITS F111 THERMODYNAMICS
First Semester, 2021-22 MID SEM (Open Book)
Solution (with tentative marking scheme)
Date : 12/01/2022 Max. Marks: 90 Max. Time: 90 min.
𝑉𝐻2𝑂 3.49
𝑚𝐻2𝑂 = = = 3483.03 𝑘𝑔 [3 M]
𝑣𝑓 (𝑎𝑡 200 𝐶) 0.001002

𝑚𝐻2𝑂 𝑔 3483.03×9.807
State 1: 𝑃1 = 𝑃0 + = 101.203 + = 101.203 + 48.7972 = 150 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝐴 0.7×1000
[1 M]
3 𝑘𝐽
𝑉1 = 0.5 𝑚 ; 𝑇1 = 313 𝐾, 𝑅 = 0.2081 𝑘𝑔 𝐾
𝑅 𝑇1 0.2081×313
𝑣1 = = = 0.4342 𝑚3 /𝑘𝑔 [1 M]
𝑃1 150
𝑉1 0.5
𝑚𝐴𝑟 = = = 1.1515 𝑘𝑔 [1 M]
𝑣1 0.4342

State 2: 𝑉2 = 0.8 𝑚3 ; 𝑉𝐻2𝑂 = 3.99 − 0.8 = 3.19 𝑚3

𝑉𝐻2𝑂 3.19
𝑚𝐻2𝑂 = 0
= = 3183.63 𝑘𝑔 [1 M]
𝑣𝑓 (𝑎𝑡 20 𝐶) 0.001002
𝑚𝐻2𝑂 𝑔 3183.63×9.807
𝑃2 = 𝑃0 + = 101.203 + = 145.81 𝑘𝑃𝑎 [1 M]
𝐴 0.7×1000
𝑉2 0.8
𝑣2 = 𝑚 = 1.1515 = 0.6947 𝑚3 /𝑘𝑔
𝐴𝑟
𝑃2 𝑣2 145.81×0.6947
𝑇2 = = = 486.7574 𝐾 = 213.61 0 𝐶 [2 M]
𝑅 0.2081

State 3 : 𝑇3 = 251.850 𝐶 = 525 𝐾, 𝑇3 > 𝑇2 , 𝑣3 = 𝑣2 = 0.6947 𝑚3 /𝑘𝑔

𝑅𝑇 0.2081×525
𝑃3 = 𝑣 3 = 0.6947 = 157.2657 𝑘𝑃𝑎; 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 [2 M]
3
1
𝑊12 = 2 (𝑃1 + 𝑃2 )(𝑉2 − 𝑉1 ) = 0.5(150 + 145.81)(0.8 − 0.5) = 44.37 𝑘𝐽; 𝑊23 = 0
𝑊13 = 𝑊12 + 𝑊23 = 44.37 + 0 = 44.37 𝑘𝐽; 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 [3 M]

𝑄13 = 𝑊13 + 𝑚𝐴𝑟 (𝑢3 − 𝑢1 ) = 44.37 + 1.1515 × 𝐶𝑣 (𝑇3 − 𝑇1 )

𝑘𝐽
For Argon, 𝐶𝑣 = 0.312 𝑘𝑔 𝐾
𝑄13 = 44.37 + 1.1515 × 0.312(525 − 313) = 120.53 𝑘𝐽; 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 [3 M]

[2 M]

Page 4 of 4