Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

CBE2224: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Assignment 1: Review Problems (Due Friday January 30, 2009: Locker # 420)

Problem 1: Two large gas storage spheres (0.1 m3) each contain air at 2 bar (Figure below). They are
connected across a small reversible compressor. The tanks, connecting lines, and the compressor are
immersed in a constant temperature bath at 280 K. The compressor will take suction from one sphere,
compress the gas, and discharge to the other sphere. Heat transfer between the bath and the tanks, lines
and compressor is excellent. Assume that air is an ideal gas with Cp = 29.30 J/mol K.

(a)
(b)

What is the work requirement to compress the gas in one sphere to 3 bar?
What is the heat interaction with the constant-temperature bath?

Solution (Method 1):To begin with, let us consider tank A is our system. Then according to the
problem, the compressor is taking gas from tank B and discharges it to tank A, isothermally (the
problem states that the heat transfer is excellent). The work of the compressor from the analysis of
energy balance for open system will give:
PA

WRev VdP
PB

nRT
. Since we can not assume 1 mole, we want to know how the number
P
of moles change from one Tank to the other. If we look at the entire system, whatever leaves Tank A
gets into Tank B.
dn dnA dnB
Because the gas is ideal, V

But we are told that the volume of the two tanks is the same.
V
V
dn
dPA
dPB dPA dPB
RT
RT

 RT

WRev
dP dP
P

PA
RT ln dP
PB

P V
WRev RT ln A
dPA
PB RT
V
dPA
RT
V ln PA dPA V ln PB dPA ; noting that dPA dPB

WRev RT ln PA RT ln PB
WRev

WRev V ln PA dPA V ln PB dPB

WRev V ln PA dPA ln PB dPB

Since the volume of both tanks is the same and the temperature of the gas is also the same, when the
pressure in one of the Tanks is increased the pressure on the other Tank decreases proportionally. This
means, if the pressure inside one of the tanks is increased by 1 bar, the other will reduce by 1 bar. Thus,
3bar
1bar
3
1
WRev V ln PA dPA ln PB dPB V PA ln PA PA 2 PB ln PB PB 2
2bar

2 bar

WRev 0.1m3 x105 Pa 3ln 3 3 2 ln 2 2 1ln1 1 2 ln 2 2

WRev 5.23 x103 J

dU dQ dW ; dU CvdT 0 Isothetmal Process

Q W 5.23x103 J

Method 2:

Problem 2: While relaxing near a large tank of nitrogen gas (A) at 687kPa and 298K, I began
reviewing some of my knowledge about thermodynamics. A rather interesting experiment suggested
itself and I thought I would compare theory with real field data (see figure below).

I obtained a small high-pressure vessel (B) and two valves (C) and (D). I first filled B with nitrogen gas
at 101kPa and 298K and connected it as shown. Then working quickly, I opened valve C (with D
closed) and allowed the pressures in B and A to equalize. Then, I quickly closed C and opened D to
blow down vessel B to its original pressure. I repeated this sequence a number of times. Assume tank A
was so large that I did not cause any significant drop in pressure in it by my experiments. Also suppose
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that, I pressurized and blew down B so rapidly that little heat transfer probably occurred this time.
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Nitrogen is an ideal gas with Cp 29.33
mol. K

(a)

Guess the temperature of the gas in B after the second pressurization and after the second
blow down.
What do you think these temperatures were after a large number of cycles?

(b)
Solution:

We denote the large tank properties as H ', T ', P '

We also denote the small tank properties as U , T1 , P1

We also know P2 of the small tank after pressurization

Take your system as the small tank and write the total energy balance equation.
Rate of energy Energy per unit mol Inlet mol Energy per unit mol outlet mol
accumlation of fluid at inlet
flow rate of fluid at outlet
flow rate

Rate of heat flow Rate that work is

into the system done on the system

1) During the pressurization cycle, valve D is closed so there is no outflow from our system which is
the small tank. There is also no heat transfer because he conducted the experiment rapidly (thus q is
zero). There is no shaft or any mechanical device for work, so the work term is also zero. With these
assumptions,
d nU H in dnin
Rate of energy
Inlet mol
Enthalpy

accumlation
flow rate
dt
dt

The mole balance is: dn dnin dnout

But we know that during the pressurization nothing leaves the small tank. Thus dn dnin
d nU H in dn

d nU H in dn
dt
dt
If we denote H in H ' , then we will have: d nU H ' dn

Note that the enthalpy of the large tank stays the same. This is evident from the problem that says
Assume tank A was so large that I did not cause any significant drop in pressure in it by my
experiments.
By integrating,

n2U 2 n1U 1 H ' n2 n1 or n2 U 2 H ' n1 U1 H ' 0

H'
H'

n2 U 2 U ' RT ' n1 U1 U ' RT ' 0 ; noticing that U 2 U ' CvT

PV
n2 Cv T2 T ' RT ' n1 Cv T1 T ' RT ' 0 ; noticing that n
RT
PV
PV
2
Cv T2 T ' RT ' 1 Cv T1 T ' RT ' 0

RT2
RT1

PV
PV
2
CvT2 CvT ' RT ' 1 CvT1 CvT ' RT ' 0
RT2
RT1
Now we also notice that Cv R Cp which is given.
PV
PV
2
(A)
Cp R T2 T 'Cv R 1 Cp R T1 T 'Cv R 0

RT2
RT1
T ' 298K, T1 298K, Cp - Cv R, P1 101kPa and P2 687kPa , the only known is T2 393.03K

Note that when he depressurize (blow down) the small tank with valve C closed, the initial conditions
are P2 and T2. Do not forget this.
2) Blow down Process
Energy and mass balance:
d (nU ) H out dnout ; mass balance: dn dnin dn out dn out
d (nU ) Hdn ndU Udn Hdn
dn
dU H U
n
dn
CvdT RT
n
T2
n2
n
Cv dT
dn
Cv T2

ln ln 2

R T1 T
n
R T1
n1
n1

PV

RT2
PT
PV
PV
Cv T2

2
1

But we know that n2

and n1
ln ln

ln 2 1
PV
RT2
RT1
R T1

1 2
PT
1
RT1
P
T
Cv T2
ln ln 2 ln 1
R T1
P1
T2
T
P
Cv T2
ln ln 2 ln 2
R T1
T1
P1
T Cv
P
T Cp R
P
1 ln 2
ln 2 1 ln 2 ln 2

T1 R
P1
T1 R
P1

P Cp
T2 T1 2
(B)
P1
Note that T1 for the depressurization step is actually the value of T2 we obtained during the
pressurization step, which is 393.03K.
8.314

101kPa 29.33
T2 393.03K
228K
687kPa
Thus the temperature would be 228K when he blows down the tank to 101kPa.

For the second cycle (he is going to close valve D and open C to pressurize the tank), the small tank
initial conditions will be:
T 228K and P 101kPa . Thus 228K will be the value of T1 in equation (A). With this value we
calculate another T2 which will be used to find yet, another T for the depressurization step using (B).
The repeated cycle is conducted between equations (A) and (B) with the only change being temperature
at each cycle. The final temperature in the small tank during the pressurization step will converge to
364K whereas it converges to 211K during the depressurization step.

Problem 3: Elevator Design Competition for the Green Engineering Building at Western:

A clever Chemical Engineer has devised a thermally operated elevator shown in the Figure. The
elevator compartment is made to rise by electrically heating the air contained in the piston-cylinder
drive mechanism and the elevator is lowered by opening a valve at the side of the cylinder, allowing
the air in the cylinder to slowly escape. Once the elevator compartment is back to the lower level, a
small pump forces out the air remaining in the cylinder and replaces it with air at 20oC and a pressure
just sufficient to support the elevator compartment. The cycle can then be repeated. There is no heat
transfer between the piston, cylinder and the gas; the weight of the piston, elevator and its contents is
4000kg; the piston has a surface area of 2.5m2 and the volume contained in the cylinder when the
elevator is at the lowest level is 25m3. There is no friction between the piston and cylinder and the air in
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the cylinder is assumed to be an ideal gas with C p 30
.
mol.K

Fig. A1.1

(a) What is the pressure in the cylinder throughout the process?

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(b) How much heat must be added to the air during the process of raising the elevator 3m and what
is the final temperature of the gas?
(c) What fraction of the heat added is used in doing work and what fraction is used in raising the
temperature of the gas?
(d) How many moles of air must be allowed to escape in order for the elevator to return to the
lowest level?
System: Air is heated to raise the elevator; Air is released to lower the elevator
T of the air at the inlet is 293K; Q=0 (no heat transfer); Cp=30J/K.mol
Total mass = 4000kg; Piston area = 2.5m2
Volume of the cylinder when the elevator is at the lower floor = 25m3
Solution:
a) The system is the gas contained in the cylinder. The pressure of the elevator on the piston is the
sum of the pressure due to the weight of the elevator and atmospheric pressure (Note that
atmospheric pressure is exerted against the cylinder too):
F
mg
PTotal Patm
Pa 1.01x105 Pa
A
A
4000kg *9.8m/s 2
P
1.01x105 Pa 1.17 x105 Pa
2
2.5m
When the elevator is on the top floor, the gas has expanded such that the volume change
is: V Axh 2.5m 2 x3m 7.5m3 . At this point the total volume occupied by the gas is:
V Total (7.5 25)m3
Then the work done by the gas will be:
W PdV P (V2 V1 ) PV 1.17 x105 Pa 7.5m3 875.1 kJ

b) Since the number of moles of the gas and the pressure are constant, the final temperature of the
system using the ideal gas law is:
V1 V2

T1 T2

V2T1 32.5m3 293K

380.9K
V1
25m3
The number of moles in the system using ideal gas law is
PV
1.17 x105 Pa 25m3
n 1
1200 mol
Pa.m3
RT1
8.314
x 293K
K .mol
For ideal gases, we know that internal energy is only a function of temperature and the change can be
expressed as follows.
U Cv(T2 T1 )
But CV=CP-R
CV=30-8.314=21.686
kJ
U 21.686(380.9 293) 1.906
mol
The total internal energy change will be then
U U n 1.906 1200 2287.2kJ
Using first Law of thermodynamics for closed system:
T2

U Q W
Q U W
Q 2287.2kJ (875.1kJ)
Q 3162.5kJ
c) The % of Q used to increase the temperature of the system is
U 2287.2 kJ

*100 72.3%
Q 3162.5 kJ
% of Q converted to Work
100% - 72.3% = 27.7%
d) (Option 1) Logical arguments followed by ideal gas law: The system is adiabatic so there is
no heat transfer; Q=0. Since the piston-cylinder arrangement still exists, the pressure is
constant. We dont need any heat to bring the elevator to its initial position so there is no heat
supply. Due to these reasons, the temperature will be constant. So to bring the elevator to its
initial position V=7.5 m3 amount of gas should be released while the gas temperature is at
380.9K. So using Ideal gas law.
V=7.5 m3; P=1.17 x105Pa; T=380.9K
PV nRT

PV
1.17 x105 Pa 7.5m3

277.1 mol
Pa.m3
RT
8.314
380.9K
K.mol

(Option 2) Mathematical argument: Here we note that the system is open.

The mass and energy balance is:
dn
d
dn
dV
n and
nU H out Q P
dt
dt
dt
dt
Note that Q=0 (ii) P=constant; (iii) the gas is ideal
(i)
(iv)
The Pressure and temperature of the gas leaving is the same as the gas inside.
dU
dn dn
d nRT
dn
dT
d
U

nCv
R nT
n
H P
H U
dt
dt dt
dt P
dt
dt
dt
dn
dT
dn
dT
nCv
R n
T
dt
dt
dt
dt
Noting that H U for an ideal gas is RT :

H U

dn
dT
dT
dn
dT
dT dU
nCv
nR
RT
n Cv R
0

0
dt
dt
dt
dt
dt
dt
dt
Thus T3=T2=380.1K
RT

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dn
dn
dV
RT
P
dt
dt
dt
dn
P dV
or,

dt RT dt
with P and T constant

H U

25m3
n3 V3

0.7692 0.7692 x1200mol 923mol

n2 V2 32.5m3
n 277mol
Problem 4: Consider 2 moles of an ideal gas in a piston-cylinder assembly at 25oC, 0.5MPa and
volume V. The gas is expanded isothermally to twice its original volume, then cooled isobarically to its
original V. It was then heated at constant volume to 25oC. Sketch the process; calculate the work done
at each step and the total work done on the system. You may assume that each process is reversible.

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