Unit II

Energy conversion devices (Theoretical study using schematic diagrams only)

Package Boiler, Turbine (Impulse & Reaction turbine, Gas turbine, Hydraulic turbines),
Working principle and applications of Reciprocating I.C. engines, Air motor. Reciprocating
pumps (single acting & double acting), reciprocating compressor, rotary compressors, fans,
blowers, Study of household refrigerator, window air conditioner, split air conditioner
Ratings and selection criteria of above devices. Refrigerants and their impact on
environment.

PART –A

1. What are the advantages of nuclear power plant?

Advantages of nuclear power plant
1. It can be easily adopted where water and coal resources are not available.
2. The nuclear power plant requires very small quantity of fuel. Hence fuel
transportation cost is less.
3. Space requirement is less compared to other power plants of equal capacity.
4. It is not affected by adverse weather conditions.
5. Fuel storage facilities are not needed as in the case of the thermal power plant.

2. List the advantage of thermal power plant.

Advantages of thermal power plant
1. Fuel cost of thermal power plant is relatively low.
2. We can produce thermal energy almost everywhere in the world.
3. Heat production System is simple compared to other system.
4. Overall system cost effective.
5. Easy mechanism.
6. Same heat could be reused.
7. Easier Maintenance of power station.
8. Use of water is prominent here, therefore, any places with ample supply of water is a
perfect location for installing a thermal power station.
9. Thermal power plant requires comparatively small space to be installed.

3. What is meant by pulverising of coal?

Coal that has been crushed to a fine dust by grinding mills. The latter are often air swept,
the velocity of the air being so regulated that particles of coal, when sufficiently reduced,
are carried away. Pulverized coal particles of which about 99 percent are below 0.01 inch
in diameter will burn very rapidly and efficiently. Low-grade coal may be pulverized and
conveyed from the mill by air into the boiler plant.

4. What is the non-renewable source of energy?

A natural resource such as coal, gas, or oil that, once consumed, cannot to be replaced. Most
energy resources currently in use are non-renewable while the renewable ones (such as
wind and solar power) are not well developed.
5. List the disadvantages of reciprocating piston type pump.
Piston pumps cost more per unit to run compared to centrifugal and roller pumps. The
mechanical parts are prone to wear, so the maintenance costs can be high. The valves must
be resistant to abrasives for large solids to pass through. Piston pumps are heavy due to
their large size and the weight of the crankshaft that drives the pump.

6. Define fusion.
Fusion is a reaction process where two atomic nuclei fuse together to create a larger
nucleus and in the process release energy.

7. What are the various methods of power generation?

1. Conventional sources of energy (Non‐renewable sources of energy)
a. Thermal power plant
b. Hydro‐electric power plant
c. Diesel power plant
d. Nuclear power plant
2. Non‐Conventional sources of energy (Renewable sources of energy)
a. Solar
b. Wind
c. Tidal & Wave
d. Geo‐thermal

8. Mention the use of conveyer.

a. Conveyors are used in almost all the industry where materials need to be moved
including bottling plants, recycling centers, plastic making factories and so on.
b. They can be used in every industry, which has some kind of process requiring the
movement of items and materials at regular intervals in a cyclical fashion.
c. The primary advantage of conveyor systems is that they automate a lot of human
tasks that are associated with the manufacturing and transportation of materials.
This includes tasks like feeding, moving, loading and unloading of materials.

9. Define Chain reactions.

A chain reaction occurs when one single nuclear reaction causes an average of one or more
subsequent nuclear reactions, thus leading to the possibility of a self-propagating series of
these reactions. The specific nuclear reaction may be the fission of heavy isotopes (e.g.,
uranium-235, 235U). The nuclear chain reaction releases several million times more
energy per reaction than any chemical reaction.

10. Define nuclear reactor.

A device in which nuclear fission initiates a controlled chain reaction, producing heat
energy typically used for power generation, and neutrons and fission products often used
for military, experimental, and medical purposes. Also called atomic reactor.
 PART B

1. Describe the working of four-stroke SI engine. Illustrate using line diagrams.

Working principle of I.C. Engine four stroke cycle engine

A mixture of fuel with correct amount of air is exploded in an engine cylinder, which
is closed at one end. As a result of this explosion, heat is released and this heat causes the
pressure of the burning gases to increase. This pressure forces a close fitting piston to
move down the cylinder. The movement of piston transmitted to a crankshaft by a
connecting rod so that the crankshaft rotates and turns a flywheel connected to it. Power is
taken from the rotating crankshaft to do mechanical work. To obtain continuous rotation of
the crankshaft the explosion has to be repeated continuously. Before the explosion to take
place, the used gases are expelled from the cylinder, fresh charge of fuel and air are
admitted in to the cylinder and the piston moved back to its starting position. The
sequences of events taking place in an engine is called the working cycle of the engine. The
sequence of events taking place inside the engine are as follows:
1. Admission of air or air-fuel mixture inside the engine cylinder ( suction )
2. Compression of the air or air fuel mixture inside the engine (compression)
3. Injection of fuel in compressed air for ignition of the fuel or ignition of air-fuel
mixture by an electric spark using a spark plug to produce thermal power inside the
cylinder (power).
4. Removal of all the burnt gases from the cylinder to receive fresh charge (exhaust)

Fig.1 Four stroke cycle engine

 In four stroke cycle engines the four events namely suction, compression, power
and exhaust take place inside the engine cylinder. The four events are completed in four
strokes of the piston (two revolutions of the crankshaft). This engine has valves for
controlling the inlet of charge and outlet of exhaust gases. Cams, fitted on camshaft, control
the opening and closing of the valve. The camshaft driven by crankshaft with the help of
suitable gears or chains. The camshaft runs at half the speed of the crankshaft. The events
taking place in I.C. engine are as follows:

1. Suction stroke 2. Compression stroke

3. Power stroke 4. Exhaust stroke

1. Suction stroke
During suction stroke inlet valve opens and the piston moves downward. Only air or a
mixture of air and fuel are drawn inside the cylinder. The exhaust valve remains in closed
position during this stroke. The pressure in the engine cylinder is less than atmospheric
pressure during this stroke (Fig. 1a).

2. Compression stroke
During this stroke, the piston moves upward. Both valves are in closed position. The
upward movement of piston (Fig.1d) compresses the charge taken in the cylinder. If only
air compressed, as in case of diesel engine, diesel is injected at the end of the compression
stroke and ignition of fuel takes place due to high pressure and temperature of the
compressed air. If a mixture of air and fuel compressed in the cylinder, as in case of petrol
engine, the mixture is ignited by a spark plug.

3. Power stroke
After ignition of fuel, tremendous amount of heat is generated, causing very high pressure
in the cylinder which pushes the piston downward (Fig.1c). The downward movement of
the piston at this instant is called power stroke. The connecting rod transmits the power
from piston to the crank shaft and crank shaft rotates. Mechanical work can be taped at the
rotating crank shaft. Both valves remain closed during power stroke.

4. Exhaust stroke
During this stroke piston moves upward. Exhaust valve opens and exhaust gases go out
through exhaust valves opening. All the burnt gases go out of the engine and the cylinder
becomes ready to receive the fresh charge. During this stroke inlet valve remains closed
(Fig.1d).

Thus it is found that out of four strokes, there is only one power stroke and three idle
strokes in four stroke cycle engine. The power stroke supplies necessary momentum for
useful work.
2. Compare the working of 4 stroke and 2 – stroke cycles of internal combustion
engines?
3. Differentiate between SI and CI engines.
4. Explain the split air conditioner with neat sketch?

A split air conditioner consists of two main parts: the outdoor unit and the indoor
unit. The outdoor unit is installed on or near the wall outside of the room or space that you
wish to cool.

The unit houses the compressor, condenser coil and the expansion coil or capillary
tubing. The sleek-looking indoor unit contains the cooling coil, a long blower and an air
filter. The split, works by providing air from a wall mounted cooling unit or vents in the
floor (which will be discussed in another post).

 It is called a split air conditioner because it has an inside and an outside part.
 Most central heating units are of this type.
 The reason for the split is that, like other models (especially window units) it keeps
the hot outside and the cool inside.
 The compressor and the condensing coils are on kept on the outside of the house
and the evaporator coils and blower are on the inside of the house.

How a Split Air Conditioner Works

 Gas, a refrigerant, is fed into the compressor where it is pressurized. This also
causes the heat in the gas to rise.
  The pressurized gas then goes through a succession of tubes that are meant to
condense it into a liquid.
 The liquid is still pressurized and travels through the condenser tubes until they
come to an expansion joint.
 The pressurized liquid passes through this point in the process and becomes a gas
again as the pressure is rapidly reduced.
 During the reduction of pressure the gas also releases a great deal of heat and
becomes much cooler (thus, refrigerant).
 The gas then passes back to the compressor to repeat that process.
 Air from the room is drawn into the unit and passes over the evaporator coils.
 This action cools the air significantly which is then forced back into the room via the
blower.
 The air continues to circulate through the air conditioner until a set temperature
(set by the thermostat) is reached.
 At this point the apparatus shuts off automatically.

The operation of a split air conditioner, as is shown through the points above, is very much
like that of any other air conditioner. The difference is that one portion of the unit is
completely contained on the outside of the home, while another portion is on the inside.

The compressor, vent fan and condenser coils are on the outside of the building in a self-
contained unit, and the evaporator coils and blower are on the inside. The two are
connected via pipes or other tubing. Central air conditioners are a type of split air
conditioner, but the unit most people see as a split unit has a smaller
compressor/condenser coil box on the outside and individual room units on the inside.
These are made to cool a room without the need for ducting. In some ways it is a simpler
system and allows better zone control.
What Makes it Effective?

A split-style air conditioner is effective because:

 It can have a larger compressor than a window unit thus cooling a much larger area.
 One compressor can be attached to several different ductless units or ducting (as in
a central air system).
 The individual units are easy to maintain (they have a very simple design) and the
compressor is stowed either on the roof of the house or on a pad.

Efficiency is another concern. People are worried about electrical usage and it is easier to
control when a zone cooling system is used. If the individual ductless units are not turned
on in a room, then they are not in operation. However, the compressor is always ready and
there is less costly starting up and shutting down with this system.

How Does this Type of Unit Differ?

As mentioned before, a central air conditioner is technically a split system in a way, so

there is no difference between these two, except split ac’s don’t require ductwork. But the
main difference between a split unit and either a portable or a window air conditioner is
size and square footage that can be effectively cooled. A split air conditioner will generally
have a larger compressor and a greater overall capacity than either a portable or window
unit. It also differs, of course, in the fact that the unit is split into two distinct parts. Unlike
the smaller units which are encompassed within one box.

5. Describe about refrigerant and their impact on environment.

All the refrigerating machines make use of volatile liquids. These volatile liquids when used
for the purpose of cooling in a refrigerating machine, they are called refrigerants. The
boiling point of a liquid is dependent on pressure. The environmental and safety properties
are very important. In fact, at present the environment friendliness of the refrigerant is a
major factor in deciding the usefulness of a particular refrigerant. The important
environmental and safety properties are:

a) Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP): According to the Montreal protocol, the ODP of
refrigerants should be zero, i.e., they should be non-ozone depleting substances.
Refrigerants having non-zero ODP have either already been phased-out (e.g. R 11, R
12) or will be phased-out in near-future(e.g. R22). Since ODP depends mainly on the
presence of chlorine or bromine in the molecules, refrigerants having either
chlorine (i.e., CFCs and HCFCs) or bromine cannot be used under the new
regulations.

b) Global Warming Potential (GWP): Refrigerants should have as low a GWP value as
possible to minimize the problem of global warming. Refrigerants with zero ODP
but a high value of GWP (e.g. R134a) are likely to be regulated in future.
c) Total Equivalent Warming Index (TEWI): The factor TEWI considers both direct
(due to release into atmosphere) and indirect (through energy consumption)
contributions of refrigerants to global warming. Naturally, refrigerants with as a low
a value of TEWI are preferable from global warming point of view.

d) Toxicity: Ideally, refrigerants used in a refrigeration system should be nontoxic.

However, all fluids other than air can be called as toxic as they will cause suffocation
when their concentration is large enough. Thus, toxicity is a relative term, which
becomes meaningful only when the degree of concentration and time of exposure
required to produce harmful effects are specified. Some fluids are toxic even in small
concentrations. Some fluids are mildly toxic, i.e., they are dangerous only when the
concentration is large and duration of exposure is long. Some refrigerants such as
CFCs and HCFCs are non-toxic when mixed with air in normal condition. However,
when they come in contact with an open flame or an electrical heating element, they
decompose forming highly toxic elements (e.g. phosgene-COCl2). In general the
degree of hazard depends on:
 Amount of refrigerant used vs total space
 Type of occupancy
 Presence of open flames
 Odor of refrigerant, and
 Maintenance condition