Basic Sciences Problems

1. A bottled milk is to be cooled by wrapping it in a cloth that kept wet continually, and blowing air to it with a fan .
If the environment condition ate 1atm, 25 C, 40% RH, saturation pressure of air is 4.25 KPa, saturated enthalpy
of water = 2454 Kj/kg, Cp dry air is 1.005 KJ/Kg-C, saturation pressure of water at the surface is 2.34, mol air =
29, mol water = 18 and Lewis number is 0.872. Determine the temperature of the drink when steady
conditions are reached ?
a) 19. 5 C b) 14. 5C c) 10.5C d) none of these

Solution :
 Vapor pressure of air = Pv = Ф Psat = (0.4) ( 4.25 KPa) = 1.70 Kpa
 Drink temperature during steady condition = (ambient temp) – (heat loss)
 Heat loss due to wet cloth & fan = ((2454) / ((.005) (0.872^2/3))) x (18/29) x ((2.34-1.7)/101.3) =
10.5 C
 Drink temperature during steady condition = (25- 10.5) = 14.5C
2. In Robinson mall construction, architectural windows have the following specification : 0.8m high and 1.5 m
wide double pane window consisting of two 4mm thick layers of glass (k=0.78W/m-C) separated by a 10mm wide
stagnant air space (k=0.026 W/ m-C) . Determine the temperature of its inner surface in C for a day during the
room is maintained at 20C while the temperature of the outdoor is-10C with an overall resistance of
R=0.4332C/W and convection resistance of R=0.08333C/W. Take the convective heat transfer coefficients on the
inner & outer surfaces of the window to be hi=10 W/m2-C and ho=40 W/m2-C which included the effects of
radiation .
a) –2.2 C b) –5.5 C c) 4.4 C d) none of these

Solution :
 Qtotal = (Tin-Tout) / (Rt) = (20-(-10)) / 0.4332C/W = 69.2W
 Qconvec = (Troom – Tinner) / Rconv
 Tinner = Troom – (Qconvec ( Rconv)) = 20 – (69.2 x 0.08333)= -2.2C
3. An Industrial Engineer was tasked to determine the thickness of the plate at the section 150 ft from the top of a
cylindrical steel stack 12 ft. in diameter and 200 ft high. Horizontal seams to be single-riveted . Assuming
pressure at the shaft of 25 lb per sq. ft. and allowable safe stress of 8000 lb per sq. in. for single riveted.
a) _________ b) _____________ c) _____________ d) _______________

Solution :
 P = Wind pressure = Pw = 150 ft x 12 ft x (25 lb per sq. ft) = 45,000 lb
 h = Moment arm = (150/2) ft x (12 inches / ft) = 900 inches
 Stress = Ph / (0.8) (d^2) (t)
then
 8000 lb per sq. in = (45,000 lb) (900 in) / (0.8) ((12 ft x 12 in/ft)^2) (t)
t = 0.305 in (a.)

4. The work cylinder of a hydraulic system is acted by a hydraulic pressure of 370 psi while the maximum load of
the piston is 5500 lbs. If the allowable tensile stress is 2000 psi, what is the required wall thickness of the cylinder
in inch ?
a. 0.402 c. 0.240
b. 0.448 d. none of these

Solution:
Force = Pressure × Area
5500 = 370 × (π/4) D2
 D = 4.35 in

Assume thick-wall cylinder:

D  St  Pi 
t=   1
2  St  Pi 

4.35  2000  370 

t=   1 = 0.448 in
2  2000  370 

5. An air bubble rises from the bottom of a well where the temperature is 25°C, to the the surface where the
temperature is 27°C. Find the percent increase in the volume of the bubble if the depth of the well is 5m.
Atmospheric pressure is 101,528 Pascals. (April ’96)

a. 49.3%
b. 41.3%
c. 56.7%
d. 38.6%

Solution:

P1V1 P2 V2

T1 T2 27°C
101.528 kPa
where: P1 = 5(9.81) + 101.528
1
= 150.578 kPa

T1 = 25 + 273 = 298°K

P2 = 101.528 kPa

T2 = 27 + 273 °K 5m

150.578 V1 101.528 V2

298 300

V2 = 1.493 V1
2

V1  V2 25C
% Increase =
V1
1.493 V1  V1
=
V1
% Increase = 0.493
% Increase = 49.3%

6. Air flows with 150 feet per second velocity through a tube 1.0 inches in diameter and 5 feet long. The air intake
temperature is 68°F; its pressure is 14.2 pounds per inches square. How much heat is transferred from the tube
wall to the air when the wall is heated to a temperature of 210°F?

a) 3,554 Btu/hr b) 3500 kw c) 5070 Kcal/sec d) none of these

 Given: Reynolds number = 0.62 R = [(Delta p)(pi)(d2)]/4
Prandtl number = 0.72 W = (V)(Delta p)
Mach number = 1.2 Qw = (R)(cp)/Vm(tb – tw)

Density of air, 68°F = 0.075 lb/cu. ft.

Atm. Pressure = 14.2 lbs/in. sq.
Delta tm = tW – tB
Delta tm = [a(delta ti + delta te)]/2
Qt = m cp (t – t’)
Shear stress at wall = [(Qw) (Um)] / [cp(tB – tW)] 5'

68°F
150 ft/sec te

210°F

V = volume flow rate = Av = (π/4) (1/12)2 (150) = 0.818123 ft3/sec

m = mass flow rate = (0.818123) (0.075) (3600) = 220.893 lbs/hr
a = heat transfer area = π (1/12) (5) = 1.308997 sq. ft.
tW – tB = a(delta ti + delta te)]/2
210 – 68 = (1.308997) [(210 – 68) + (210 – te)]/2
te = 135.04°F
Q = m cp(t – t’) = (220.893) (0.24) (135.04 – 68) = 3,554 Btu/hr

7. A Simple Open Cycle Gas Turbine (15,000hp) has an exhaust gas flow at 158lb/s. This gas enters a waste heat
recovery boiler at 7380F and leaves at 2850F, specific heat of gas is 0.237Btu/lb0R, heat required to produce a
pound of steam at 600 psia and 6000F from feed water at 2270F is 1,120Btu. If the steam produced from this waste
heat recovery boiler is used to run a steam turbine generator set with combined steam rate of 13.1lb/kwhr, what
additional kw capacity can be obtained at no fuel cost?

Solution:
combustor

15,000hp

compressor gas turbine

Feed water

6000F

7380F 2850F

2270F

Energy in = Energy out

Q gas = Q steam

(m Cpt) gas = (m h) steam

m steam = 158lb/s(0.237Btu/lb0R)[(738+460)-(285+460) 0R]

1120 Btu/lb
ms = 15.1455 lb/s

Ratio = 13.1 lb in/ kw hr = ms / Power

Power = ms/ratio = 15.1455lb/s(3600sec/hr) = 4162.12 kw (b.)
13.1lb/kw hr

8. An electric current is passed through a wire 1mm diameter and 10 cm long. The wire is submerged in liquid water
at atmospheric pressure, and the current is increased until the water boils. For this situation h = 5000w/m 2k, and
the water temperature will be 1000C. How much electric power must be supplied to the wire to maintain the wire
surface at 1140C?

Solution: convection heat transfer because there is a flow of electricity

Heat Transfer = electric power supplied

Q = hAt = h(dL)t = 5000w/m2k[  (1x10-3m)(10x10-2m)](114 - 100k)

Q = 21.99w (b.)

9. The sun generates 1 kW/m2 when used as a source for solar collections. A collector with an area of 1 m2 heat
water. The flow rate is 3.0 liters/min. What is the temperature rise in the water? The specific heat of water is 4,200
J/kg-C.
Solution:

Q = 1 kW x 1m2 = 1 kW = 1000 kW

m2

m = 3 li x 1 kg x min = 0.05 kg

min li 60 sec sec

Q = m Cp t

1000 = 0.05 (4,200) t

t = 4.76C (b.)

10. Calculate the energy transfer rate across 6 in wall of firebrick with a temperature difference across the wall of
50C. The thermal conductivity of the firebrick is 0.65 BTU/hr-ft2-F at the temperature interest.
Solution:

x = 6 in = 0.50 ft

ta – tb = 50 (9/5) = 90F

Qc = k A (ta – tb) = 0.65 ( 1.0 ) 90 = 117 BTU

x 0.50 hr-ft2

Qc = 117 BTU x 1.055 J x hr x (3.28)2ft2

hr – ft2 BTU 3600 sec m2

 Qc = 369 W/m2 (c.)

11. In a certain refrigeration system low temperature application, a two-stage operation is desirable which employs
ammonia system that serves a 30 ton evaporator at-30°C. The system uses a direct-contact cascade condenser, and
the condenser temperature is 40°C. Find the Total power required in kW

SOLUTION: m2
a)
Cond. 6 P
7 40°F

5
8
1,557 kPa
7
6
P2 3 8 5
2 2
Cascade
3 m1 119.9 kPa 4 1
Condenser

1
4

Evap h

30 ton
-30°C
Bd. Exam. Apr. 1984

b) From ammonia tables:

P1 = 119.9 KPa; P6 = 1557 KPa

Cascade Condenser Pressure = √P1P6 = √119.9(1557)

= 432.1 KPa

c) From ammonia tables and P-h chart:

h1 = 1,422.86 kJ/kg h5 = 1,462

h2 = 1,590 h6 = 1,649
h3 = h4 = 200.46 h7 = h8 = 3,390.587

Ref. Effect balance in cascade condenser:

(30) (3.516) = m1(h1 –h4)
m1 = 0.0863 kg/sec

By heat balance in cascade condenser:

m2 (h5 – h8) = m1(h2 – h3)
m2 (1,462 – 390.587) = (0.0863) (1590 – 200.46)
m2 = 0.112 kg/sec

d) Total power required = m1(h2 –h1) + (h6 – h5)

= (0.0863) (1,590 –1,422.86) + (0.112) (1,649 –1,462)
= 35.368 kW (b.)
12. The system duct will remain the same and the fan will discharge the same volume of 120 m2/sec of air at 93ºC and
a volumetric of 735 mm of mercury when its speed is 7.0 revolutions per second. Find the brake power input and
the static pressure required.

SOLUTION:

Standard air is at 70ºF (21.111ºC) and 29.92”Hg (101.325 kPa)

And the density = P/RT = (101.325 / 0.287) (21.111 + 273) = 1.2 kg/m3

Density at 93ºC and 735 mm Hg = P / RT

= (735 / 760) (101.325) / (0.287) (93 + 273) = 0.9329 kg/m3

For constant fan size and speed, but variable density, power is proportional to density and static pressure
is proportional to density. Therefore at the new conditions:

Brake Power Input = (0.9329 / 1.2) (620) = 482 kW

Static Pressure = (0.9329 / 1.2) (310) = 241 mm water gage (b.)

13. Steam leaves an industrial boiler at 827.4 kPa and 171.6ºC. A portion of the steam is passed through a throttling
calorimeter and is exhausted to the atmosphere when the barometric pressure is 101.4 kPa. How much moisture
does the steam leaving the boiler contain if the temperature of the steam at the calorimeter is 115.6ºC?

SOLUTION:
827.4 KPa 101.4 KPa
171.6°C 115.6°C

1 2

For saturated steam tables at 827.4 kPa (171.6ºC)

hf = 727.25 kJ/kg, interpolated
hfg = 2,042.2 kJ/kg, interpolated

For superheated steam table at 101. kPa and 115.6ºC

h2 = 2,207.6 kJ/kg, interpolated

Let x = quality of steam leaving the boiler (1)

For throttling process:
h1 = h2
hf + x hfg = h2
727.25 + [x (2,043.2)] = 2,707.6
x = 0.9692

y = moisture content or wetness

= 1 – x = 1 – 0.9602 = 0.0308 = 3.08% (b.)
14. Steam with an enthalpy of 800 kcal/kg enters a nozzles at a velocity of 80 m/sec. Find the velocity of the steam at
the exit of the nozzle if its enthalpy is reduced to 750 kcal/kg, assuming the nuzzle is horizontal and disregarding
heat losses. Take g ( 9.81) m/sec and J constant = 427 kg m/kcal

SOLUTION:

By energy balance (first law of thermodynamics);

h1 + V12 / 2gJ = h2 + V22 / 2gJ

800 + [(80)2 / 2 (9.81) (427)] = 750 + (V22) / [2 (9.81) (427)]
V2 = 652 m/sec (a.)

15. Fish weighing 11,000 kg with a temperature of 20ºC is brought to a cold storage and which shall be cooled to
-10ºC in 11 hours. Find the required plant refrigerating capacity in tons of refrigeration if the specific heat of fish
is 0.7 above freezing and 0.3 below freezing point which is -30ºC. The latent heat of freezing is 55.5 kcal/kg.

SOLUTION: (Similar to Bd. Prob. Oct. ’87 No. II – 1)

Refrigerating Capacity
= 11,000 / 11 [0.7 (20+3) + 53.5 + 0.3 (-3+10)] = 73,700 kcal/hr
= (73,700 kcal/hr) (4.187 kJ/kcal) (hr / 3,600) = 85.717 kW
= (85.717 kW) (ton ref / 3.516 kW) = 24.379 tons ref (c.)
16. Steam at a gage pressure of 9.5 kg per sq. cm. in the steam line passed through a throttling calorimeter in which
the gauge pressure is 0.07 kg per sq. cm. and the temperature is 104.4ºC. Assuming normal atmospheric pressure,
determine the quality of steam.

SOLTION: (Similar to Bd. Prob. Oct. ’88 No. I-1)

9.5 kg/cm 2 107.4 kg/cm 2 gauge
gauge 104.4°C

1 2

Steam pressure at 1 = 9.5 (101.325 / 1.033) + 101.325 = 1,033 kPa

= 1.033 MPa

From saturated steam table at 1.033 MPa:

hf = 967.07 kJ/kg, interpolated
hfg = 2,010.2 kJ/kg, interpolated

Steam pressure at 2 = (0.07) [(101.325 / 1.033)] + 101.325 = 108.2 kPa

= 0.1082 MPa

From superheated steam table at 0.1082 MPa and 104.4ºC:

h2 = 2,684.1 kJ/kg, interpolated

Let x = quality of steam at 1

For throttling process:
h1 = h2
hf + x(hfh) = h2
769.07 + x(2,010.2) = 2,684.1
x = 0.9527 = 95.27%