First Law of

Thermodynamics
applied to Flow
processes
 PRESENTED
BY
GRIFFIN SALIMA, MRE
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT
Cell: 0999934029/0888234029
Email: gsalima@poly.ac.mw
Office E212, School of Engineering, Ground
Floor 2
 Flow Process
• Virtually all the practical systems involve flow
of mass across the boundary separating the
system and the surroundings. Whether it be a
steam turbine or a gas turbine or a compressor
or an automobile engine there exists flow of
gases/gas mixtures into and out of the system.

• So we must know how the first Law of

thermodynamics can be applied to an open
system.
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 Flow Process
The fluid entering the system will have its own
internal, kinetic and potential energies.
• Let U1 be the specific internal energy of the
fluid entering
• C1 be the velocity of the fluid while entering
• Z1 be the potential energy of the fluid while
entering
• Similarly let U2, C2 and Z2 be respective
entities while leaving.
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 Flow Process
What is the difference between a flow and a
non-flow process?
Flow process : It is one in which fluid enters the
system and leaves it after work interaction, which
means that such processes occur in the systems
having open boundary permitting mass interaction
across the system boundary.

Non flow process : It is the one in which there is

no mass interaction across the system boundaries
during the occurrence of process.

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 Systems
Closed system-in which no mass is permitted to
cross the system boundary i.e. we would always
consider a system of constant mass. We do permit
heat and work to enter or leave but not mass.

6
 Systems
Open system-in which we permit mass to cross the
system boundary in either direction (from the system
to surroundings or vice versa).In analysing open
systems, we typically look at a specified region of
space, and observe what happens at the boundaries
of that region. Most of the engineering devices are
open system.

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 Systems
Isolated System -in which there is no interaction
between system and the surroundings. It is of fixed
mass and energy, and hence there is no mass and
energy transfer across the system boundary.

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 Heat And Work
• Thermodynamic definition of work:
Positive work is done by a system when the sole
effect external to the system could be reduced to
the rise of a weight.

• Thermodynamic definition of heat:

It is the energy in transition between the system
and the surroundings by virtue of the difference in
temperature.

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 Heat And Work
Sign Conventions
• Work done BY the system is +ve
• Obviously work done ON the system is –ve
• Heat given To the system is +ve
• Obviously Heat rejected by the system is –ve

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Steady Flow Energy Equation
The steady flow energy equation relates to open
systems working under steady conditions i.e. in
which conditions do not change with time.
The boundary encloses a system through which
fluid flows at a constant rate, whilst heat transfer
occurs and external work is done all under steady
conditions, that is, the rates of mass flow and energy
flow are constant with respect to time.

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Steady Flow Energy Equation
The equation for steady flow (the steady flow energy
equation) is generally written per unit mass as
 1 2 
q  w   h  C  gz 
 2 
q = heat transfer across boundary per unit mass
w = external work done by system per unit mass
z = fluid height
c = fluid velocity
h = fluid enthalpy (u (internal energy) + pv (pressure 
specific volume)
Note in the examples below the system control volumes are
defined by the red dashed line.
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Steady Flow Energy Equation
Heater The steady flow equation as applied to a fluid
heater.
Potential energy (z) assumed to be constant.
Kinetic energy changes (1 to 2) assumed to be very
small

Heater
w = 0 therefore
q = h2-h1

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Steady Flow Energy Equation
Turbine: (Assumed Adiabatic Expansion). The
steady flow equation as applied to a turbine.
Potential energy (z) assumed to be constant.
Kinetic energy changes (1 to 2) assumed to be very
small

Turbine
q = 0 therefore
w = h2-h1

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Steady Flow Energy Equation
Throttling: (Assumed Adiabatic). The steady flow
equation as applied to a orifice..
Potential energy (z) assumed to be constant.
The higher velocity at orifice section is dissipated in
tube downstream of the orifice and therefore the
kinetic energies at 1 and 2 are similar

Orifice
q = w = 0 therefore
therefore h1 = h2

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Steady Flow Energy Equation
Nozzle: (Assumed Adiabatic). The steady flow
equation as applied to smooth nozzle.
Potential energy (z) assumed to be constant.
Kinetic energy changes are assumed to be significant

Nozzle
q = w = 0 therefore
(v22 - v12 )/2 = (h1 - h2)

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Control Volume & Control Surface
A control volume is a
certain fixed region on
which attention is
focused and through
which the moving
substance flows.

A control surface is
the surface on the
control volume.
 Steady flow process
 The flow is said to be steady if the rate at
which the fluid flows through a machine or
piece of apparatus and the rate at which the
energy changes are constant.

 At the steady state of a system, any

thermodynamic property will have a fixed
value at a particular location, and will not
alter with time. These thermodynamic
property depends only on space coordinates
but not on time.
Assumptions made in the analysis
of steady flow process of a system
1) The mass flow through the system remains
constant.
2) Fluid is uniform in composition.
3) The only interaction between the system
and its surroundings are work and heat.
4) The state of fluid at any point remains
constant with time.
5) In the analysis, only potential, kinetic and
flow energies are considered.
 Simple steady flow process of a
system

The two governing equations are:

1) Mass balance equation, and
2) Energy balance equation
Notations
 Mass Balance Equation
By the conservation of mass, if there is no
accumulation of mass within the control volume,
the mass flow rate entering the system must be
equal to the mass flow rate leaving the system. i.e.,
mass flow rate entering = mass flow rate leaving
 
m1  m2
A1C 1 A2 C 2

v1 v2
This equation is known as Mass balance equation
(or) Continuity equation
Work transfers in steady flow
processes
 In the flow process, the work transfer may
be an external work (or) a flow work.
 The external work refers to all the work
transfer across the control surface other
than that due to normal fluid forces.
 The only external work transfers
considered in engineering thermodynamics
are shear work (shaft or stirring) and
electrical work.
 Energy Balance Equation
Since there is no accumulation of energy, by the conservation of
energy, the total rate of flow of all energy streams entering the
control volume must be equal to the total rate of flow of all energy
streams leaving the control volume. i.e.
Total energy flow rate entering = Total energy flow rate leaving
1 2 1 2
Q  U1  p1V1   mC1  mgZ1  W  U 2  p 2 V2   mC 2  mgZ2
2 2
1 2 1 2
(or) Q  H 1  mC1  mgZ1  W  H 2  mC2  mgZ2
2 2
Considering unit mass of the substance,
2 2
Q C1 W C2
 h1   gZ1   h2   gZ 2
m 2 m 2
This equation is known as Energy balance equation
(or) Steady Flow Energy Equation (SFEE)
Applications of First law applied to
flow processes
1) Nozzle
2) Diffuser
3) Compressor
4) Turbine
5) Throttling device
6) Boiler
7) Evaporator
8) Condenser
9) Water turbine
10) Water pump
 Nozzle / Diffuser

Nozzle Diffuser
2 2
C1 C2
h1   h2 
2 2
 Compressor

W
h1   h2 
W  mh2  h1 

m (or)
 Turbine

W
h1  h2  
W  mh1  h2 

m (or)
 Throttling device

h1  h2
Boiler

Q  h2  h1 
 Evaporator

Q  h2  h1 
 Condenser

Q  h1  h2 
 Water Turbine

 C1
2
  C2 
2
 u1  p1v1  Z 1 g    Q   u 2  p 2 v2  Z 2 g   W
 2   2 
   
since Q  0 , u  0 , v2  v1  v and Z 2  0

 C1  
2
C2 
2
 p1v  Z 1 g     p2 v  Z 2 g   W
 2   2 
   
 Water Pump

 C1  
2
C2 
2
 p1v1  Z 1 g     p 2 v2  Z 2 g   W
 2   2 
   
 QUESTIONS
Air enters a gas turbine system with a velocity of 105
m/s and has a specific volume of 0.8 m3/kg. The inlet
area of the gas turbine is 0.05m2. At exit the air has a
velocity of 135 m/s and has a specific volume of 1.5
m3/kg. In its passage through the turbine system, the
specific enthalpy of the air is reduced by 145 kJ/kg
and the air also has a heat transfer loss of 27 kJ/kg.
Determine:
(a) The mass flow rate of the air through the turbine.
(b) The exit area of the turbine
(c) The power developed by the turbine system in
kW.
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 QUESTIONS
In a steady flow open system a fluid flows at a rate
of 4 kg/s. It enters the system at a pressure of 6 bar, a
velocity of 220 m/s, internal energy 2200 kJ/kg and
specific volume 0.42 m3/kg. It leaves the system at a
pressure of 1.5 bar, a velocity of 145 m/s, internal
energy 1650 kJ/kg and specific volume 1.5 m3/kg.
During its passage through the system, the fluid has
a loss by heat transfer of 40kJ/kg to the
surroundings. Determine the power of the system,
stating whether it is from or to the system.
Neglect any change in potential energy.
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 QUESTIONS
In a closed system, one kilogramme of ait
initially at 100 kN/m2 and 27C is compressed
adiabatically to 3 MN/m2, and then expanded
isothermally back to its original volume.
Determine the excess of the work done by the
gas over the work done on the gas.

Take R = 287 J/kgK and  =1.4 for air

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 QUESTIONS
During a steady-flow process in an open system the
velocity of the fluid is increased from 100 m/s to 600
m/s, the volume is decreased from 5.0 to 2.0 m3/kg,
the pressure is increased from 1 MN/m2 to 2 MN/m2
absolute, and the internal energy is increased by 20
kJ/kg. Find the change of enthalpy per kg of the
fluid, and the work done on the fluid if no heat is
taken in or rejected. There is no change in potential
energy.

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 Problem - 1
Air flows steadily at the rate of 0.5kg/s
through an air compressor, entering at 7m/s,
100kPa pressure and 0.95m3/kg volume, and
leaving at 5m/s, 700kPa pressure and
0.19m3/kg volume. The internal energy of the
air leaving is 90kJ/kg greater than that of air
entering. Cooling water in the compressor
jackets absorbs heat from the air at the rate of
58kW. (a) Compute the rate of shaft work
input to the air in kW. (b) Find the ratio of the
inlet and outlet pipe diameters.
 Problem - 2
In a steam power station, steam flows
steadily through a 0.2m diameter pipeline
from the boiler to the turbine. At the boiler
end, the steam conditions are found to be: p =
4MPa, t = 400C, h = 3213.6kJ/kg and v =
0.95m3/kg. At the turbine end, the conditions
are found to be: p = 3.5MPa, t = 392C, h =
3202.6kJ/kg and v = 0.084m3/kg. There is a
heat loss of 8.5kJ/kg from the pipeline.
Calculate the steam flow rate.
 Problem - 3
Air at a temperature of 15C passes through a heat
exchanger at a velocity of 30m/s where its
temperature is raised to 800C. It then enters a
turbine with the same velocity of 30m/s and expands
until the temperature falls to 650C. On leaving the
turbine, the air is taken at a velocity of 60m/s to a
nozzle where it expands until the temperature has
fallen to 500C. If the air flow rate is 2kg/s, calculate
(a) the rate of heat transfer to the air in the heat
exchanger, (b) the power output from the turbine
assuming no heat loss, and (c) the velocity at the exit
of the nozzle, assuming no heat loss. Take the
enthalpy of the air as h=cpt, where cp is the specific
heat equal to 1.005kJ/kg and t is the temperature.
 Problem - 4
In a gas turbine the gas enters at the rate of
5kg/s with a velocity of 50m/s and enthalpy
of 900kJ/kg and leaves the turbine with a
velocity of 150m/s and enthalpy of
400kJ/kg. The loss of heat from the gases to
the surroundings is 25kJ/kg. Assume for gas
R = 0.285kJ/kg-K and cp=1.004kJ/kg-K and
the inlet conditions to be at 100kPa and
27C. Determine the power output of the
turbine and the diameter of the inlet pipe.
 Problem - 5
12kg/min of air is delivered by a
centrifugal compressor. The inlet and outlet
conditions are C1 = 12m/s, p1 = 1bar, v1 =
0.5m3/kg and C2 = 90m/s, p2 = 8bar, v2 =
0.14m3/kg. The increase in the enthalpy of
air passing through the compressor is
150kJ/kg and heat loss to the surroundings
is 700kJ/min. Find (a) motor power
required to drive the compressor, and (b)
ratio of inlet to outlet pipe diameters.
Assume that inlet and discharge lines are at
the same level.