MODEL SOLUTIONS/MARKING SCHEME 200?/200?
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EXAMINATION PAPER: ACADEMIC SESSION 2012/2013
Campus Medway
School Engineering
Department Engineering Systems
Programme BEng Engineering Suite;
COURSE TITLE Thermal Power Plant and Heat Transfer
COURSE CODE MECH 0036, 3 hours
LEVEL 6
Date and Duration
(incl. reading time)
January 2013
Paper Set By Professor A. Reed, Dr. S. Mengistu
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
&
INFORMATION FOR INVIGILATORS
The attention of the students is directed to the instructions printed on the
answer book.
Answer FOUR out of the following SIX questions.
All questions carry equal marks.
Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Fluid (Steam Tables) will be
provided. These are to be handed in at the end of the examination.
Calculators may be used.
Graph Paper will be provided.
----------

MODEL SOLUTIONS/MARKING SCHEME 200?/200?
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MODEL SOLUTIONS/MARKING SCHEME 200?/200?
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Q1
(a) Explain the meaning of ‘detonation’ with respect to spark ignition engines with
the aid of sketch and list at least three of the factors that affect detonation.
(b) Describe with the aid of sketches, the design and construction of Wankle rotary
engine. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the rotary Wankel engine
compared to other spark ignition engines and suggest reasons why this engine is
relatively little used.
(c) Discuss briefly the meanings of super-charging and turbo charging a diesel engine
and describe briefly at least two of the benefits that would result from each method.
Q2.
(a) With the aid of sketches in the T–s diagram, describe briefly the
advantages and disadvantages of:
(i) increasing the steam superheat;
(ii) increasing the boiler pressure;
(iii) lowering the condenser pressure;
in designing steam power plant
(b) A steam turbine reheat cycle as shown in Figure Q2 operates at the
following conditions:
Boiler steam pressure and temperature 140 bar, 450 oC
Reheat steam pressure and temperature 20 bar, 450 oC
Condenser pressure 0.03 bar
Condenser cooling water inlet temperature 15 oC
Turbine isentropic efficiences 90%
(i) Sketch a T-s diagram

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(ii) Determine the quality of the steam at exit from the turbine.
[84.3%]
(iii) Calculate the turbine specific work output in kJ/kg neglecting the
feed pump work.
[1480 kJ/kg]
(iv) Calculate the overall thermal efficiency of the cycle.
[37.4%]
(v) Determine the mass flow rate that goes through the turbine
[220 kg/s]
(vi) Calculate the specific steam consumption (SSC) in kg/kW hr.
[2.673 kg/kWh]
(vii) If the combined net output of the turbines is 300 MW, determine
the temperature rise of the cooling water as it passes through the
condenser at a rate of 2000 kg/s.
[39.2 oC]

MODEL SOLUTIONS/MARKING SCHEME 200?/200?
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Figure Q2

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Q3.
(a) Assuming constant mass flow rate, do the following quantities
(i) Turbine work output:
(ii) Heat added:
(iii)Heat rejected:
(iv)Moisture content at turbine exit:
increase, decrease, or remains the same when the simple ideal Rankine cycle is
modified with regeneration.
[4 marks]
(b) With the aid of simple diagram, describe briefly the differences between open and
closed feed-water heaters.
[3 marks]
(c) Consider a steam power plant that operates on a regenerative Rankine cycle which
has a power output of 300MW. Steam enters the turbine at 100 bar and 500oC and
then enters the condenser at 0.1 bar. Steam is extracted from the turbine at 50 bar
to heat the feed-water in the mixing feed heater. Water leaves the feed-water
heater as a saturated liquid. Neglect any pump work done.
(i) Sketch the cycle on a T-s diagram, relating the numbered points
on the diagrams to the corresponding points on a simple block
diagram of the plant.
(ii) Determine the quality of steam at exit from the turbine.
[79.3%]
(iii) Calculate the amount of bleed steam required for the feed-water
heater.
[0.323]
(iv) Determine the thermal efficiency of the cycle.
[36.1%]

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Q4
(a) From your understanding of the characteristics of solids, liquids and gases,
explain why, at a given temperature, there are significant differences between the
values of thermal conductivity for the substances shown in Table Q4 (a). Also,
explain why, for a given substance, the value of thermal conductivity increases
with increasing temperature.
Temperature, K
Substance
300 400 500
Aluminium 202 209 222
Water (sat) 0.614 0.642 0.687
Air 0.0262 0.0337 0.0404
Table Q4 (a)
Thermal conductivities of Aluminium, Water and Air, k (W/m K) for various
values of temperature, K
(b) From considerations of Fourier’s equation, show that the heat transfer, 𝑄̇, for
steady flow conduction through a thick wall cylindrical pipe may be determined
from the expression:
𝑄̇ =
2𝜋𝐿𝑘(𝑇₁ − 𝑇₂)
𝐼𝑛 (
𝑟2
𝑟1
)
Where: L is the length of the pipe (L)
k is the thermal conductivity
T is absolute temperature (K)
r₁ is inner radius of pipe (m)
r₂ is outer radius of pipe (m)

MODEL SOLUTIONS/MARKING SCHEME 200?/200?
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Q4 Continued
(c) In routing a thick-wall polyethylene pipeline, it is proposed that by burying it
beneath ground level the thermal properties of the surrounding soil may be used
as a form of insulation to prevent a liquid flowing through the pipe from freezing.
(i) By extending the analysis leading to the expression set out in Q4 (b)
above, develop a simple model for determining the minimum depth of
soil to which the pipeline must be buried so as to maintain a minimum
temperature of the liquid in the pipeline. Use a diagram to illustrate
the basic features of your model.
[10 marks]
(ii) By using this model determine the minimum depth to which such a
pipeline must be buried corresponding to a situation where the
minimum temperatures of the surface of the soil, the outside of the
pipe and the liquid are -20°C, 0°C and 5°C respectively.
[5 marks]
Notes:
For the purpose of your solution:
 Consider conduction effects only
 The internal diameter of the pipeline is 600mm
 The external diameter of the pipeline is 700mm
 The thermal conductivity of polyethylene may be taken as 0.5 W/m K
 The thermal conductivity of soil may be taken as 0.6 W/m K

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Solution for Q4 as it is not covered in our lecture
Part (c )
Suggested model is based on t3 = -20 oC
Where minimum depth required: d = r3 – r2
t1 = 5 oC (liquid temperature)
t2 = 0 oC (outer pipe temperature)
t3 = -20 oC (Ground temperature)
this model requires that for steady state condition
𝑄̇ =
2𝜋𝐿𝐾12(𝑡1−𝑡2)
ln (
𝑟2
𝑟1
)
=
2𝜋𝐿𝐾23(𝑡2−𝑡3)
ln (
𝑟3
𝑟2
)
Therefore
ln (
𝑟3
𝑟2
) =
𝐾23 (𝑡2−𝑡3)
𝐾12(𝑡1−𝑡2)
× ln (
𝑟2
𝑟1
)
ln (
𝑟3
𝑟2
) =
0.6 × (0 − (−20))
0.5 × (5 − 0)
× ln (
0.350
0.3
)
ln (
𝑟3
𝑟2
) = 0.7399
𝑟3 = 𝑒0.7399
× 0.350 = 0.733𝑚
So the minimum depth required is d = r3 – r2 = 0.733 – 0.35 =0.38 m

MODEL SOLUTIONS/MARKING SCHEME 200?/200?
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Q5
(a) Explain the mechanism by which heat transfer by radiation occurs.
[2 marks]
(b) Starting from a knowledge of the Stefan-Boltzman Law, show that the
maximum net heat flux, q, due to radiation, from one surface to another is given
by the equation:
𝑞 = 𝜎(𝑇1
4
− 𝑇2
4
)
Where: σ is the Stefan-Boltzman constant (W/m²K4)
T is absolute temperature (K)
(c) A furnace wall is constructed as follows: The inner layer is of refractory brick
0.2 m thick, the middle layer is insulating brick 0.1 m thick and the outer layer
is red brick 0.4 m thick. The thermal conductivities of these materials are 1.5,
0.5 and 1.0 W/mK respectively. The temperature of the outer surface of the red
brick is 90°C and the temperature of the surrounding air is 20°C. The surface
heat loss due to convection is given by the expression 2.0∆T1.25
W/m², where
ΔT is the temperature difference. From this information determine:
(i) the heat flux through the wall;
[886 W/m2]
(ii) the proportion of the total heat transfer that is due to radiation;
[54.3%]
(iii) the temperature of the inner surface of the furnace wall , and
[740 oC]
(iv) the temperature at the interfaces of the bricks.
[622 oC]
Relevant information:
 Stefan-Boltzman constant: 5.67 x 10⁻ ⁸ W/m²K4
 Emissivity of outer surface of red brick: 0.86
 Heat flux due to conduction may be determined from:

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𝑞 =
kΔ𝑇
𝑥
(Where Δ𝑇 the temperature difference, k is the thermal conductivity and x is
the thickness of the solid material).
Q6
(a) By referring to diagrams, including a T-s diagram, briefly discuss the basic
features and operation of a simple gas turbine generating set.
(b) A simple gas turbine generating set takes in air at 20°C and 1.01 bar absolute
and the pressure ratio achieved is 9.5:1. The compressor is driven by the HP
turbine and the LP turbine drives a separate power shaft. The isentropic
efficiencies of the compressor and the HP and LP turbines are 0.81, 0.84 and
0.85 respectively. Calculate:
(i) The pressure and temperature of the gases entering the power
turbine.
[P4 =1.83 bar, T4 = 696 K]
(ii) The electrical output if the efficiency of the generator is 90%
and the mass flow rate of air is 7.5 kg/s.
[636 kW]
The maximum cycle temperature is 700°C. For the compression
process cp = 1.005 kJ/kg K and γ = 1.4; for the combustion process
and the expansion process take cp = 1.15 kJ/kg K and γ = 1.333. The
mass of fuel may be neglected.
(c) Explain how a heat exchanger may be used to increase the efficiency of the
cycle, and comment on whether this would be a practical option in the case of
Q6 (b).

MODEL SOLUTIONS/MARKING SCHEME 200?/200?
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Useful Formula
Steady Flow Process (Rankine Cycle)
h1 and h3 from the steam table.
1441
2323
12,
43,
eject hhqedRHeat
hhqSuppliedHeat
hhwworkPump
hhwworkTurbine
inP
outT




SSC=
kWh
kg
wnet
3600
Work ratio =
Turbine
PumpFeedTurbine
w
W
WW
r
,

Thermal efficiency =
in
net
th
q
w

isentropicturbine
actualturbine
s
a
turbine
w
w
w
w
,
,

)( 12, PPvW inP 