Engineering Thermodynamics

Unit-4: Properties of Steam

Q. No. Questions
1) Define the following terms:
i) Wet Steam
ii) Dryness fraction
iii) Super heated steam
iv) Enthalpy of steam
v) Critical point
Ans. i) Wet Steam: Wet steam refers to a mixture of water and steam. It is not completely vaporized steam; instead,
it contains both vapor and liquid phases. The wetness of steam is characterized by its dryness fraction.

ii) Dryness Fraction: The dryness fraction (x) of wet steam is the ratio of the mass of dry steam to the total
mass of the wet steam mixture. It is a measure of the steam quality and varies from 0 (saturated liquid) to 1
(dry saturated steam). Mathematically, it is expressed as:
=Mass of dry steamTotal mass of wet steamx=Total mass of wet steam/Mass of dry steam

iii) Superheated Steam: Superheated steam is steam that has been heated beyond its saturation point at a
particular pressure. It exists at a temperature higher than the saturation temperature corresponding to its
pressure. Superheating increases the energy content of the steam.

iv) Enthalpy of Steam: Enthalpy of steam is the total heat content of steam per unit mass. It includes both the
internal energy and the product of pressure and specific volume. It is often denoted as ℎ and is expressed in
units of energy per unit mass (e.g., kJ/kg).

v) Critical Point: The critical point is the thermodynamic state at which a substance transitions from a liquid
to a gas (or vice versa) without any phase boundary. For water, the critical point occurs at a specific
temperature and pressure, beyond which distinct liquid and gas phases no longer exist.

vi) Triple Point: The triple point is the unique set of conditions (temperature and pressure) at which the three
phases of a substance (solid, liquid, and gas) coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium. It serves as a defining
point for the thermodynamic temperature scale.

vii) Latent Heat of Vaporization: The latent heat of vaporization is the amount of heat energy required to
convert a unit mass of a substance from a liquid to a vapor at a constant temperature and pressure. It is often
denoted as L and is expressed in units of energy per unit mass (e.g., kJ/kg).
2) One kg of steam at pressure of 17 bar and dryness fraction 0.95 is heated at constant pressure unit it is completely dry.
Determine:
i) Increase in volume
ii) Quantity of heat supplied
iii) Change in entropy.
Ans.

3) Explain the method to determine the dryness fraction of steam using combined separating and throttling calorimeter.
Ans.

Separating Calorimeter: The separating calorimeter is the first part of the device, where the steam-water mixture from the
main steam line enters. Its primary function is to separate the dry steam from the water droplets. This separation is achieved
by passing the steam-water mixture through a series of baffles or a mesh screen. The heavier water droplets are unable to
change direction as quickly as the lighter steam, causing them to impinge on the walls of the separating chamber and drain
out.

Throttling Calorimeter: After the separating process, the dry steam is then passed through a throttling device, typically a
narrow orifice or a valve, which reduces the pressure of the steam. This sudden reduction in pressure causes the dry steam
to undergo throttling expansion, leading to a decrease in temperature. The throttling process is adiabatic, meaning there is
no heat transfer with the surroundings. As a result, any moisture present in the steam at this stage will condense into water
droplets due to the decrease in temperature.

Working Principle: The dryness fraction of the steam can be determined by measuring the temperatures of the steam-water
mixture before and after the throttling process. The dryness fraction is related to the decrease in temperature during
throttling. Dry steam experiences a greater temperature drop compared to wet steam, as energy is required to evaporate
water into steam.
By comparing the temperatures before and after throttling, and referencing steam tables or Mollier charts, engineers can
calculate the dryness fraction of the steam. The dryness fraction is essential for assessing the quality and efficiency of steam
in various industrial processes, such as power generation, heating, and refrigeration.

4) Steam enters an engine at a pressure of 10 bar and 400ºC. It is exhausted at 0.2 bar and 0.9 dry. Find:
i) Drop in enthalpy
ii) Change in entropy
Ans.

5) Draw and explain the Rankine cycle on T-S and P-V diagram.
Ans.
The Rankine cycle is a modified form of Carnot cycle, in which the isothermal compression (3-4) is continued unit the
steam is condensed into water. A Carnot cycle, using steam as a working substance, is represented or p-v and t-s diagram
as shown in the figure.

Consider 1kg of water at pressure P1 and absolute temperature T1 as represented by point 1 in the figure. The cycle is

completed by the following four processes.

Stages of Rankine Cycle

1. Isothermal expansion
2. Adiabatic expansion
3. Isothermal compression
4. Warming operation

1. Isothermal Expansion
The water is isothermally converted into dry saturated steam at a constant temperature (T1) and pressure (P1). The dry
state of steam is expressed in point 2. It means that the temperature T2 (i. e. at point 2) and pressure P2 (i. e. at point 2)
is equal to temperature T1 and pressure P1 respectively.

This isothermal expansion is represented by curve 1-2 in p-v and t-s diagrams in Fig. We know that the heat absorbed
during isothermal expansion by water dring its conversion into dry steam is its latent heat (i.e. H1 = L).

2. Adiabatic Expansion
The dry saturated steam now expands adiabatically. The pressure and temperature fall from P2 and T2 to T3 respectively
with a dryness fraction x2. As no heat is supplied or rejected during this process, there is no change of entropy. The
adiabatic expansion is represented by the curve 2-3 as shown in Fig.

3. Isothermal Compression
The wet steam is now isothermally compressed at constant temperature (T3) and pressure (p3) unit the whole steam is
condensed into water. IT means that the temperature T4 (i.e. at point 4) and pressure P4 is equal to the temperature T3
and pressure P3 respectively.

The isothermal compression is represented by curve 3-4 on p-v and T-s diagram in Fig. The heat rejected by steam is its
latent heat ( equal to x3 L3).

4. Warming Operation
The water is now warmed at constant volume from temperature T4 to T1. Its pressure also rises from P4 to P1. The heat
absorbed by water dring this operation is equal to the sensible heat or liquid heat corresponding to the pressure P1 i. e.
equal to sensible heat at point 1 minus sensible heat at point 4 (i.e. equal to h1- h4).
But sensible heat at point 4 is equal to sensible heat at point3. Thus heat absorbed during warming operation is equal to
(h1-h3).