Marcet Boiler Lab

Report

Shahda Mazin Abduljabbar Al-Taie

H00113228
Mechanical Engineering 2nd year
Supervised by: Dr. Mehdi Nazarinia

Table of Contents
Introduction:........................................................................................................ 2
Aim:.................................................................................................................. 3
Theory:............................................................................................................. 3
Experimental setup and apparatus:.............................................................................7
Apparatus:........................................................................................................ 7
Experimental setup and diagram:..........................................................................10
Procedure:......................................................................................................... 12
Results and discussion:......................................................................................... 13
Sample calculations:................................................................................13
Raw results:....................................................................................................... 14
Discussion of results :................................................................................. 18
Evaluation................................................................................................... 23
Conclusion:........................................................................................................ 23
Bibliography...................................................................................................... 24

Introduction:
Thermodynamics deals with the interchange of energies such as heat and work between a
system and the surroundings which occurs when the system undergoes a process (heating
or cooling). The loss or gain of energy in a system has a direct impact on its
thermodynamic properties. Two of the most important thermodynamic properties of
fluids (being investigated in this experiment) are pressure and temperature that both vary
in response to changes in the energy of a system i.e. when energy is lost or gained by the
system. The theoretical values obtained from published steam tables are to be compared
to the readings obtained while conducting the marcet boiler experiment, while giving
further analysis for the divergence of the two values.
For the purpose of this experiment, a Cussons P5700 Marcet Boiler unit was used to heat
the fluid and measure the temperature and pressure of water vapour inside its vessel.
Thus, conclusions about the change in thermodynamic properties of water undergoing
different processes where drawn.
Marcet boiler units are usually used in classroom demonstrations and lab experiments to
understand the relationship between the changes of temperature and pressure and their
effects on the boiling point of water (equilibrium state). However industry applications
vary widely as such an arrangement can be used in power plants, different cooking
utilities, gasifiers as well as utilizing the market boiler as a water boiler.

Aim:
The main aim of this experiment is to obtain a slope of saturated temperature and
pressure of steam, in equilibrium with water, between 0 and 14 bars. These results are
then compared to the theoretical values obtained from published steam tables. A value for
the constants as well as the maximum temperature if heating were continued is
calculated. Moreover, after an expression for the time taken for the temperature to reach a
certain value is derived.

Theory:

Real gases are shown to exhibit behaviour different to that expected by the ideal gas and
predicted by the ideal gas equation given below
PV =mRT

where P is the absolute pressure, V is the volume, n= amount of substance in mole, R= ideal
gas constant and T is the temperature.
Natural convection occurs when there is a difference in the densities of different layers of
a fluid, this can happen due to varying temperatures at each point. when the fluid is
heated at the start of the experiment, the molecules of the fluid also gain energy and begin
to move faster. the density change will make the fluid rise up to the surface while cooler
fluid from the upper surface will replace it. When enough energy is gained, the molecules
can escape from the surface of the fluid in the form of steam thus a state of equilibrium
between wet steam and water is achieved. The saturation temperature and saturation
pressure occur at this state of equilibrium which is the boiling point of the fluid at a given
temperature and pressure.
This forms a continuous cycle of convection.
Therefore the rate of the total heat transfer is the sum of the rate of heat loss to the
surface and the rate of change of the internal energy of the fluid and the marcet boiler. It
is given by:
dQ d Q t du
=
+
dt
dt dt
(1)
From Newtons Law of cooling, it is derived that
d Qt
= A s T
dt
(2)
Where

d Qt
dt

is the rate of convective heat transfer from the surface,

coefficient of heat transfer (a constant) in (kW/m2K),

As

is the

is the surface area of the

heat being transferred (m2) and

is the temperature difference between the ambient

temperature and the fluids surface and interior (approximated to be the same).
the rate of change of the internal energy of the fluid and the marcet boiler is given by
du
dT
=mc
dt
dt
(3)
where m is the mass of water, dT/dt is the rate of temperature change, c is the specific
heat of water in J kg-1 K-1, and du/dt is the rate of change in internal energy in Wm-2

Substituting equations (2) and (3) in equation (1):

dQ
dT
= A s T +mc
dt
dt h eating
(4)

The above equation (4) is applicable for the heating process where the value of

dQ
dt

can be attained from the power source of the electrical heater.However, for the cooling
process

dQ
dt

is taken as zero since the heater is switched off and no heat is supplied to

the system. Therefore,

0= A s T +mc

dT
dt cooling

(5)

The two equations for heating eq(4) and cooling eq(5) can be solved to find the constants
As
and mc
mc

dT
dt

= A s T

mc=

A s T
dT /dt cooling

By substituting the expression for mc in equation (4)

dt
dT /

As T
dQ
= A s T

dt

A s T dT
dQ
= A s T
dt
dT /dt cooling dt h eating

A s=

dQ/dt
T
T
dT /dt cooling

)( dTdt )
h eating

The maximum temperature achieved by the fluid if the heating process were to be
continued at the rate of

dQ
dt

in the marcet boiler has to be found.

The maximum temperature is reached when it no longer changes according to time, thus
remaining constant at its maximum value. This is true when
dT
dt h eating

=0

So substituting this in heating eq (4)

dQ
= A s T +mc ( 0 )
dt
T heating=

dQ
( dt ) ( A s)

Since

T =T max T amb

T max=T am b +

dQ
( dt ) ( A s )

(6)

An expression has to be derived for the time taken for the boiler and its fluid to cool
down from the maximum temperature achieved during the heating process to a certain
value.
by recalling the cooling eq(5):
0= A s T +mc

dT
dt cooling

Rearranging it and substituting

T =T T amb

As ( TT amb )
dT
=
dt cooling
mc

Using separation of variables

A s
dT
=
dt cooling
mc
( TT amb )

Then by integrating both sides (RHS with respect to time and LHS with respect to
Temperature)
T

t
A
1
T T dT = mc s dtcooling
T (
0
amb )
i

A s
Since
mc

is a constant, integration of the differential equation is

T t Tamb Ti Tamb e

As
t
mc

Rearranging it
T T amb
=e
T iT amb

ln

A s t
mc

T T amb A s t
=
T iT amb
mc

Therefore the expression for time is

t= ln

T T amb mc
T iT amb As

(7)

Experimental setup and apparatus:

Apparatus:
The Marcet boiler unit

A pressure vessel (stainless steel) with

-

an immersed electrical heater to provide a heating source

An insulation jacket to prevent heat loss from the system
A thermometer to measure the temperature of the fluid inside the vessel
A Bourdon pressure gauge.
The marcet boiler also has a safety valve which will relieve the pressure in the
vessel if it exceeds 14 bars on the pressure gauge.

Pressure gauge: to measure gauge pressure of the fluid inside the marcet boiler during
heating and cooling processes.

Stopwatch to measure the time (secs)

10

Heater terminal- to provide a heat source for the marcet boiler

Gloves for safety while handling the marcet boiler

11

Experimental setup and diagram:

Before starting the experiment, the marcet boiler was fully prepared for this lab. Another
group conducted the experiment for the heating process and so their results were
collected and used for the graphs and calculations. The pressure vessel was filled with
water while the thermometer and pressure gauge were already connected to the marcet
boiler and tightly fitted to the walls of the vessel. For the cooling process, the heat
terminal was switched off. The arrangement was as shown below.

12

Procedure:
Heating process:
This part of the experiment was conducted by lab group4 of the Mechanical
Engineering Science 5 course. The readings for heating and cooling processes
were both shared among the two lab groups as the experiment is too lengthy
and time consuming. However, the appropriate procedure to conduct the
heating experiment using a marcet boiler is given below:

1. Make sure all safety rules are followed and all experimenters are briefed about
them.
2. Inspect the marcet boiler unit to make sure it is in proper working conditions
3. Keep the water level cock valve open
4. Fill the vessel with the appropriate water level
5. Switch the heat terminal on to provide a power supply of 2kW to
the marcet boiler
6. allow the steam to exit through the level valve so that no air
trapped in the boiler.
7. Close the level valve and continue heating.
8. Record temperature and time readings every 0.5 bars.
9. Take all readings of temperature and time till maximum gauge
pressure (14 bars) is achieved.
10. Switch the electric heater off when the gauge pressure reads 14 bars.
11. Do not allow the gauge pressure to exceed 14 bars as the relief valve will open
depressurizing the vessel.
Cooling process

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Make sure all safety rules are followed and all experimenters are briefed about them.
Inspect the marcet boiler unit to make sure it is in proper working conditions
Switch the electric heater off when the gauge pressure reads 14 bars
Take the time and temperature reading at an interval of 1.5 bars on the pressure gauge
Record all values of time and temperature from the range of 14 to 0 bars.

13

Results and discussion:

Sample calculations:
Atmospheric pressure:
||=P

+ Patm

P
Slopes:

dT
467373
=
=0.043 K s1
dt heating
2184
dT
415469
1
=
=0.0237 K s
dt cooling
2275
From
Theory
0= A s ( 19625 )0.0237 mc

mc=

Take

171
As
0.0237
dQ /dt

as 2kW

2= A s ( 10025 )+ 0.043

171
A )
( 0.0237
s

Therefore:
A s=5.19 103 W / K
mc=37.46 kJ /K

14

To find Tmax
T max=( 25+ 273 )+

2000
=385.65 k kelvin
5.19 103

To find time from eq(7)

Take T as 25+10=35
Ti

as 100 and substitute the values found above for

t= ln

T T amb mc
3525
= ln
T iT amb As
10025

As

and mc

)( 5.1937.4610 )=14543 sec

3

Raw results:
Table1 - Results from the heating process:
gauge pressure
bars

0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5

Temp
celcius

100
119
125
128
131
135
139.5
143
147
150.5
154.5
157.5

Heating Process
Temp
Absolute Pressure
(kelvin)
(bars)

373
392
398
401
404
408
413
416
420
424
428
431

15

Time
(s)
1

1.5

396

541

2.5
3

661

3.5

770

860

4.5

947

1036

5.5

1123

1208

6.5

1275

6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
12.5
13
13.5
14

160
163.5
166
169
171
173.5
175.5
177.5
179.5
180.5
183.5
185
187
189
190.5
192
194

433
437
439
442
444
447
449
451
453
454
457
458
460
462
464
465
467

1341

7.5

1412

1479

8.5

1543

1602

9.5

1656

10

1712

10.5

1768

11

1815

11.5

1863

12

2090

12.5

1958

13

2013

13.5

2057

14

2103

14.5

2141

15

2184

Table2: results from the cooling process

gauge pressure
bars

14
13.5
13
12.5
12
11.5
11
10.5
10
9.5
9
8.5
8
7.5

Temp
celcius

Cooling process
Absolute Pressure
(bars)

196
196
195
194
193
190
186.5
186
184.5
182
179.5
176.5
174.5
171
16

Time
(s)
15

14.5

30

14

63

13.5

93

13

127

12.5

194

12

264

11.5

325

11

391

10.5

463

10

544

9.5

632

727

8.5

833

Temp
kelvin

469
469
468
467
466
463
459.5
459
457.5
455
452.5
449.5
447.5
444

7
6.5
6
5.5
5
4.5
4
3.5
3

169
166
162
159.5
156
153
150
142
133

947

7.5

1060

1203

6.5

1343

1491

5.5

1662

1856

4.5

2275

Table3: Values obtained from Steam Table

Values from Steam Table
Temp Absolute Pressure
-K
(bars)
372.
99.7
7
15
384.
111.4
4
14.5
393.
120.3
3
14
400.
127.45
45
13.5
406.
133.6
6
13
411.
138.9
9
12.5
416.
143.7
7
12
420.
147.95
95
11.5
424.
151.9
9
11
428.
155.5
5
10.5
431.
158.9
9
10

Tempcelsius

162

435

9.5

165

9
8.5

170.5

438
440.
8
443.
5

173

446

7.5

167.8

17

442
439
435
432.5
429
426
423
415
406

175.4
177.7
179.9
182.1
184.1
186.1
188
189.9
191.7
193.4
195.1
196.75
198.4

448.
4
450.
7
452.
9
455.
1
457.
1
459.
1
461
462.
9
464.
7
466.
4
468.
1
469.
75
471.
4

7
6.5
6
5.5
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1

For this experiment, the set of readings in Table 1 show all the readings obtained during
the heating process of water, whereas the readings in table 2 show the values obtained
during the cooling process . Table 3 contains the steam table values for the range of
pressure with the corresponding temperature values. All readings are taken in S.I. units
and throughout the experiment the range of pressure is kept from 0-14 bars without
exceeding that. These results were then graphed and compared.

18

Discussion of results :
Graph1: Relationship between absolute pressure (bars) and the temperature in degrees
Celsius during heating process.
16

f(x) = 0.07 exp( 0.03 x )

R = 0.98

14
12
10
Abs pressure- bars

8
6
4
2
0
80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Temperature -Celcius

The above graph exhibits the trend shown by the set of readings obtained during the
heating process part of the experiment. As shown by the graph, the values are precise and
a line of best fit can be constructed. Also, as demonstrated by the coefficient of
determination value (R squared) which is 0.98 which is very close to 1, indicating that the
relationship between pressure and temperature is as expected. As the temperature of the
fluid inside the marcet boiler increases, the pressure inside the marcet boiler vessel
increases at an exponential rate as shown by the equation in the graph.

19

Graph2: Relationship between absolute pressure (bars) and the temperature in degrees
Celsius during cooling process
16
14

f(x) = 0.22 exp( 0.02 x )

R = 1

12
10
Abs Pressure-bars

8
6
4
2
0
120

130

140

150

160

170

180

190

200

Temp-celcius

Graph2 shows the plotted points for the cooling process. The relationship between
absolute pressure and temperature is once again linked by an exponential equation as
shown on the graph. the coefficient of determination (R squared) is 0.995 which is very
close to 1. Therefore, deducing from the graph of best fit, the value of pressure increases
exponentially with an increase in temperature of the fluid inside the marcet boiler.

20

Graph3: Relationship between the absolute pressure (bars) and temperature value
obtained from published steam tables (Theoretical Temperature-celsius)
16

f(x) = 0.08 exp( 0.03 x )

R = 0.99

14
12
10
Abs Pressure- bars

8
6
4
2
0
80

100 120 140 160 180 200 220

Theoretical Temperature-celsius

Graph3 relates absolute pressure from the range of 1-15 bars to the value of temperature
obtained from steam table pg4. Some values had to be interpolated from the steam table
as an interval of 0.5 bars had to be taken between each temperature and time reading
taken during the experiment. As predicted, the rate of increase of the absolute pressure
with respect to temperature is exponential. By comparing the coefficient of determination
(R squared) of the heating and cooling graphs to the theoretical temperature graph, the
value is very close with Rsquared 0.01.

21

Graph4: Temperature in kelvin versus time in seconds for the heating process
500
450

f(x) = 0.04x + 373.79

R = 0.99

400
350
300
Temperature-kelvin

250
200
150
100
50
0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Time-sec

This graph shows a linear relationship between temperature and time for the heating
process. The initial temperature is at 373 kelvin and it increases linearly. the slope of the
graph (dT by dt) can be found from the equation of the line of best fit which is 0.041.

22

Graph5: Temperature in kelvin versus time in seconds for the heating process
480
470
f(x) = - 0.03x + 467.33
R = 0.99

460
450
440
Temperature-kelvin

430
420
410
400
390
380
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Time -sec

The graph shows the line of best fit of temperature versus time taken for the cooling
process of the experiment where the two parameters are inversely correlated between the
two parameters is exhibited. As time increases the temperature of the fluid in the marcet
boiler decreases.Hence, the value of the slope of dTby dt for cooling is negative at
-0.025.

23

Evaluation:
The accuracy and precision of all experiments can be improved up to a certain extent as
some human errors can have a massive impact on the readings obtained during the
experimental process. Thus compromising the final findings and conclusions. The
following could be done to optimize the results and minimize errors:

Parallax error the angle at which the temperature and pressure gauge reading was

taken could result in a divergence of the results

Human error the reaction time delay between observing the pressure gauge and

stopping the stop watch

Not allowing all of the air to be expelled completely out of the marcet boiler vessel
can result in fluctuations of the equilibrium temperature and pressure readings. the
temperature reading obtained might be lower than the actual temperature of water

due to the partial pressure of air that was not expelled.

Value of room or ambient temperature was not measured during the experiment but
taken as 25 degrees celsius. Thus the calculations were not that accurate.
.

Conclusion:
Overall the aim of this experiment was fulfilled as the relationship between pressure and
temperature at the equilibrium state was demonstrated by the graphs for both the cooling
and heating process. It was found that the pressure increases exponentially with the
increase of temperature inside the marcet boiler.The experimental and theoretical values
were compared, showing minimal divergence.

24

Bibliography
Beardmore, Roy. RoyMech. 13 September 2011. 10 November
<http://www.roymech.co.uk/Related/Thermos/Thermos_HeatTransfer.html>.
Applied ThermoDynamics 5th Edn, Eastop & McConkey
Thermodynamics, 3rd or 4th Edn, by Y A. Cengel & M A. Boles
Basic Engineering Thermodynamics, by Joel, R.
Steam Tables 5th Edn, Rogers & Mayhew

"Marcet Boiler Experiment". Anti Essays. 17 Nov. 2012

<http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/320243.html>

25

2012