LABORATORY REPORT

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY IV (EP211)

NUMBER OF EXPERIMENT: 1

EXPERIMENT TITLE: BRIEF DEPRESSURIZATION

GROUP NUMBER: 1

STUDENT NAME: KHAW LI HONG

STUDENT ID: 1001541556

TUTORS NAME: WAN ADEEBAH BINTI WAN MAHMOOD

UCSI UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY & BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : DATE OF SUBMISSION :

25-1-2017 8-2-2017

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

No. Title Pages

1 Objective 3

2 Introduction 3

3 Apparatus 4

4 Procedure 4

5 Results and Graph 4

6 Discussion 5

7 Conclusion 6

8 Reference 6

9 Appendix A 7

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EXPERIMENT 4 : DETERMINATION OF RATIO OF HEAT CAPACITY

OBJECTIVES:

To determine the ratio of heat capacity and compares it to the theoretical value.
To determine the heat capacity ratio using the data obtained.
To obtain the pressure reading accurately.

INTRODUCTION:

In thermal physics and thermodynamics, the heat capacity ratio or adiabatic

index or ratio of specific heats or Poisson constant, is the ratio of the heat capacity at constant
pressure (CP) to heat capacity at constant volume (CV). It is sometimes also known as
the isentropic expansion factor and is denoted by (gamma) for an ideal gas, the isentropic
exponent for a real gas.

Cp
=
Cv

The ratio of heat capacity is calculated using equation:

C p ln P iln Pm
=
C v ln Piln P f

where C is the heat capacity and c the specific heat capacity (heat capacity per unit mass) of a
gas. The suffixes P and V refer to constant pressure and constant volume conditions,
respectively.
As temperature increases, higher energy rotational and vibrational states become
accessible to molecular gases, thus increasing the number of degrees of freedom and
lowering . For a real gas, both CP and CV increase with increasing temperature, while
continuing to differ from each other by a fixed constant (as above, CP = CV + nR) which
reflects the relatively constant PV difference in work done during expansion, for constant
pressure vs. constant volume conditions. Thus, the ratio of the two values, , decreases with
increasing temperature.
This experiment is likely to be safe and more convenient to demonstrate
thermodynamic properties. The perfect gas expansion unit have two vessel, one is for
pressurized chamber and the other one is for vacuum chamber. This apparatus also equip with
pressurized pump and vacuum pump and several valve which can connect between chambers
and also to the surrounding. The chamber is made from glass that can withstand maximum
pressure of apparatus can operate.

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APPARATUS:
Perfect gas expansion unit

Figure 1: Perfect gas expansion unit

PROCEDURE:
1. General start-up procedures as stated in appendix A was performed. Make sure all
valves are fully closed.
2. The hose from compressive pump to pressurized chamber was connected.
3. The compressive pump was switched on and the pressure inside chamber was allowed
to increase up to about 150kPa. Then the pump was switched off and the hose was
removed from the chamber.
4. The pressure reading inside the chamber was monitored until it stabilized. The
pressure reading PT1 and temperature TT1 were recorded.
5. Valve was fully opened and back to closed position after few seconds. The pressure
reading PT1 and temperature TT1 were monitored and recorded until it was stable.
6. The ratio of heat capacity was determined and compared with theoretical value.

RESULTS
After expansion
Before expansion
Intermediate stage Final stage
Pressure (kPa) 150.0 128.3 133.2

CALCULATION

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 Cp
Ratio of h eat capacity , = ,
Cv

where theoretical=1.40007

C p ln P iln Pm
=
C v ln Piln P f

where : Pi=Initial pressure

Pm=Intermediate pressure

Pf =Final pressure

Using the data obtained, the ratio of heat capacity is:

C p ln ( 150.0 )ln ( 128.3)

= =1.31554
C v ln ( 150.0 )ln ( 133.2)

1.400071.31554
Percentage error= 100 =6.43
1.31554

DISCUSSION:

In this experiment, the ratio of heat capacity of air in the vessel was calculated using
the pressure readings obtained. The pressure reading obtained from the experiment was
150.0, 128.3, and 133.2 for before, intermediate, and final stages. The value of heat capacity
ratio was 1.12859 after calculated using the mathematical equation. From this result, the
percentage error that obtained was 6.43%, where the theoretical value was 1.40007.

The percentage error 6.43% was an acceptable value for this experiment as there were
few elements that caused this error. First, there must be continuous drop of pressure once the
motor was shut down, and after the valve has been closed for the final reading which caused
difficulties in taking the reading of pressure. Secondly, the intermediate reading right after the
valve has been closed was difficult to be determined by human eye as the reading drop way
too fast. Thus, the readings that obtained by human might contains error.

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 Besides, the gas that we used during the experiment was real gas instead of ideal gas.
Cp
The equation = can only be used if the system is adiabatic and using gases that are
Cv

very similar to ideal gas to obtain theoretical value of 1.40007. There must be intermolecular
forces between gas molecules and lost of energy during the experiment.

CONCLUSION:

The experiment was successful as the three objectives have been achieved. There was
a limitation for human to obtain the value of heat capacity ratio accurately but the result
obtain was just having 6.43% percentage error compare to theoretical value which is
acceptable.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Each experiment must do the start-up and shut-down experiment first in order to make
sure there are no gas left in the chamber.
2. Vessels must be opened and closed carefully to make sure to avoid mistakes.
3. The perfect gas expansion unit must be placed on stable surface and no vibration.

REFERENCES:

CikTiemNgagiman (2012). Perfect gas expansion report. Perfect gas expansion.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/131470670/perfect-gas-expansion
Jason Smarker (2010). Introduction. Heat Capacity Ratios: Comparing Results from
Various Experimental and Calculation Methods to Published Values.
http://www.teacherpage.com/trindaw/docs/final_report.pdf

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 APPENDIX A: PERFECT GAS EXPANSION UNIT

General Start-up Procedures

5. Connect the equipment to single phase power supply and then switch on the unit.
6. Fully open all valves and check the pressure reading on the panel. This is to make sure that
the chambers are under atmospheric pressure.
7. Then, close all the valves.
8. Connect the pipe from compressive port of the pump to pressurized chamber or connect the
pipe from vacuum port of the pump to vacuum chamber.
9. Now, the unit is ready for use.

General Shut-down Procedures

1. Switch off the pump and remove both pipes from the chambers.
2. Fully open the valves to release the air inside the chambers.

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3. Switch off the main switch and power supply.