ME354

Thermodynamics 2 Name:

Quiz #1 - T01: ID #:

Problem: A piston-cylinder device contains 0.15 kg of air initially at 2 M P a

and 350 ◦ C. The air is first expanded isothermally to 500 kP a, then
compressed polytropically with a polytropic exponent of 1.2 to the initial
pressure, and finally compressed at the constant pressure to the initial state.
Determine the boundary work for each process and the net work of the
cycle.

1. If air properties are calculated at 300 K, then from Table A-2a

R = 0.287 kJ/kg · K

k = 1.4

2. If air properties are calculated at 350 K, then from Table A-2b

R = cp − cv = 1.008 − 0.721 = 0.287 kJ/kg · K

k = 1.398

Since there is very little difference, I will proceed with case 1.

Isothermal Expansion

mRT (0.15 kg)(0.287 kJ/kg · K)(350 + 273.15) K 1 mark

V1 = = = 0.01341 m3
P1 1 kJ
2000 kP a ×
1 kP a · m3
mRT (0.15 kg)(0.287 kJ/kg · K)(350 + 273.15) K 1 mark
V2 = = = 0.05365 m3
P2 1 kJ
500 kP a ×
1 kP a · m3
The work for an isothermal process is given as
     
V2 3 1 kJ 0.05365
W1−2 = P1 V1 ln = (2000 kP a)(0.01341 m ) ln
V1 1 kP a · m3 0.01341
= 37.2 kJ ⇐ 2 marks
Polytropic Compression
We know for a polytropic process that P v n = constant, which for a constant mass also implies that
P V n = constant.

P2 V2n = P3 V3n −→ (500 kP a)(0.05365 m3 )1.2 = (2000 kP a)V31.2

or 1 mark

V3 = 0.0169 m3

 
P3 V3 − P2 V2 (2000 kP a)(0.0169 m3 ) − (500 kP a)(0.05364 m3 ) 1 kJ
W2−3 = =
1−n 1 − 1.2 1 kP a · m3
2 marks
= −34.9 kJ ⇐

Constant Pressure Compression

The work at constant pressure is known as P dV work, therefore
 
1 kJ
W3−1 = P3 (V1 − V3 ) = (2000 kP a)(0.01341 m3 − 0.0169 m3 )
1 kP a · m3
= −6.98 kJ ⇐ 2 marks

Net Work

Wnet = W1−2 + W2−3 + W3−1 = 37.2 + (−34.9) + (−6.98) = −4.68 kJ ⇐ 1 mark