Chapter 4 Control Volume Analysis Using Energy

128

which is a first-order, ordinary differential equation with constant coefficients. The solution is

5 # C exp a!

!1.4t
b
rA

where C is a constant of integration. The solution can be verified by substitution into the differential equation.
To evaluate C, use the initial condition: at t 0, L 0. Thus, C !5.0, and the solution can be written as
5.03 1 ! exp 1!1.4t"rA2 4

L
1000 kg/m2 and A

Substituting r

0.2 m2 results in
L

531 ! exp 1!0.007t2 4

Height, m

This relation can be plotted by hand or using appropriate software. The result is

20

40

60 80
Time, s

100 120
Figure E4.2b

From the graph, we see that initially the liquid height increases rapidly and then levels out. After about 100 s, the height
stays nearly constant with time. At this point, the rate of water flow into the barrel nearly equals the rate of flow out of the
barrel. L S 5.

Alternatively, this differential equation can be solved using Interactive Thermodynamics: IT. The differential equation can
be expressed as
der(L,t) + (1.4 * L)/(rho * A) = 7/(rho * A)
rho = 1000 // kg/m3
A = 0.2 // m2
where der(L,t) is dL dt, rho is density , and A is area. Using the Explore button, set the initial condition at L
sweep t from 0 to 200 in steps of 0.5. Then, the plot can be constructed using the Graph button.

0, and

"

4.2 Conservation of Energy for a

Control Volume

In this section, the rate form of the energy balance for control volumes is obtained. The
energy rate balance plays an important role in subsequent sections of this book.
! 4.2.1 Developing the Energy Rate Balance for a Control Volume
We begin by noting that the control volume form of the energy rate balance can be derived
by an approach closely paralleling that considered in the box of Sec. 4.1, where the control
volume mass rate balance is obtained by transforming the closed system form. The present

4.2 Conservation of Energy for a Control Volume

Energy transfers can occur
by heat and work

W
Inlet i

Ve2
+ gze
ue + ___
2

mi

me

Control
volume
Vi2
ui + ___
+ gzi
2
zi

Exit e
ze
Dashed line defines
the control volume boundary
Figure 4.4

Figure used to develop Eq. 4.9.

development proceeds less formally by arguing that, like mass, energy is an extensive property, so it too can be transferred into or out of a control volume as a result of mass crossing the boundary. Since this is the principal difference between the closed system and control volume forms, the control volume energy rate balance can be obtained by modifying
the closed system energy rate balance to account for these energy transfers.
Accordingly, the conservation of energy principle applied to a control volume states:
time rate of change
of the energy
D contained within T
the control volume at
time t

net rate at which

net rate at which
net rate of energy
energy is being
energy is being
transfer into the
D transferred in T ! D transferred out T " D control volume T
by heat transfer
by work at
accompanying
at time t
time t
mass flow

For the one-inlet one-exit control volume with one-dimensional flow shown in Fig. 4.4
the energy rate balance is
#
#
V2i
V2e
#
#
Q ! W " mi aui "
" gzi b ! me aue "
" gze b
(4.9)
2
2
#
#
where Ecv denotes the energy of the control volume at time t. The terms Q and W account,
respectively, for the net rate of energy transfer by heat and work across the boundary of
the control volume at t. The underlined terms account for the rates of transfer of internal,
kinetic, and potential energy of the entering and exiting streams. If there is no mass flow
in or out, the respective mass flow rates vanish and the underlined terms of Eq. 4.9 drop
out. The equation then reduces to the rate form of the energy balance for closed systems:
Eq. 2.37.
dEcv
dt

EVALUATING WORK FOR A CONTROL VOLUME

Next, we will place Eq. 4.9 in an alternative form that is more convenient for subsequent
ap#
plications. This will be accomplished primarily by recasting the work term W, which
represents the net rate of energy transfer by work across all portions of the boundary of the
control volume.
Because work is always done on or by a control volume
where matter flows across the
#
boundary, it is convenient to separate the work term W into two contributions: One contribution is the work associated with the fluid pressure as mass is introduced at inlets and

129

130

Chapter 4 Control Volume Analysis Using Energy

#
removed at exits. The other contribution, denoted by Wcv, includes all other work effects,
such as those associated with rotating shafts, displacement of the boundary, and electrical
effects.
Consider the work at an exit e associated with the pressure of the flowing matter. Recall from Eq. 2.13 that the rate of energy transfer by work can be expressed as the product of a force and the velocity at the point of application of the force. Accordingly, the
rate at which work is done at the exit by the normal force (normal to the exit area in the
direction of flow) due to pressure is the product of the normal force, peAe, and the fluid
velocity, Ve. That is
by work from the control

time rate of energy transfer

volume at exit e

1 peAe 2Ve

(4.10)

where pe is the pressure, Ae is the area, and Ve is the velocity at exit e, respectively. A similar expression can be written for the rate of energy transfer by work into the control volume
at inlet i.
#
With these considerations, the work term W of the energy rate equation, Eq. 4.9, can be
written as
#
#
W Wcv ! 1 peAe 2 Ve " 1 piAi 2Vi
(4.11)

flow work

where, in accordance with the sign convention for work, the term at the inlet has a negative
sign because energy is transferred into the control volume there. A positive sign precedes the
work term at the exit because energy is transferred out of the control volume there. With
#
AV mv from Eq. 4.4b, the above expression for work can be written as
#
#
#
#
W Wcv ! me 1 peve 2 " mi 1 pivi 2
(4.12)
#
#
where mi and me are the mass flow rates and vi and ve are the specific volumes evaluated at
#
#
the inlet and exit, respectively. In Eq. 4.12, the terms mi( pivi) and me(peve) account for the
work associated with the pressure at
# the inlet and exit, respectively. They are commonly
referred to as flow work. The term Wcv accounts for all other energy transfers by work across
the boundary of the control volume.

4.2.2 Forms of the Control Volume Energy Rate Balance

Substituting Eq. 4.12 in Eq. 4.9 and collecting all terms referring to the inlet and the exit
into separate expressions, the following form of the control volume energy rate balance
results
#
#
V2e
V2i
#
#
Qcv " Wcv ! mi aui ! pivi !
! gzi b " me aue ! peve !
! gze b
(4.13)
2
2
#
The subscript cv has been added to Q to emphasize that this is the heat transfer rate over
the boundary (control surface) of the control volume.
The last two terms of Eq. 4.13 can be rewritten using the specific enthalpy h introduced
in Sec. 3.3.2. With h u ! pv, the energy rate balance becomes
dEcv
dt

dEcv
dt

#
#
V2e
V2i
#
#
Qcv " Wcv ! mi ahi !
! gzi b " me ahe !
! gze b
2
2

(4.14)

The appearance of the sum u ! pv in the control volume energy equation is the principal
reason for introducing enthalpy previously. It is brought in solely as a convenience: The algebraic form of the energy rate balance is simplified by the use of enthalpy and, as we have
seen, enthalpy is normally tabulated along with other properties.

4.3 Analyzing Control Volumes at Steady State

131

In practice there may be several locations on the boundary through which mass enters or
exits. This can be accounted for by introducing summations as in the mass balance. Accordingly, the energy rate balance is
#
dEcv
" Qcv
dt

#
V2i
#
Wcv ! a mi ahi !
! gzi b
2
i

V2e
#
ah
!
! gze b
m
e
e
a
2
e

(4.15)

Equation 4.15 is an accounting balance for the energy of the control volume. It states that
the rate of energy increase or decrease within the control volume equals the difference between the rates of energy transfer in and out across the boundary. The mechanisms of energy transfer are heat and work, as for closed systems, and the energy that accompanies the
mass entering and exiting.
OTHER FORMS

As for the case of the mass rate balance, the energy rate balance can be expressed in terms
of local properties to obtain forms that are more generally applicable. Thus, the term Ecv(t),
representing the total energy associated with the control volume at time t, can be written as
a volume integral
Ecv 1t2 "

re dV "
V

r au !

V2
! gzb dV
2

(4.16)

Similarly, the terms accounting for the energy transfers accompanying mass flow and flow
work at inlets and exits can be expressed as shown in the following form of the energy rate
balance
d
dt

#
re dV " Qcv
V

#
Wcv ! a c
i

ah !

V2
! gzb rVn dA d
2
i

(4.17)

V2
a c ah ! 2 ! gzb r Vn dA d
e
e
A
Additional
forms of the energy rate balance can be obtained by expressing the heat transfer
#
rate Qcv as the integral of the heat flux over the boundary of the control volume, and the work
#
Wcv in terms of normal and shear stresses at the moving portions of the boundary.
In principle, the change in the energy of a control volume over a time period can be
obtained by integration of the energy rate balance with respect to time. Such integrations require information about the time dependences of the work and heat transfer rates, the various
mass flow rates, and the states at which mass enters and leaves the control volume. Examples of this type of analysis are presented in Sec. 4.4. In Sec. 4.3 to follow, we consider forms
that the mass and energy rate balances take for control volumes at steady state, for these are
frequently used in practice.

4.3 Analyzing Control Volumes at

Steady State
In this section steady-state forms of the mass and energy rate balances are developed and
applied to a variety of cases of engineering interest. The steady-state forms obtained do not
apply to the transient startup or shutdown periods of operation of such devices, but only to
periods of steady operation. This situation is commonly encountered in engineering.

energy rate balance

METHODOLOGY
UPDATE

Equation 4.15 is the most

general form of the conservation of energy principle for control volumes
used in this book. It serves
as the starting point for
applying the conservation
of energy principle to control volumes in problem
solving.

132

Chapter 4 Control Volume Analysis Using Energy

4.3.1 Steady-State Forms of the Mass and

Energy Rate Balances
For a control volume at steady state, the conditions of the mass within the control volume and
at the boundary do not vary with time. The mass flow rates and the rates of energy transfer
by heat and work are also constant with time. There can be no accumulation of mass within
the control volume, so dmcv dt 0 and the mass rate balance, Eq. 4.2, takes the form
#
a mi

1mass rate in2

i

Furthermore, at steady state dEcv dt

0

#
a me

(4.18)

1mass rate out2

e

0, so Eq. 4.15 can be written as

#
#
V2e
V2i
#
#
# gzi b " a me ahe #
# gze b
Qcv " Wcv # a mi ahi #
2
2
e
i

(4.19a)

Alternatively
#
V2i
#
Qcv # a mi ahi #
# gzi b
2
i
1energy rate in2

#
V2e
#
Wcv # a me ahe #
# gze b
2
e
1energy rate out2

(4.19b)

Equation 4.18 asserts that at steady state the total rate at which mass enters the control volume equals the total rate at which mass exits. Similarly, Eqs. 4.19 assert that the total rate
at which energy is transferred into the control volume equals the total rate at which energy
is transferred out.
Many important applications involve one-inlet, one-exit control volumes at steady state.
It is instructive to apply the mass and energy rate balances to this special case. The mass rate
#
#
balance reduces simply to m1 m 2. That is, the mass flow rate must be the same at the
#
exit, 2, as it is at the inlet, 1. The common mass flow rate is designated simply by m. Next,
applying the energy rate balance and factoring the mass flow rate gives
#
#
1V21 " V22 2
#
Qcv " Wcv # m c 1h1 " h2 2 #
# g1z1 " z2 2 d
2

(4.20a)

Or, dividing by the mass flow rate

#
#
1V21 " V22 2
Wcv
Qcv
# g1z1 " z2 2
# " # # 1h1 " h2 2 #
m
m
2

(4.20b)

The enthalpy, kinetic energy, and potential energy terms all appear in Eqs. 4.20 as differences between their values at the inlet and exit. This illustrates that the datums used to
assign values to specific enthalpy, velocity, and elevation
cancel,
provided the same ones are
#
#
#
#
used at the inlet and exit. In Eq. 4.20b, the ratios Qcv!m and Wcv!m are rates of energy transfer
per unit mass flowing through the control volume.
The foregoing steady-state forms of the energy rate balance relate only energy transfer
quantities evaluated at the boundary of the control volume. No details concerning properties
within the control volume are required by, or can be determined with, these equations. When
applying the energy rate balance in any of its forms, it is necessary to use the same units for
all terms in the equation. For instance, every term in Eq. 4.20b must have a unit such as kJ/kg
or Btu/lb. Appropriate unit conversions are emphasized in examples to follow.