AE 211 Engineering Thermodynamics

Tutorial Problems

1. (a) Consider a two-part process with an expansion from 0.1 to 0.2 m3 at a constant
pressure of 150 kPa followed by an expansion from 0.2 to 0.4 m3 with a linearly rising
pressure from 150 kPa ending at 300 kPa. Show the process in a PV diagram and
find the boundary work.
(b) A helium gas is heated at constant volume from 100 kPa, 300 K to 500 K. A
following process expands the gas at constant pressure to three times the initial
volume. What is the specific work in the combined process?

2. A piston/cylinder arrangement shown in Fig. 1 initially contains air at 150 kPa and
400 C. The setup is allowed to cool to the ambient temperature of 20 C such that the
piston moves down in a isobaric process.
i. Is the piston resting on the stops in the final state?
ii. What is the final pressure in the cylinder?
iii. What is the specific work done by the air during the process?

Fig. 1

3. (a) Consider a light bulb that is on. Explain where there are rates of work and heat
transfer modes.
(b) Consider a window-mounted air-conditioning unit used in the summer to cool
incoming air. Examine the system boundaries for rates of work and heat transfer,
including signs.

4. (a) Find the rate of conduction heat transfer through a 1.5-cm-thick hardwood board,
k = 0.16 W/m K, with a temperature difference between the two sides of 20 C.

(b) A 2-m2 window has a surface temperature of 15 C, and the outside wind is
blowing air at 2 C across it with a convection heat transfer coefficient of h=125 W/m2
K. What is the total heat transfer loss?

(c) A log of burning wood in the fireplace has a surface temperature of 450 C.
Assume that the emissivity is 1 (a perfect black body) and find the radiant emission of
energy per unit surface area.
5. A tank has a volume of 1 m3 with oxygen at 15 C, 300 kPa. Another tank contains 4
kg oxygen at 60 C, 500 kPa. The two tanks are connected by a pipe and valve that is
opened, allowing the whole system to come to a single equilibrium state with the
ambient at 20 C. Find the final pressure and the heat transfer.

6. A cylinder with a piston restrained by a linear spring contains 2 kg of carbon dioxide

at 500 kPa and 400 C. It is cooled to 40 C, at which point the pressure is 300 kPa.
Calculate the heat transfer for the process.