University of Petroleum & Studies, Dehradun

Assignment 1

Subject: Thermodynamics & Heat Engine

Q.1 An ideal gas at a given state expands to a fixed final volume first at constant pressure and
then at constant temperature. For which case is the work done greater?

Q.2 Nitrogen at an initial state of 300 K, 150 kPa, and 0.2 m3 is compressed slowly is an
isothermal process to a final pressure of 800 kPa. Determine the work done during this process.

Q.3 The volume of 1 kg of helium in a piston-cylinder device is initially 5 m3. Now helium is
compressed to 2 m3 while its pressure is maintained constant at 180 kPa. Determine the initial
and final temperature of helium as well as the work required to compress it, in kJ.

Q.4 A piston-cylinder device initially contains 0.07 m3 of nitrogen at 130 kPa and 120oC. The
nitrogen is now expanded polytropically to a state of 100 kPa and 100oC. Determine the
boundary work done during this process.

Q.5 A piston-cylinder device initially contains 0.07 m3 of nitrogen gas at 130 kPa and 180oC.
The nitrogen is now expanded to a pressure of 80 kPa polytropically with a polytropic exponent
whose value is equal to the specific heat ratio (called isentropic expansion). Determine the final
temperature and the boundary work done during process.

Q.6 A gas compressed from an initial volume of 0.42 m3 to a final volume of 0.12 m3. During
the quasi-equilibrium process, the pressure change with the volume according to the relation
P= aV + b, where a= -1200 kPa/m3 and b= 600 kPa. Calculate the work done during the process
(a) by plotting the process on a P-V diagram and finding the area under the process curve and
(b) by performing the necessary integration.

Q.7 A mass of 1.5 kg of air at 120 kPa and 24oC is contained in a gas-tight, frictionless piston-
cylinder device. The air is now compressed to a final pressure of 600 kPa. During the process,
heat is transferred from the air such that the temperature inside the cylinder remains constant.
Calculate the work input during the process.

Q.8 A frictionless piston-cylinder device contains 5 kg of nitrogen at 100 kPa and 250 K.
nitrogen is now compressed slowly according to the relation PV1.4= constant until it reaches a
final temperature of 360 k. calculate the work input during this process.
Q.9 During an expansion process, the pressure of a gas changes from 100 to 700 kPa according
to the relation P= aV+b, where a = 1220 kPa/m3 and b is a constant. If the initial volume of gas is
0.2 m3, calculate the work done during the process.

Q.10 A frictionless piston-cylinder device contains 0.15 kg of air initially a 2MPa and 350oC.
The air is first expanded isothermally to 500 kPa, the expanded polytropically with a polytropic
exponent of 1.2 to the initial pressure 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.