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Intermediate Thermodynamics Tutorials – Bachelor 2 – N’TSOUKPOE K. Edem – 2021

Intermediate Thermodynamics: tutorials

Level : Bachelor 2 Lecturer : N’TSOUKPOE K. Edem

1. Marie-Laure pose sur une plaque de cuisinière électrique, une casserole en

aluminium de 350 g contenant 3 l d'eau à 25 °C. Cette eau doit être portée à 60 [°C] en
5 min pour que Gohou puisse prendre sa douche à temps et sortir avant que Clémentine ne
rentre à la maison. La puissance électrique de la plaque est de 2,5 kW. Gohou pourrait-il
rejoindre Bohiri à temps sans croiser Clémentine ?
a. Répondre à cette question en admettant :
 qu’il n’y a pas de pertes thermiques.
 admettant que 20% de l’énergie dissipée par la plaque est perdue.
b. Quelle est la dépense correspondante au chauffage électrique de l’eau ? (Cas où il
n’y a pas de pertes)
c. Si Marie-Laure utilise un foyer amélioré, quelle quantité de bois lui faudra-t-il,
sachant que la combustion de 1 kg de bois libère en moyenne 18 MJ et que l’efficacité du
foyer amélioré est de 20% ? Quelle est la dépense énergétique correspondante ?
cpeau : 1 cal·g-1·K-1; cpAl : 907 J·kg-1·K-1; Coût de l’électricité : 75 F·kWh-1, Coût du bois :
500 F·kg-1.

2. How many joules are needed to raise the temperature of copper block of 100 g
from 10 °C to 100 °C? The same amount of heat is used to heat 100 g of aluminium (initially
at 10 °C). Which material will get hotter? Find the molar heat capacity of Cu and Al. Specific
heat capacities: 64Cu: 389 J·kg-1·K-1; 27Al = 907 J·kg-1·K-1.
R/ ΔTCu = 90 °C, ΔTAl = 38.6 °C, copper; Cpm/Cu = 24.9 J·mol-1·K-1, Cpm/Al = 24.5 J·mol-1·K-1. This
is in accordance with the Dulong–Petit law, which states that the heat capacity of a mole of many solid
elements is about 3R ≈ 24.9 J·mol-1·K-1.
3. Ouedraogo manipulates 100 g of ice, initially at -5 °C. She wants to heat up this ice
up to 100 °C and then vaporise entirely the obtained water, at atmospheric pressure. You are
asked to evaluate the required heat that is necessary for the operation. Calculate the share
(percentage) of the heat of fusion, the heat of vaporisation and the sensible heat in the total
heat required. Conclude. Data:
Constant-mass heat capacity of liquid-water: cpwater,liq = 4.18 kJ·kg-1·K-1
Constant-mass heat capacity of solid-water: (ice): cpice = 2.09 kJ·kg-1·K-1
Latent heat of fusion of ice: lf = 333 kJ·kg-1
Latent heat of vaporisation of water at 100 °C under 1 atm: lv = 2256 kJ·kg-1
R/ 1 045 J + 33 300 J + 41 800 J + 225 600 J = 301 745 J; 11%, 75% and 14%.

4. Deux récipients reliés par un tuyau de

volume négligeable contiennent des masses d’air
initialement séparées par un robinet, dans les
états tels que présentés sur la figure. On ouvre le
robinet et l’équilibre thermique s’établit à 20 °C
lorsque les deux masses se sont mélangées. Quelle est la pression finale dans le système ?
5. A copper block of 150 g is taken from an oven and placed in 250 g of water
contained in a vessel of 500 g. The water and the vessel were initially at 25 °C. The final
temperature of the obtained system “copper block + water + vessel” is 55 °C. Assuming that
there is no heat loss to the surroundings, what is the initial temperature of the copper block?
Calculate the change in entropy of the copper block, the water and the vessel. Calculate the

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total entropy change. Is the process reversible? Specific heat capacities: Copper:
c1 = 0.093 cal·g-1·°C-1; Water: c2 = 1 cal·g-1·°C-1; Vessel material: c3 = 0.155 cal·g-1·°C-1.
R/ 759 °C; ΔS1 = -66,8 J·K-1; ΔS2 = 100,2 J·K-1; ΔS3 = 31,1 J·K-1; ΔST = -64,4 J·K-1

6. Votre camarade Fotseu a une tasse contenant 200 g de café à 90 °C, trop chaude
à boire. Quelle température obtient-il s’il ajoute à son café 100 g d’eau (liquide) prise à
25 °C? Et s’il utilisait 200 g de glace prise à -10 °C au lieu de l’eau liquide ? On donne la
chaleur latente de fusion de la glace: lf = 333 kJ∙kg-1. Capacité thermique massique du café
assimilée à l’eau liquide: 4,18 kJ·kg-1·K-1; Capacité thermique massique de l’eau solide
(glace): 2,09 kJ·kg-1·K-1.

7. Consider 2 different states: 1 (P1, V1) and 2 (P2, V2) of a constant mass of gas.
The gas undergoes a process from state 1 to state 2 in two different ways:
 1  4 as an isobaric process and then 4  2 as an isochoric process
 1  3 as an isochoric process and then 3  2 as an isobaric process
Calculate, in both cases, the quantity of work performed. Conclude.
For calculations: P1 = 8 atm, P2 = 1 atm, V1 = 1 l, V2 = 8 l.
R/ W142 = - 5674.2J; W132 = - 709.3 J
8. A mass of air is initially in the following conditions: P1 = 1 atm; V1 = 10 l; T1 = 0 °C.
It is taken around a cycle consisting of the following processes:
A (P1, V1) → B (P2, V1) → C (P2, V2) → D (P1, V2) with P2 = 2P1 and V2 = 2V1.
A → B: isochoric; B → C: isobaric; C → D: isochoric; D → A: isobaric. Calculate:
 the net work done on the air during one complete cycle (ABCDA).
 the temperature of the air at points B, C and D.
 the heat added or removed from the air during each process.
For calculations: γ = 1.42

9. Ten litres of diatomic gas at atmospheric pressure (point A) is compressed

isothermally to a volume of 1 litre (point B) and then allowed to expand adiabatically to
10 litres (point C). For the diatomic gas: Cvm = 2.5·R and Cpm = 3.5·R
Determine the pressure at the end of the compression (PB) and at the end of the
expansion (PC). Sketch the process on a PV diagram and determine the total work performed
by the gas, the total heat transfer and the total change in internal energy.
R/ PB = 10 atm = 1 013 250 Pa; PC = 0.398 atm = 40 338 atm; WAB = 2 333 J, WBC = −1 525 J,
Wtot = 808 J; QAB = −2 333 J, QBC = 0, Qtot = −2 333 J; ΔUAB = 0, ΔUBC = −1 525 J, ΔUtot = −1 525 J.

10. One mole of an ideal gas, in its initial state (P0, V0), is taken through the following
processes:
 isobaric expansion to state (V1, T1), where V1 is assumed to be known
 isothermal compression to state (V0, P1)
 isochoric process which brings the gas to its original state.
a. Calculate T1 and P1 and draw a P-V diagram that depicts this cycle
b. Calculate the heat transfer during each process
c. Calculate the total work involved
d. Compare results of b. and c.
For calculations: P0 = 1 atm; V0 = 22.4 litres; V1/V0 = 2; γ = 1.4

11. A gaseous mixture with a mass of 1 kg is at a temperature of 20 °C and a

pressure of 9.8·104 N·m-2. It is taken around the following cycle:
 adiabatic compression from P = 9.8·104 N·m-2 to P = 19.6·104 N·m-2
 heating at constant pressure during which 20 kcal is transferred to the mass of
gas in a reversible way

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 adiabatic expansion back to initial volume

 cooling at constant volume back to initial pressure
Plot the cycle on a P-V diagram after calculating the coordinates of the intersection points of
the lines of the cycle. What is the obtained amount of work?
For calculations: cp = 0.25 cal·g-1·K-1; γ = 1.4
R/ VA = VD = 0.893 m3, VB = 0.544 m3, VC = 0.666 m3, PD = 130 033 Pa; WAB = 47 924 J,
WBC = −23 886 J, WCD = −36 114 J; WDA = 0, Wtot = −12 076 J.
12. Calculate the efficiency of a reversible cycle, consisting of four thermodynamic
processes: AB: isobaric (P = 4 atm), BC: isochoric (V = 4 l), CD: isobaric (P = 2 atm), DA:
isochoric (V = 1 l). The considered thermodynamic fluid is a monoatomic ideal gas.

13. A mole of an ideal gas expands along the straight line joining 1 to 2 (Fig. 1). It is
then compressed isothermally from 2 back to 1. Calculate the mechanical work performed
along this cycle. Calculate the heat added or removed from the gas during each process.
Deduce the thermal efficiency of the cycle.
Pressure (atm)
1 Fig. 1
3

1 2

Volume (liters)

10 30
14. Ideal gas process
a. Isobaric process: diesel engine
In a heavy-duty diesel engine – a compression-ignition engines -, combustion is slow
compared to the piston speed. Experience shows that the pressure remains practically
constant during the combustion-expansion phase. Heat supplied by the fuel during
combustion stroke is 2000 kJ·kg-1 of air. Air-fuel mixture is assumed as an ideal gas with a
constant specific heat capacity of cp = 1 kJ·kg-1·K-1 and a ratio of specific heats of γ = 1.4.
Consider combustion as an external heat input. The temperature at the beginning of
compression stroke is 700 °C. Determine the temperature increase, the volumetric ratio of
this expansion α = Vfinal/Vinitial and the expansion work.
b. Isochoric process: petrol/gasoline engine
Unlike the previous case, the combustion is very rapid and it can be assumed that the
piston has not moved during this phase. Same assumptions on air-fuel mixture and same
values as in a. a part from the fact that the temperature before combustion T1 = 400 °C (the
compression ratio of petrol/gasoline engines is significantly smaller than that of diesel
engines). Calculate the work output per kg air during the combustion, the temperature and
the pressure ratio (ρ = Pfinal/Pinitial) at the end of the combustion.
c. Adiabatic and reversible process: compression and expansion of spark-
ignition engines
The compression ratio is ρ = V1/V2. The gas has the same characteristics as defined
above. By using the second law, show that an adiabatic and reversible process is and
isentropic process. Deduce from this that PVγ = constant. Determine the temperature and the
pressure at the end of the compression process if P1 = 1 bar and T1 = 20 °C, ρ = 8 (petrol
engine) and ρ = 20 (diesel engine). Determine the compression work done per kg air.

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d. Isothermal process: Stirling engine

The compression ratio for a Stirling engine is 10. Calculate the work and the heat
transfer during compression (the initial temperature is 20 °C and the gas is air). Compare the
required work for the same isentropic compression as in c.

The actual measured value of thermal efficiency for each of these types of engines is
approximately half of the value obtained from the above calculation. The above calculations
do not take into account the effects of heat losses, frictional losses and gas dynamics.

15. How much warmer is the water at the bottom of Niagara Falls than at the top,
knowing that the height is 50 m? Assume that the water does not exchange heat with the
surrounding when falling.

16. A gas expands through a turbine. The initial enthalpy of the gas is 250 kcal·kg-1
and its velocity at the inlet of the turbine is 100 m·s-1. The enthalpy of the gas at exit from the
turbine is 79.4 kcal·kg-1 and its velocity is considered null. The flow rate of the gas is 10 kg·s-
1
.Calculate the mechanical power turbine developed by the turbine, assuming that the
process is adiabatic.
R/ Ẇ = −7.18 MW
q = 25 kJ·kg-1
17. You would like to compress air from ambient P2 = 6 atm
T2 = 165 °C
conditions (1 atm; 30 °C) to 6 atm and 165 °C with a
compressor (Figure 2). The mass flow rate of air is
0.125 kg·s-1. A heat loss of 25 kJ·kg-1 of air is assumed Air
during the compression. Assuming the changes in kinetic .
m = 0.125 kg·s-1 .
and potential energies are negligible, determine the power W=?
of the compressor. Air is considered as an ideal gas.
Specific heat capacity of air at constant pressure:
P1 = 1 atm
1 kJ·kg-1·K-1. T1 = 30 °C
R/ Ẇ = 20 kW

18. Un gaz, considéré comme parfait, entre dans un compresseur adiabatique à

30 °C avec une vitesse de 20 m·s-1. Il en sort à 200 °C à une vitesse de 150 m·s-1. La section
d’entrée du compresseur fait 92 cm2. Quel est le débit volumique du gaz à l’entrée du
compresseur ? En déduire le débit massique du gaz de gaz comprimé. Déterminer la
puissance mécanique du compresseur. Masse volumique du gaz à l’entrée du compresseur :
1,2 g·L-1. Capacité thermique massique du gaz à pression constante : 1 kJ·kg-1·K-1.
R/ Ṽ = 0,184 m3·s-1; ṁ = 0,2208 kg·s-1; Ẇ = 39 976 W

19. Un débit d’air constant de 5 kg·s-1 entre dans un compresseur sous une pression
de 1 bar et à une vitesse de 7,5 m·s-1 avec un volume spécifique de 0,80 m3·kg-1. L’air sort
du compresseur sous une pression de 7,5 bar, à une vitesse de 5 m·s-1 et avec un volume
spécifique de 0,15 m3·kg-1. L’énergie interne de l’air sortant du compresseur est supérieure
de 92 kJ·kg-1 à celle de l’air entrant. Un échangeur de chaleur entourant le cylindre du
compresseur permet d’extraire 1 ch de l’air. Calculer la puissance nécessaire pour entrainer
le compresseur ainsi que l’aire des sections transversales à son entrée et sortie.
R/ Ẇ = 623 158 W

20. Dans un bureau où trois enseignants ont pris place, le système de ventilation fait
circuler un débit d’air de 100 kg·h-1. L’air entre dans le local bureau avec une enthalpie de
100 kJ·kg-1 et le quitte avec une enthalpie de 75 kJ·kg-1. Chaque enseignant rejette une
chaleur de 630 kJ·h-1. Trois plafonniers, d’une puissance de 0,2 kW chacun, brassent l’air
dans le local qui est éclairé par six lampes ayant chacune une puissance de 36 W. En

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Intermediate Thermodynamics Tutorials – Bachelor 2 – N’TSOUKPOE K. Edem – 2021

négligeant tout autre apport non indiqué ici, quelle doit être la puissance du climatiseur pour
maintenir le local en régime permanent?
R/ Q̇clim = 2 035 W

21. Two identical blocks of copper, one at 300 K and the other at 400 K, are put in
thermal contact with no outside heat exchange. The system is isolated. Calculate the final
temperature of the blocks, the amount of heat transferred, the entropy change of each block
and the total entropy change. Is this process reversible?
FC: Mass of each copper block: 1 kg; specific heat capacity of copper: 390 J·kg-1·K-1

22. At ambient pressure, 5 g of ice initially at T1 = -23 °C is heated to liquid water at

T2 = 27 °C. Calculate the entropy and the enthalpy changes of this mass water. Specific heat
capacity of liquid water: 4.18 kJ·kg-1·K-1; Specific heat capacity of ice: 2.1 kJ·kg-1·K-1; Latent
heat of fusion of ice: 335 kJ·kg-1.

23. An inventor claims to have developed a heat engine that receives 89 000 kcal of
heat from a source at 400 K and produces 108 682 kJ of net work while rejecting 63 000 kcal
as waste heat to a sink at 300 K. Would you invest money in the commercialisation of this
engine?

24. We propose to cool a house with a cooling machine. The house is to be

maintained at 25 °C at all times. When the ambient temperature outside raises to 42 °C, the
rate at which heat is gained from the house is estimated to be 8.75 kW. What is the minimum
electrical power required to drive the cooling machine?

25. Komlan wants to cools down to T2 a mass of water with a constant heat capacity
mc and initially at temperature T1. For this purpose, he uses a refrigeration machine
operating between the mass of water and the atmosphere, whose temperature T1 is
constant. The machine operates in a cyclic and reversible way.
When the desired temperature is achieved, the machine has exchanged a total amount of
heat Q1 with atmosphere and Q2 with the mass of water; it has received a net work W.
Express Q2 as a function of T1 and T2. Deduce Q1 as a function of W, T1 and T2.
What is the entropy change: ΔS of the machine? ΔS1 of atmosphere? ΔS2 of water?
Write as an inequality, the entropy change of the set “water + machine + atmosphere”.
Deduce from this that W is always higher than a certain positive quantity Wm.

26. The isothermal expansion of 14.5 g of air contained in a cylinder is implemented

in different ways from its initial pressure P3 = 4 atm to P0 = 1 atm. Two intermediate positions
may be selected P2 = 2.5 atm, P1 = 1.5 atm.
 Path A: The external pressure is suddenly dropped from P3 to P0. The pressure is
then maintained at P0 until the gas expands and reaches thermodynamic equilibrium.
Note that the expansion then occurs at P0.
 Path B: Here, sudden stepwise drops are considered. The external pressure is
suddenly dropped from P3 to P2. The gas is allowed to expand and reach the
thermodynamic equilibrium at P2. Then, the pressure is suddenly dropped to P0. The
gas is allowed to expand and reach the thermodynamic equilibrium at P0.
 Path C: The same scheme is used, but along this path: P3 to P2, P2 to P1 and P1 to P0.
 Path D: a reversible path is used.
For each of these 4 paths, plot the process on a pressure volume diagram and calculate the
total quantity of work performed. Evaluate the mechanical work loss percentage due to
irreversibility for each of the three first paths. Conclude.
The temperature of the mass of air during the process is 25 °C and its molar mass is
29 g·mol-1. Air is considered as an ideal gas. You could make this calculation in Excel sheet.

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27. In an ammonia-based refrigerator, a mass flow ṁ of NH3 describes the following

cycle:
 A reversible adiabatic compression of gas from state (P1, V1) to state (P2, T’2)
 Cooling down of the gas, at constant pressure P2, from T’2 down to T2, followed by a
complete condensation at T2: the saturation pressure at T2 is P2
 Adiabatic expansion of the liquid leading to its partial vaporisation to state (P1, T1). P1
is the saturation pressure at T1.
NH3 behaves like an ideal gas with a molar mass of 17 g and γ = 1.3.
Compressor: What is the temperature T’2 at the exit of the compressor? Calculate the
work provided by the compressor.
Condenser: Calculate the heat transfer to the surrounding at the condenser.
Expander
The specific volume is assumed constant along the saturation curve. The expander has no
moving part; it consists of a tiny capillary tube that is perfectly thermally isolated.
Make the energy balance of the expander in steady state. Deduce that this adiabatic
expansion is isenthalpic.
Express the enthalpy change between the inlet and the outlet of the expander. Deduce from
this the mass fraction of the vaporised NH3 in the expander.
What is the entropy change of the fluid during this expansion?
Numerical data
T1 = -10 °C; T2 = 25 °C; P1 = 2.9 bar; P2 = 10.5 bar.
Latent heat of vaporisation at T1: 310 cal·g-1
Latent heat of vaporisation at T2: 274 cal·g-1
Heat capacity of liquid NH3: cpliq = 1.1 cal·g-1; Heat capacity of the gas: cpgas = 0.5 cal·g-1
Specific volume of the liquid of NH3: νliq = 1.59 cm3·g-1.
Evaporator: Calculate the amount of heat received by the fluid at the evaporator.