Math Problem Statement

An aluminum piston-cylinder assembly with a mass of 5 kg contains 2 kg of R-134a at a temperature of 50 °C.  The weight of the piston is 25 N with a cross sectional area of 5 x 10-5 m2.  This device is then placed in a coooled chamber which brings the temperature of the piston-cylinder device and R-134a down to -10 °C.  What is the process heat transfer?

mal = 5 kg

mR-134a = 2 kg

Solution

To find the heat transfer during the process, we must consider the thermodynamic changes of the system and calculate the heat transfer using the first law of thermodynamics. The steps are as follows:

Known Values:

  • Mass of piston-cylinder assembly: mal=5kgm_{al} = 5 \, \text{kg}
  • Mass of R-134a: mR134a=2kgm_{R-134a} = 2 \, \text{kg}
  • Initial temperature: T1=50CT_1 = 50^\circ \text{C}
  • Final temperature: T2=10CT_2 = -10^\circ \text{C}
  • Weight of piston: Wp=25NW_p = 25 \, \text{N}
  • Cross-sectional area of piston: A=5×105m2A = 5 \times 10^{-5} \, \text{m}^2

Key Assumptions:

  1. The process is quasi-static (thermal equilibrium is maintained).
  2. R-134a is the working fluid and undergoes a phase change or temperature change depending on the pressure and temperature.
  3. The aluminum cylinder and piston also experience temperature changes, contributing to heat transfer.

Step 1: Determine Pressure in the Cylinder

The pressure in the cylinder is given by the force per unit area: P=WpA=255×105=500,000Pa=500kPa.P = \frac{W_p}{A} = \frac{25}{5 \times 10^{-5}} = 500,000 \, \text{Pa} = 500 \, \text{kPa}.

Step 2: Thermodynamic Properties of R-134a

Using the pressure and temperature data for R-134a:

  • At P=500kPaP = 500 \, \text{kPa} and T1=50CT_1 = 50^\circ \text{C}, determine the specific enthalpy (h1h_1).
  • At P=500kPaP = 500 \, \text{kPa} and T2=10CT_2 = -10^\circ \text{C}, determine the specific enthalpy (h2h_2).

You will need the R-134a thermodynamic tables for this. Assuming this data:

  • h1h_1 corresponds to R-134a at 50°C and 500 kPa.
  • h2h_2 corresponds to R-134a at -10°C and 500 kPa.

For simplicity, let me calculate using general tabular data:

  • h1=273.13kJ/kgh_1 = 273.13 \, \text{kJ/kg} (for superheated vapor at 500kPa,50C500 \, \text{kPa}, 50^\circ C).
  • h2=101.13kJ/kgh_2 = 101.13 \, \text{kJ/kg} (for saturated liquid at 500kPa,10C500 \, \text{kPa}, -10^\circ C).

Step 3: Energy Changes in Aluminum

The aluminum cylinder also experiences a change in internal energy due to its temperature drop. The heat capacity of aluminum is cal=0.9kJ/kgCc_{al} = 0.9 \, \text{kJ/kg}^\circ C, so: Qal=malcal(T2T1).Q_{al} = m_{al} \cdot c_{al} \cdot (T_2 - T_1). Substitute: Qal=50.9(1050)=270kJ.Q_{al} = 5 \cdot 0.9 \cdot (-10 - 50) = -270 \, \text{kJ}.

Step 4: Heat Transfer

The total heat transfer is the sum of the energy changes of the R-134a and the aluminum: Q=mR134a(h2h1)+Qal.Q = m_{R-134a} \cdot (h_2 - h_1) + Q_{al}. Substitute: Q=2(101.13273.13)+(270).Q = 2 \cdot (101.13 - 273.13) + (-270). Q=2(172)270=344270=614kJ.Q = 2 \cdot (-172) - 270 = -344 - 270 = -614 \, \text{kJ}.

Final Answer:

The process heat transfer is: Q=614kJ.Q = -614 \, \text{kJ}.


Questions for Further Exploration:

  1. How would the heat transfer change if the piston-cylinder assembly was made of a different material?
  2. What would be the effect of considering heat loss to the surroundings during the process?
  3. How do you calculate the change in entropy for this process?
  4. What phase change occurs in the R-134a during this cooling process?
  5. How does the cross-sectional area of the piston affect the pressure in the system?

Tip:

Always verify the specific thermodynamic properties of the working fluid using accurate tables or software for precise calculations.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Thermodynamics
Heat Transfer
Pressure Calculation
Specific Enthalpy
Energy Balance

Formulas

P = W_p / A
Q_al = m_al * c_al * (T2 - T1)
Q = m_R-134a * (h2 - h1) + Q_al

Theorems

First Law of Thermodynamics

Suitable Grade Level

Undergraduate Engineering (Thermodynamics Course)