Steam Nozzle Experiment

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology

Laboratory Report

Steam Nozzle Experiment

By

AT JAFTA
(Student No -201427383)

A laboratory report submitted

in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the module

THERMODYNAMICS IV (IMT 441)

FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
Submitted to
Module Lecturer Mr Bakaya Kyahurwa

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

TECHNOLOGY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONEMNT
UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Submitted: Wednesday 11th March, 2015
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Steam Nozzle Experiment

DECLARATION
I .. hereby declare that this laboratory report is wholly
my own work and has not been submitted anywhere else for academic credit, either by myself
or another person.
I understand what plagiarism implies and declare that this report embodies my own ideas,
words, phrases, arguments, graphics, figures, results and organization except where reference
is explicitly made to another work.
I understand further that any unethical academic behaviour, which includes plagiarism, is
seen in a serious light by the University of Johannesburg and is punishable by disciplinary
action as stipulated by the university rules and regulations.
Finally, I understand that fulfilment of this laboratory task complies with the objective of the
ECSA ELO 4 and it must therefore be passed. I declare that this is not the product of a group
work but is my own individual work.

Name: ..
Student No: . .
Signature: ..................................................
Date: ..............................................

]
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Steam Nozzle Experiment

TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION

INTRODUCTION

1.1.

Aim..............................................................................................................................4

1.2.

Theory behind the experiment.....................................................................................4

1.3.

Apparatus.....................................................................................................................5
SECTION TWO

Table 1: Recorded Pressures and Absolute Pressures............................................................7

Recorded Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure.................................................................8
2.1 Results

2.1.1 Sample of Calculations..................................................................................................8

2.1.2 Theoretical Calculations..........................................................................................8
2.1.3 Experimental Calculations........................................................................................9
REFERENCES

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Steam Nozzle Experiment

LIST OF FIGURES

figure 1: Steam Nozzle Experiment Apparatus.........................................................................5

figure 2 : Schematic Diagram of Nozzle and Dimensions.........................................................5
figure 3: Converging-Diverging Nozzle configuration..............................................................6
figure 4: Ms Excel Spreadsheet sample used to draw the m/a vs absolute pressure graph......11
figure 5: M/A vs Absolute Pressure graph................................................................................11

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Steam Nozzle Experiment

SECTION ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1.

Aim

The aim/objective of the laboratory task is to determine the following:

The mass flow rate of steam

Critical Velocity

Critical Pressure

After the values for the mass of flow rate of steam, critical velocity and pressure are obtained,
the experimental values are then compared to the experimental values then conclusions
whether then values correlate or not can be made.

1.2.

Theory behind the experiment

According to Eastop & McConkey, a nozzle is a duct with a varying cross-sectional area in
which a steadily flowing fluid can be made to accelerate by a pressure drop along a duct.
It can be assumed that the flow through a duct is subsonic since M<1 through a converging
duct followed by a diverging duct after the throat which is supersonic. It can hypothetically
be deduced that in a nozzle, as the cross-sectional area decreases, the pressure drops whilst
the velocity increases on the contrary.
Equations that will be used for calculations include

where Pc= critical pressure, n=1,135 for dry saturated

Cc =

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where Cc= Critical Velocity of steam

Steam Nozzle Experiment

1.3.

Apparatus

figure 1: Steam Nozzle Experiment Apparatus

figure 2 : Schematic Diagram of Nozzle and Dimensions

figure 3: Converging-Diverging Nozzle configuration

in addition to the apparatus listed above, a barometer is used to determine the ambient
temperature.

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Steam Nozzle Experiment

1.4 Procedure

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Measure the atmospheric pressure and temperature from the barometer.

Insert the open end of the probe into the converging end of nozzle and take the
gauge pressure reading.

Open the valve to let compressed steam flow through the nozzle. Observe the
gauge pressure readings as you move the probe further into the nozzle along
the nozzle centre line. Record the gauge pressure every 2.5cm marked off on
the profile of the nozzle on the outside of chamber.

Calculate the critical pressure at throat.

Plot a graph of M/A Vs Absolute pressure along the profile of the nozzle.

From the graph determine the pressure at the throat (critical pressure)

Steam Nozzle Experiment

SECTION TWO
RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS
Table 1: Recorded Pressures and Absolute Pressures

Mark Point

Pgauge (KPa)

Pabsolute (KPa)

Pabsolute (KPa)

220

308

310

220

308

310

220

308

310

220

308

310

220

308

310

220

308

310

220

308

310

220

308

310

220

308

310

10

220

308

310

11

200

288

290

12

180

268

270

13

160

248

250

14

150

238

240

15

140

228

230

16

135

223

220

17

120

208

210

18

120

208

210

19

110

198

200

20

105

193

190

21

100

188

190

22

100

188

190

23

100

188

190

24

95

183

180

25

90

178

180

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Steam Nozzle Experiment

Recorded Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure

= 95C

Patmos = 660 mm Hg

2.1 Results

2.1.1 Sample of Calculations

1 mm Hg = 133.322 Pa

Therefore, Patmos

= 87.99 KPa 88KPa

P1 = Pg1 + Patmos
= 220 + 87.99
= 308 KPa

2.1.2

Theoretical Calculations

Pa

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Steam Nozzle Experiment

s1 = 6.980 = sc= sf@180+ xc sfg@180

xc =

= 0.968

vc=xcvg@180
= 0.968 x 0.9772
= 0.94593 m3/kg
hc = hf@180 + xc x hfg@180
= 491 + 0.968 (2211)
= 2631.25 kJ/kg
Cc =

=
= 439.04 m/s

Ac =

=
= 1.8096 x 10-5 m2
mc x vc= Ac x Cc

mc

8.3297 x 10-3kg/s

2.1.3 Experimental Calculations

Sample between mark point 1 11

s1 = sg@310 = s11 = 6.980 KJ/kg.K
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Steam Nozzle Experiment

s11 = sf@280 + x10 x sfg@280

x11 =

=
=

0.996

h11 = hf@290 + x11 x hfg@290

= 557 + 0.996 (2167)
= 2715 KJ/kg
V11 = x11 vg@280
= 0.996(0.6251)
= 0.6226 m3/kg
C11 =

=
= 148.3 m/s

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238.195 kg/m2.s

Steam Nozzle Experiment

figure 4: Ms Excel Spreadsheet sample used to draw the m/a vs absolute pressure graph

figure 5: M/A vs Absolute Pressure graph

2.2 Observations from the graph

Critical Point lies at the uppermost point of the graph
Pc = 185 kPa
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Steam Nozzle Experiment

= 455 kg/m2.s

Ac =

=
= 1.8096 x 10-5 m2
Therefore,

mc = Ac x 455
= 1.8096 x 10-5 x 455
= 8.23368 x 10-3kg/s

Experimental Values

Theoretical Values

Pcritical= 185 KPa

Pcritical= 180 KPa

mc=8.23368 x 10-3kg/s

mc= 8.3297 x 10-3kg/s

Table 2: Comparison of Experimental and Theoretical Values

2.3 Conclusions
The aim of comparing the experiments and theoretical methods has been achieved. The
experimental values to a large degree correlate with the theoretical values with a minute
percentage error of 1.1% for mc and 2.8% for the pressure at the critical region P c, the minute
difference in the theoretical and practical could be caused by parallax error when taking
readings.

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Steam Nozzle Experiment

REFERENCES

[1]

Eastop, McConkey, Applied Thermodynamics for Engineering Technologists,

Pearson., England , 1993, p. 287-301.

[2]

Cengel, Boles., An Engineering Approach to Thermodynamics, McGraw Hill Science,

USA, 2010, p. 258-267.

[3]

Elements of Heat Engines Vol II

http://www.thermodynamicsheatengines.com/HeatEnginesVol%202%20Chapter
%208%20RS.pdf, Accessed 08 March 2015.
[4]

Dr R.K Bansal., Mechanical Engineering, Laxmi Publications, India, 1993, p. 199201.

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Steam Nozzle Experiment

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