Middle East Technical University

2011-2012 Fall Semester

Department of Chemical Engineering
Che 428 Process Principles
Prof. Dr. Pnar alk
HOMEWORK 4
(Due date: 19.10.2011)
1. A gas is compressed from an initial volume of 0.42 m3 to a final volume of 0.12 m3. During the
quasi-equilibrium process, the pressure changes with volume according to the relation P=aV+b,
where a=-1200kPa/m3 and b=600kPa. Calculate the work done during this process.
a) by plotting the process on a P-V diagram and finding the area under the process curve
b) by performing the necessary integrations.

2. A frictionless piston-cylinder device contains 2 kg of nitrogen at 100kPa and 300K. Nitrogen is now
compressed slowly according to the relation PV1.4=constant until it reaches a final temperature of
360K. Calculate the work during this process.
In this case the path equation is PV
n
= C with n = 1.4. We can rewrite this equation as P =
CV
-n
, and integrate this revised path equation to find the work as follows.
| | ( )
n n
V
V
n
V
V
n
path
V V
n
C
V
n
C
dV CV PdV W
+

=
+
= = =
} }
1
1
1
2
1
1 1
2
1
2
1

To reduce this equation further we can use a trick. Since PV
n
= C, the constant C may be
written either as P
1
V
1
n
or as P
2
V
2
n
. By carefully choosing which way we write this constant,
we can simplify our result.
( )
n
V P V P
n
V V P V V P
n
CV CV
V V
n
C
W
n n n n n n
n n

=


1 1 1 1
1 1 2 2
1
1 1 1
1
2 2 2
1
1
1
2 1
1
1
2

The equation above is valid for any substance. For an ideal gas, we can obtain a simpler
result for the work by using the ideal gas equation of state, writing each P
k
V
k
product as
mRT
k
.
n
T T mR
n
mRT mRT
n
V P V P
W

=
1
) (
1 1
1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2

We can find the gas constant for nitrogen from Table A-1 on page 908; R = 0.2968 kJ/(kgK).
We are given m = 2 kg, T
1
= 300 K, T
2
= 360 K and n = 1.4. Substituting these values into
the equation for the work gives the answer as follows.
4 . 1 1
) 300 360 (
2968 . 0
) 2 (
1
) (
1 2

=
K K
K kg
kJ
kg
n
T T mR
W = 89.0 kJ
The negative sign for the work indicates that this is a work input of 89.0 kJ
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3. Nitrogen gas at an initial state of 300 K, 250 kPa and 0.2 m3 is compressed slowly in an isothermal
process to a final pressure of 700 kPa. Determine the work done during this process. Determine the
work done if the process takes place suddenly. Compare two results.
4. 1 kmole of air with specific volume of 29 m3/kmole is contained in a piston cylinder at 3.5 bar and
it is expanded isothermally. After expansion it is heated at constant volume until temperature
reaches to 1650C. Finally at constant pressure the piston is compressed back to its original state.
a) Determine the work terms in each step.
b) Determine the net work.
c) Draw the P-V diagram of the overall process.