Practical guide
Thermodynamics I
Module Code (TDY2601)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Compiled by Mr. S Nginda
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This practical guide contains important information
about your practical
TDY2601
1. EXECUTION OF THE EXPERIMENTS
Each experiment presented in this practical guide is performed according to the
schedule provided. The order of performance of each experiment is followed unless
specified otherwise by the laboratory instructor. In order that the laboratory session is
conducted in the most meaningful manner possible, it is imperative that each student
read, study, and understand the experiment to be conducted prior to coming to the
lab.
Students will be divided into groups to perform the experiment. Each group is required
to work together throughout the practical session. But, each student must do his or her
own analysis and compile individual report. Students must come to the lab at their
registered schedule.
An attendance register is circulated, and it is the responsibility of the student to sign it
at each lab session. The lab instructor is not expected to remember if the student
attended the practical session. Any student who arrives late (at the discretion of the
instructor) to the laboratory will be deducted 15% on the laboratory report. Students
arriving 30 minutes after the start of the experiment is considered absent.
2. LABORATORY REPORT
Each student will submit a complete written report covering each experiment
performed. The report is to be individual own work. The report will be written in the
third person, past tense (for procedures executed, data taken, and results obtained),
and should be self-sufficient. In other words, the reader should not need to consult the
references to understand the report. Correct English and spelling should be used. The
reports are practice for writing technical reports similar to those, which are required by
engineers engaged in industry and engineering practices.
The report must be typed using a word processor. All pages, equation, figures, graphs,
and tables must be numbered. Figures, tables, and graphs must have titles. Thy must
be neat and clear.
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3. SPECIFICATIONS
To observe the accepted rules of good writing form, the following specifications for the
general makeup of the report are required:
3.1 Use A4 white paper.
3.2 Write the report with a word processor.
3.3 Consistent fonts and presentation for every section of the report.
3.4 Use one side of the paper only.
3.5 Create all drawings and figures using computer drawing and plotting
programs. Scanned images are allowed where appropriate.
3.6 Use the same font style on drawings and graphs as used in the text.
Graphs axes should be clearly labelled, including units where appropriate.
4. REPORT OUTLINE
4.1 Title page: must include lab title, date performed, student names, student
number and submitting date.
4.2 Aim of the practical: state the objective clearly.
4.3 Literature review/background information: give a brief background
information about the experiment.
4.4 Apparatus: draw the apparatus used and clearly label it.
4.5 Procedure: write the procedure in your own words. And it must be written
in the third person, past tense. Note that it is unacceptable to simply use
or copy the procedural instruction from the practical guide.
4.6 Data sheet: tabulate the experimental data.
4.7 Results: answer all questions posed in practical guide. All observed and
calculated data should be tabulated when possible. Heading and
subheadings identifying items of data or sets of data should be used
a) Sample calculations: show a sample of a complete calculation.
b) Graphs: plot graphs using word processor with all the titles.
4.8 Discussion and conclusion: most important section of the entire report. It
should be a complete discussion of the results obtained. Part of this
discussion should deal with the accuracy of the results.
4.9 References: publication or other authorities which help explain the
experiment, calculate results, explain errors, draw conclusion etc., should
be acknowledged. References should be arranged in alphabetical order
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according to the last name of the author, or the last name of the first-
named author for papers with more than one author.
4.10 Appendices: materials that support the report but are not essential to the
reader’s understanding of it are included here.
5. SUBMISSION
Students must submit their report on the or before stated date on myUnisa.
Students submitting late reports are not accepted resulting in a zero mark for
the practical.
6. CONTACT PERSON
S. Nginda
Telephone number: 011 471 3293
Email: [email protected]
Contact Times
09H00 TO 14H00 (Monday to Friday.)
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Experiment I: SINGLE STAGE COMPRESSOR
1. AIM
To determine the actual air flow rate, swept volume, electrical horsepower,
isentropic horsepower, isothermal horsepower, isentropic efficiency, isothermal
efficiency, and volumetric efficiency.
2. Literature review/ Background information
Hint: In this section, give a brief background information about compressor (single
stage compressor)
3. APPARATUS
Note: Motor: Hascon 220V, 50Hz, 3HP, 2.2 KW, 8.91A, 1430RPM
Air compressor: 1st stage SB-10/90 bore 65mm, stroke 44mm (twin cylinders, 90 degree
phase shift)
2nd stage SA-1/36 bore 51mm, stroke 42mm.
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3. PROCEDURE:
3.1 Start the compressor by pushing up Earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB)
and Circuit breaker (CB), then adjust the motor speed to about 1300 rpm
(compressor speed, about 990 rpm) to increase the pressure of the air receiver to a
minimum of 3kg/cm2.
3.2 Then slightly open the air receiver discharge valve to maintain a constant
pressure in the air receiver tank.
3.3 Record the following data:
3.3.1 Motor speed from advanced inverter.
3.3.2 Compressor speed 1 from speed indicator with speed selector
switch stage 1.
3.3.3 Power input by advance inverter.
3.3.4 Pressure:
3.3.4.1 Air box manometer (ɅP), mmH2O
3.3.4.2 First stage outlet (P2), kg/cm2
3.3.4.3 Pressure different at the air tank and discharge pipe or
air receiver pressure (P4), kg/cm2.
3.4 Inclined manometer levels at the tank inlet and the inlet air box. (Before
recording the level of the manometer water reservoir should be adjusted to the
mark level).
3.5 Record the following temperature data:
3.5.1 Ambient temperature (T1), 0C
3.5.2 Stage 1 compressor outlet (T2), 0C
3.6 Adjust the motor speed to about 1500 rpm and repeat procedure 3.1 to 6.
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4. DATA SHEET:
Air box orifice: …………….mm, Atmospheric pressure, Pu: ………………………. bar
Inclined manometer slope: ....... Air box diameter: ………………….mm
Item Test No. 1 Test No. 2 Test No. 3 Test No. 4 Test No. 5
Motor speed 1, rpm, N1
Compressor speed 1, rpm, N2
Power input, watts
Ambient temperature, T1
Stage 1 compressor outlet, T2
Water inlet, TW1
Water outlet, TW2
Air box manometer, mmH2O, ɅP
First stage inlet, kg/cm2, P1
First stage outlet, kg/cm2, P2
Water flow rate, 1/min
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5. Calculate
5.1 Actual air flow rate (qv).
5.2 Swept volume, from the size of the cylinder and stroke of the piston in
stage 1 and speed.
5.3 Electrical Power (EP), by installing a wattmeter on the motor.
5.4 Isentropic Power in kW.
5.5 Isothermal Power in kW.
5.6 Isentropic Efficiency.
5.7 Isothermal efficiency.
5.8 Volumetric efficiency.
6. Discussion
Hint: Only discuss calculated results and experimental data
7. Conclusion
Additional information
Q = A V
V = 2 gH air
Where:
Q: Volumetric flow rate of air [m3/s]
A: Area of the orifice [m2]
V: Air velocity [m/s]
Hair: Equivalent differential head of air [m]
g: Gravitational acceleration [m/s2]
Isentropic Power:
k −1
• P2 k
W isent . = mCPT1 − 1
P1
Isothermal Power:
• P2
W isoth. = P1 V 1 ln
P1
Volumetric efficiency:
Actual air flow rate (m3 / s )
vol =
Swept volume (m3 / s)
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Additional compressor study is available on Chapter 7 from prescribed textbook:
• 7–11: MINIMIZING THE COMPRESSOR WORK
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EXPERIMENT 2: TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT AND CALIBRATION
1. AIM
Is to understand the concept of error in measurements, and how to minimize them.
2. APPARATUS
3. PROCEDURE
I. Fill the water-bath with distilled water until the level reaches the level sight glass.
II. Fill the insulated flask with cold water and crushed ice made from distilled water.
III. Connect the Type-K thermocouple connected with cold junction compensation
thermocouple with the inlet of display TI4 (marked as TC mV) on the electric console.
IV. Insert the sensor carrier into the insulated flask.
V. Wait a minute to stabilize. Note the Pt 100 reference thermometer reading, TI1. Use
this value as reference temperature later in the experiment.
VI. Position the sensor carrier on top of the water-bath.
VII. Remove the cold junction compensation thermocouple from the sensor carrier and
place it in the ice flask (in this way, the measure with the other thermocouple is
compensated at 0C).
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VIII. Switch on the heater and the stirrer and increase the heater power to maximum.
When the reference thermometer indicates a value significantly higher than the
temperature in the insulated flask (e.g. 20 0C higher), switch off the heater.
IX. Take a reading for the sensors under investigation using the displays of the console
or read directly from the liquid-in-glass and gas thermometer.
X. Note the temperature indicated by the Pt100 reference thermometer, T1.
XI. Replace the cold junction thermocouple in the sensor carrier.
XII. Quickly but carefully, transfer the sensor carrier from the water-bath to the
insulated flask.
XIII. Record the sensor reading at five-second intervals.
XIV. Note the temperature indicated by the Pt100 reference thermometer, T1.
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4. EXPERIMENTAL DATA
Time (s) TI 1 (0C) TI2 TI4 (mV) TI5 (0C) TI6 (0C) TI7 (0C)
(Ohm)
5. Calculation
• Plot graph of sensor output against time for each sensor.
6. CONCLUSION
• Comment on the responses of the different sensors, and the effect of response
on accuracy.
• Compare the results obtained for the two platinum resistance thermometers.
• Describe and explain the effect of sheath diameter on sensor response.
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Addendum
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