Diesel Power Plant Problems from PPE by Prof. Frederick T.
Morse (University of Virginia) in MKS Units
4.1) An air standard Diesel cycle will be analyzed for state of working fluid & performance. Referring to the pV
Diagram& Diesel Cycle nomenclature, State 1 is at 0.9 kg/cm² ab. and 27:C. The volume quantity is that of a single
cylinder engine with 25cm bore & 38cm stroke. It will be assumed that, after a compression sufficient to produce
538:C, heat is added during the first 10% of the working stroke. Equations of polytropic processes (P summary)
in APPENDIX (Fig. A-17, p.676) are used where necessary without further reference. SOLUTION:
Ratio of compression: r = V 1/V 2 [Polytropic process: (P )]
P2/P1 = = 32.4; p2 = 29.2Kg/cm²ab; or: ; P2 = 29.23kg/cm²ab
Piston Displacement: (V1-V2) = Vd = π/4(0.25)²(0.38) = 0.01865m³; or 18.65Liters (conversion: 1000L/m³)
Clearance Volume: V 2= (V 1-V 2)/(r-1)= 0.01865/11= 0.00167m³; or: V2 0.0016925m³
another solution : Using Ideal Gas Eqtn., V 2 = (mR)T2/P2 = (6.096E-5)(811)/29.2 = 0.001693m³
V 1= V 1-V 2 = Vd + V 2= 0.01865 + 0.00167 = 0.02032m³; or: V 1 = (mR)T1/P1 = (6.096E-5)(300)/0.9 = 0.02032m³
V 3 = V 3 +0.10Vd = 0.00167 + (.10)(0.01865)= 0.00354m³; or : V 3 = (mR)T3 /P3 =(6.096E-5)((1719)/29.2= 0.0035887m³
T3/T2= V 3/V 2 = rc = 0.00354/0.00167 = 2.12 (cut-off ratio) ; T3 = 1719 :K Constant Pressure: P3 = P2 = 29.2Kg/cm²
P4/P3 = = = 0.08069; P4 = 2.54kg/cm²;
T4/T3 = = = 0.498; T4 = 856K or ; V 4 =V 1=0.02032m³
or, alternate solution, by Ideal Gas Law, V 4 = mRT4/P4 = 0.0205m³
Summary of Principal physical states of the Cycle:
State 1 2 3 4
Pressure(kg/cm²) 0.9 29.2 29.2 2.54
Volume, (m³) 0.02032 0.00167 0.00354 0.02032
Temperature, :K(:C) 300(27:C) 811(538:C) 1719 (1446:C) 856(583:C)
From Eq.6-2,
Pmi = P1 (r) [k ][ ] =(0.9)(12)[(1.4) ]
= 5.83 kg/cm²
Net Work done per cycle = Pmi (Vd) = (5.83 kg/cm²)(100cm/m) (0.01865m³)= 1087 kg-m
(assume :2 stroke cycle engine = 1 Power Stroke/rev)
Ideal Thermal Efficiency = e = 1- =1- = 0.56 or 56%
CHECKING: as a check, investigate
Isometric Process(V=C), p4/p1=T4/T1 = 2.54/0.9=856/300= 2.85
Isobaric Process(P=C), v3/v2=T3 /T2= 0.00354/0.00167= 1719/811= 2.12
Polytropic Process, (P )
[2= final state; 1= initial state]
Note: 1PS (Cheval Vapeur) = 0.736KW = 1 Metric Hp = 4500kg-m/MetricHp-min
4.2) A Diesel engine power plant was given a test of 45 minutes duration, with results here given. The various
performance quantities that these data fix will be calculated. The engine is 8-cylinder, 2-cycle, 34.47cm x 45.72cm x
267rpm, direct connected to a 750KW generator. Electrical output was read by watt-hour meter, W1 7562Kw-hr, W2
8087 Kw-hr. Fuel quantity was measured by direct weighing, 168.7 kg for the run. Water flow by venturi meter 1136
L/min, in at 35:C, out at 46.1:C. Average fuel temperature 23.9:C; S.G., 0.927. Atmospheric temperature,
18.3:C;exhaust gas, 398.9:C. Average mean effective pressure of indicator cards taken during the test, 5.73 kg/cm².
Power used for plant pumps, 4.0 KW. During the test, exhaust gas analysis determined that the Air-fuel ratio was 26.62.
Power calculations:
Generated power = (W2-W1) x 60/t
Generator output = (8087-7562) x (60/45) = 700 KW. This is 700/750 = 93.4% of rated load. NEMA efficiency is
94%. Correction from Table 6-3 is 1.4%; net efficiency = 92.6%
Brake Power,
By definition, Generator eff( eg) = EP/BP => BP= EP/(eg )= (700KW)(Metric Hp/(0.736KW)/(0.926 ) = 1026 MetricHp
Indicated Power(NB :for 4-stroke engine divide N by 2; for 2-stroke engine DON’T divide Nby 2= 1power stroke per rev)
IP = PLANc/Fc = (5.73kg/cm²)(45.72cm)(π/4)(37.47cm)²(267cm)(8cyl)/(449702kg-cm/MHp-min) = 1372 Metric Hp.
Fc(Factor for conversion)
Fuel Oil Calculations:
Correction factor on SG of fuel oil =1/(1-0.00072(23.9 -15.6)) = 1.006 Block Diagram:
From Eq. 6-8, Qh = 51716 – 8793.8 (0.927)²= 44159 KJ/kg <Qh or HHV> Generator
From Eq. 6-9, H2 = 26 -15(0.927) =12.1% BP EP
Calculate QL = 44159- 9(0.121)(2442).7 =41 499 KJ/kg <QL or LHV>
Rate of fuel consumption = 168.7(60/45) = 224.9 kg/hr.
Mfi =224/1372 = 0.164 kg/ihp(metric)-hr [Link]=EP/BP
Mfb =224/1026 = 0.219 kg/ bhp(metric)-hr checking :Mfb >Mfi always
Efficiency calculations:
From Eq. 6-13, (et)i = 2648/(0.164 x 44159) = 36.65 based on HHV or Qh
From Eq6-14, (et)b = 2648/(0.219 x 55159) = 27.5 % basedon Qh or HHV
Plant Efficiency, eplant = (700-4) (3.6 x10E6)/(224.9x 10E8 x44159) = 25.2%
Engine Mechanical Efficiency = BP/IP = 1026/1372 = 74.8%
Engine Heat Balance:
Item kcal/hr %
Useful Work: 1.)1026MHp ( 632 kcal/hr/MHp) 648, 840 27.5
Qjacketwater Loss: 2.) 1136L/min (60min/hr)(1000) 756,590 31.9
Qexhaust Loss: 3.) (Gas Flow= 224.9 kg fuelx 26.62kg air/kgfuel+224.9kg)
= 6211.7 kg per hour
mCp(∆T), 6211.7 x 0.255(398.9 -18.3)= 602,710
LatentHeat, 224.9(44159-41499) x 0.239 kcal/KJ =142,560
745,270 745,270 31.5
Qradiation,friction,etc: 4.) 215,900 0.10
Total (mf x Qf = 224.9x44159) 2,366,600 100%
Note: (3600KJ/Kw-hr )(0.736 KW/MetricHp) = 2648
0.239kcal/Kg/KJ/kg