CHAPTER 3
Specific Work Of Fluid Machines
Eng. Mesfin B.
1
Contents:
3.1 Energy transfer
3.2 Determination of specific work of
fluid machines
3.3 Determination of the pressure
specific work
3.3 Determination of the adiabatic
specific work using thermodynamic
diagrams
3.4 Capacity, power and performance
characteristics
2
Objective:
how to calculate the mechanical energy and
power transferred from a fluid machine to a
flow medium from measurable quantities.
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3.1 Energy Transfer
Total loss= losses outside + inside
Energy loss Energy loss outside
in the drive the fluid machine Total energy
(bearings, couplings) loss of the
fluid machine
Energy loss inside the fluid
machine (increases in non
Total Energy utilizable-energy content of
from the the flow medium)
Energy delivered
source
to the fluid
machine Useful energy rise of the
flow medium (Increase in
mechanical energy) Prime Mover/Drive
Figure 3.1 Energy transfer from a fluid machine to a flow medium
The energy from these sources
The source of energy may be:- is converted to mechanical
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electricity, compressed air, energy using motors, gas or
steam, or fuel. steam turbines or diesel engines
3.2 Determination Of Specific Work
Of Fluid Machines
Specific work done, Y.
The unit of the specific work is J/kg or
m2/s2. W
Y
m
Head, H.
The unit of head is meter [m].
Y
H
g
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Total pressure, Pt.
Pt Y
Total pressure, specific work and the total head
of a fluid machine are related by the equations:-
Pt Y gH
Note that all the three terms represent the useful energy transferred from the
fluid machine to the flow medium in different ways.
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The Bernoulli Equation
c c
2 2
dp
dP c2 Y
D
D S ge
dY d g dz S
2
2
Y= Specific work of fluid machine
P= Static pressure of the flow Pressure Energy
medium
c= mean velocity of the flow medium Velocity Energy
z= height from datum level
= Density of the flow medium Geodetic Energy
g= Gravitational acceleration
Discharge end
Suction end
Discharge end
e
e
Suction
end
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3.3 Determination of The Pressure Specific Work, Ypr
Case1: Pumps and Fans
Pumps handle liquids incompressible
Hence density variation considered negligible.
The pressure difference between the two ends of fans is very
small (<15%) .
Hence variation in density can be neglected and an average
density can be used without much loss in accuracy.
PD PS
Y Pr
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Example 1
A pump is used to move a chemical that
has a density of 1200kg/m3 from one tank
to another. The mean velocities of the flow
medium at the suction and discharge end
of the pump are measured to be 1.5 m/s
and 2.7m/s respectively. The discharge end
of the pump is 20 cm above the suction
end. If the static pressure difference
between the two ends is 1.8 bar determine
the specific work and head of the pump.
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Example 2
A centrifugal fan is used to exhaust air from
a workshop. The ambient temperature of
the workshop is 210C. The static pressures
at the suction and discharge end of the fan
are measured to be 1.01 bar and 1.12 bar
respectively. The discharge end is 0.6m
above the suction end. Determine the total
pressure of the fan if the difference in
velocity between the suction and discharge
ends is negligible.
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Case 2: Blowers and Compressors
The density of the flow medium changes significantly
between the suction and discharge ends therefore we cannot
use the equation derived for pumps and fans.
D
Y Pr S vdP
1
v is the specific volume of the flow medium [v]=m3/kg
The equation relating v and P is obtained from thermodynamics.
P vn Constant (polytrophic equation)
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P D
dP n=1 [Isothermal Compression]
P n = k=Cp/Cv [Adiabatic Compression]
n>k
P S
v
Figure 3.3 Polytrophic curves of compressible flow medium
In isothermal compression the temperature of the flow medium is kept constant.
In Adiabatic compression there is no heat transfer between the flow medium
and the surrounding
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3.3.1 YPr for Isothermal Compression /Yiso
For isothermal compression (n=1). Hence,
PD, vD Pv constant P S S
dP n=1 [Isothermal]
v
v Ps s
P
Yiso
P
PS, vs
D P s v s dP D dP
v Y iso S P s v s S
Figure 3.4 Isothermal compression specific work
P P
PD
Y iso P s v s
ln
PS
R T S PD
Y iso ln
M PS
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3.3.2 Ypr for Adiabatic Isentropic
Compression (Yad)
For adiabatic, isentropic compression : n=k=cp/cv.
P v K Constant P s v SK
1 R C
P v K
1/ k k
v C P CV R , and P k
v s P S 1 / k S
S
M CV
P P
1/ k
D P S v s dP 1 / k D 1 / k dp CP R k R
Y ad S P S v s S P CP C P
P
1/ k
k M k 1 M
1 1 1/k
Yad PS vs
1/k
PD P1S 1/k K1
1 1/k P D
K
Yad C P T s 1
PS
K1
k PD K
Yad P S vs 1
k 1 P S
K1
RTs k P D K
14 Yad 1
M k 1 P S
Table 3.1 Values of the specific heat ratio k
Gas k
Mono-atomic gases [Helium, Argon,…] 1.66
Diatomic gases [N2, O2, H2, air] 1.44
Methane 1.32
SO2 1.29
Ethane 1.20
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Example 3
A compressor is used to compress N 2 gas.
The suction temperature and pressure are
120C and 1.02 bar respectively. The
discharge pressure is measured to be 4.3
bar. Determine the useful specific energy
transferred from the compressor to the flow
medium (a) assuming adiabatic
compression (b) isothermal compression.
The velocity and geodetic specific energies
are negligible as compared to the
compression energy.
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3.3.3 Adiabatic Discharge Temperature
In designing compression processes it frequently becomes
important to estimate the discharge temperature of the flow
medium.
P v K Constant
1/ k
v D P S
PD v Ps v
K K
D S
vS P D
Ps vs P D vD
vD PS T D
Ts TD vS P D T S
k1
PD k
T ad TD T S
PS
Actual adiabatic processes will have greater discharge
17 temperature due to the heat added because of losses inside the
machine.
Example 4
Determine the minimum compression ratio
for which the discharge temperature will be
at least 2000C in adiabatic compression of
air if the temperature at suction is 150C.
Use k=1.44.
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3.4 Determination of The Adiabatic Specific Work
Using Thermodynamic Diagrams
The adiabatic isentropic specific work and the
adiabatic discharge temperature can also be
determined using the thermodynamic diagrams
:-
temperature-entropy diagram (T-S) and
enthalpy –entropy (h-S) diagram.
For adiabatic compression, the total specific
work can be written as:-
c 2D c 2s
Y Yad ge
2
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From thermodynamics, the energy balance for steady state,
steady flow system is given by:-
c 2D c 2s
h ge Q Ws
2
Where h is enthalpy of the flow medium, Ws is the shaft work
(the useful energy Y, in this case).
For adiabatic compression Q=0,
c 2D c 2s
h ge Y
2
Yad h Yad hD h S
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Yad and TD, ad using a T-S diagram
Constant Pressure Lines
PD Actual Compression
TD
Adiabatic Isentropic Compression
TD,ad
hD
h (Constant enthalpy )lines
T
TS hS
PS
Figure 3.5a Loss free adiabatic compression in T-S diagram
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Yad using h-S diagram
Constant pressure
lines
PD
hD
Constant temperature
lines
h[kJ/kg]
hS Ts, Ps
S[kJ/kg-K]
Figure 3.5b Loss free adiabatic compression on h-S diagram
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3.5 Capacity, Power and Performance Characteristics
3.5.1 Characteristic sizes of a fluid machine
The capacity, specific energy (head or total
pressure) and brake power are the most important
characteristic sizes of a fluid machine.
m Q
The mass flow rate :-
The useful power :-
N m Y
When the specific energy is given in form of total
pressure N QPt
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It is good to note that the useful power in compressors and
blower is calculated in two different ways.
For isothermal compression:-
Y Yios Yvel Ygeo
For adiabatic:-
Y Yad Yvel Ygeo
In most cases the velocity and geodetic energies are too small
as compared to the compression energy and the two are
neglected. Hence
Y Yios Y Yad
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The brake power =the useful power + the
total power loss (internal and external power
losses)
the brake power =the total power input to the
fluid machine (output of the drive) + the
useful power is the output power of the fluid
machine.
Hence the overall efficiency =the useful
power (output) / the brake power
(input).
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N
Nb
Where:- QY QgH
= Overall efficiency Nb Nb
Nb= brake power
N=useful power
Since the useful power in case of compressors
can be calculated as either isothermal or
adiabatic the efficiency is also defined likewise.
QYad QYiso
ad iso
Nb Nb
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Example 5
The test result of an air compressor is presented
below.
Suction End
Absolute Pressure 1.0 bar
Suction Temperature 180C
Flow rate at suction condition 500m3/hr
Discharge End
Absolute Pressure2.5 bar
The brake power (output power of the motor) is
20.4 kW. Determine the adiabatic and
isothermal efficiency of the compressor.
Neglect the velocity and geodetic energies.
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Example 6:-
Determine the power saving in
compressing 1 kg/s of CO2 from 1atm and
150C to (a) 4atm (b) 20atm according to
isothermal rather than adiabatic
compression. What will be the adiabatic
discharge temperatures?
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3.5.2 Performance Characteristics of Fluid
Machines
The capacity, head (or total pressure), brake power and
efficiency of a given fluid machine are interrelated.
It is an important document for the proper operation,
maintenance and evaluation of the fluid machine.
Efficiency=f(Q) for pumps
30 0.8 15 H=f (Q), Nb=f(Q) and =f(Q)
H=f(Q)
0.6 for fans and compressors
20 Eff. 10 Pt=f(Q)
H [m] N [kW]
0.4
10 N=f(Q)
5
0.2
Figure 3.6 Performance characteristic curve of centrifugal pump.
29 The H-Q, Nb-Q and -Q curves are known as :-
head-capacity curve, power curve and efficiency curve
3.5.3 The Operating Point
The operating point can then be found by drawing the system
H-Q curve and the pump H-Q curve on the same scale as
shown in Figure 3.8. The efficiency and brake power can then
be determined from the -Q, and Nb-Q relations of the pump.
Pump characteristics
H[m]
Operating point
System characteristics
Q[m3/hr]
Figure 3.8 The operating point
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The system characteristic in pumping is commonly given as
head capacity curve.
For systems using fans, blowers and compressors it is given as
pressure-capacity curve.
H[m]
Pt[kPa]
Q[m3/hr]
Q[m /hr]
3
Figure 3.7 Typical system characteristics
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Example 7
A centrifugal pump running at a speed of
1450 rpm is used to move a chemical that
has a density of 920 kg/m3. The head
capacity curve and efficiency curve of the
pump and the characteristic curve of the
system are given in Figure 3.9.
(a)Determine the volume flow rate, head
and coupling power at the working point?
(b)What will be the saving in pumping
1,000,000m3 if the pump runs at the best
efficiency point as compared to the working
point as indicated in Figure 3.9? Assume
32 motor = 0.97, cost of electricity 0.75 Birr/
0.90
16 0.80
0.70
12 0.60
Efficiency
0.50
Head[m]
8 0.40
0.30
4 0.20
0.10
0 0.00
0 50 100 150 200
Q[m3/hr]
Figure 3.9 Pump and system characteristic curves
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