Steady Flow devices

443106225/ Ghaith Kaf Al-Ghazal/84187

MAY 21, 2024

KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
Table of Contents: -
The steady flow general equation .......................... 3
Hot water tank ......................................................... 3
The difference between heat engine and hot water
tank .......................................................................... 4
Steam turbine .......................................................... 4
Types of steam turbine: ....................................... 5
Compressor ............................................................ 5
The difference between turbine and compressor... 6
Pipe and duct flow ................................................... 7
Nozzles and diffusers ............................................... 8
Mixing chamber ....................................................... 8
Condenser ................................................................ 9
Types of condensers ............................................. 10
Throttling valve ...................................................... 10
Types of valves: - .................................................. 11
References ............................................................. 12
The steady flow general equation
The steady flow energy equation is used to analyze the energy balance of a steady flow device.

It states that the sum of the rate of energy transfer and the rate of energy storage within the control
volume is equal to the rate of energy transfer across the control surface. For a steady flow device, the
equation simplifies to:

𝑄̇ − 𝑊̇ = 𝑚̇(ℎ𝑖𝑛 − ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 )

Hot water tank

A hot water tank is a mechanical engineering equipment that stores hot water for
domestic or industrial use. It is typically used in conjunction with a heating system to
maintain the temperature of the stored water. In addition, there are some pertinent
assumptions that are typically made when analyzing a hot water tank operating under
steady-state conditions. The tank is well-insulated (adiabatic Q=0), and there is no heat
loss to the surroundings. Insulating a hot water tank is important because it helps reduce
heat loss, which can result in significant energy savings. By reducing heat loss, the water
inside the tank remains hot for longer periods, reducing the need to reheat the water
constantly. The water inside the tank is at uniform temperature. Because the tank is
designed to maintain a constant temperature throughout the volume of water it contains.
The hot water rises to the top of the tank as it is heated. This creates a natural circulation
of water within the tank, which helps to ensure that the water is at a uniform temperature.

Types
• Tankless hot water tanks, which use no tank to deliver hot water.
• Conventional hot water tanks, also called traditional storage tank water heaters,
are the most common water heaters.
• Solar hot water tanks, which are powered by the sun.
• Heat pump water heaters.
• Condensing water heaters.
 𝑊̇ 𝑖𝑛 − 𝑄̇𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑚̇𝐶𝑝 (𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛 )

𝑄̇ − 𝑊̇ + 𝑚̇(ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 − ℎ𝑖𝑛 ) = 0

Heat engines
A heat engine is a thermodynamic system that converts heat energy into
mechanical energy. It needs a heat source, a cold reservoir, and the engine itself,
which is usually gas that expands when heat is applied. The engine absorbs heat
from the hot reservoir and expands, doing work on the environment, usually
harnessed into a usable form with a piston. The system then releases heat energy
back into the cold reservoir and returns to its initial state. Heat engines convert the
energy locked in fuel into force and motion. Power plants and internal combustion
engines are examples of heat engines.

Remark: A heat engine can be considered as a steady flow device if it operates

continuously, and the working fluid undergoes a thermodynamic cycle without any
accumulation of mass or energy within the device. However, most heat engines are not
steady flow devices, because they operate intermittently and have a reciprocating motion
of the piston and cylinder.

ΔU = Q – W

The difference between heat engine and hot water tank

Remark: a hot water tank is a device that stores and heats water. The water in a hot
water tank is heated by an immersion heater within the cylinder or by an external device
such as a boiler. The heated water is then stored in the tank until it is needed. While this
process does involve the transfer of heat, it does not result in the performance of
mechanical work.

Steam turbine
The function of a steam turbine is to convert the thermal energy of pressurized steam into
mechanical or electrical energy. A steam turbine consists of a boiler, a turbine, a condenser, a
feed pump, and some auxiliary devices. The boiler produces high-pressure and high-temperature
steam, which expands through the turbine blades and rotates the rotor. The rotor is connected
to a generator that produces electricity. Some Pertinent Assumptions are:
 • The process is steady state, meaning that there is no change with time.
• Potential energy changes are negligible.
• The device is adiabatic, meaning that heat transfer is negligible.
• The process is internally reversible.

𝑊̇ = 𝑚̇(ℎ𝑖𝑛 − ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 )
Remark: In general: the air in a steam turbine is not ideal and is affected by various factors such as
temperature, pressure, and humidity.

Types of steam turbine:

• Impulse turbine

• Reaction turbine

• Back-pressure turbine

• Extraction turbine

• Condensing turbine

Compressor
A compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its
volume. It is used to compress air into a storage tank, for immediate or later use. The
compressed air can be used for a variety of applications such as pneumatic tools. When
the delivery pressure reaches its set upper limit, the compressor is shut off, or the excess
air is released through an overpressure valve. The pressure energy provided by the
compressed air can be used for various applications.

Types of compressors:

❑ Centrifugal compressor
❑ Reciprocating compressor

1. The compressor operates at steady state, meaning there is no change with time.

2. Heat exchange between the compressor and the surroundings is negligible,

meaning the compressor is adiabatic.
 3. There is no shaft work in the heat exchanger, meaning the compressor is the only
device that does work on the air.

4. Kinetic and potential energy changes are negligible, meaning the compressor only
changes the pressure and temperature of the air.

5. The air behaves as an ideal gas, meaning it follows the ideal gas law.

𝑊̇ = 𝑚̇(ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 − ℎ𝑖𝑛 )

The difference between turbine and compressor

Heat exchangers
A heat exchanger is a device that transfers thermal energy from one fluid to another without
mixing them. The fluids can be separated by a solid wall or in direct contact. Heat exchangers
are used in various applications, such as cooling and heating of homes, buildings, machines,
and engines, making products safe and extending shelf life by preventing microbial growth,
and converting feedwater into steam in nuclear reactors. Heat exchangers work on the
principles of conduction and thermodynamics.
 • In a pipe or duct device, the steady flow energy equation can be used to analyze the energy
balance of the device.

• The device is adiabatic, meaning that heat transfer is negligible.

• The process is internally reversible.

𝑄̇ − 𝑊̇ = 𝑚̇(ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 − ℎ𝑖𝑛 )

Pipe and duct flow

A pipe or a duct is an example of a steady-flow device, which is any device that
has a continuous flow of material through it. Generally, the material flowing
through the device is a gas or liquid, and if the device in any way changes the
velocity of the fluid, then that fluid will exert a force on the steady flow device in
return.

• The fluid is incompressible.

• The fluid is steady, meaning that the properties of the fluid do not change with time.
• The fluid is inviscid, meaning that there is no friction between the fluid and the walls
of the pipe or duct.
• The fluid is one-dimensional, meaning that the properties of the fluid do not vary in
the direction perpendicular to the flow direction.

Remark: Pipes and ducts are both used to transport substances, but there are
some differences between them. Ducts are typically used to distribute air or fluid
 within a confined space, while pipes are used to transport substances over
longer distances. Ducts are often designed to maintain a specific temperature or
humidity level, while pipes are designed to withstand pressure and flow.

ΔU = Q – W

Nozzles and diffusers

A nozzle and a diffuser are both flow control devices in fluid and gas systems. The
difference between them is that a nozzle increases the velocity of a fluid, while a
diffuser decreases the velocity of a fluid.

• The assumptions that are pertinent to steady-flow devices are:

• The fluid is incompressible.
• The fluid is steady, meaning that the properties of the fluid do not change with time.
• The fluid is inviscid, meaning that there is no friction between the fluid and the walls
of the pipe or duct.
• The fluid is one-dimensional, meaning that the properties of the fluid do not vary in
the direction perpendicular to the flow direction.
Remark: Nozzles are essential for controlling the exit velocity of a fluid flow, while
diffusers improve distribution and residence time in wastewater treatment
plants. Nozzles are used to speed up fluids to create high velocities with low-
pressure drops, while diffusers slow down fluids to decrease velocity with
increasing pressure.

Mixing chamber
A mixing chamber is a device that is used to homogeneously mix two or more streams
of fluids. It is an open-type thermodynamic system that is used to mix fluids by direct
contact heat exchange.
 𝑚̇(ℎ1 ) + 𝑚̇(ℎ2 ) = 𝑚̇(ℎ3 )

Condenser
A condenser is a heat exchanger that facilitates the transfer of heat from the refrigerant
to the surrounding air or water. It is considered a steady-flow device, as it involves the
transfer of mass and energy between two reservoirs at different pressures and
temperatures, and the mass of the working fluid is constant .
 Types of condensers
• Air-cooled condenser
• Water-cooled condenser
• Evaporative condenser
• Double tube type
• Shell and coil condenser
• Shell and tube condenser

Throttling valve
A throttling valve is a type of valve that can start, stop, and regulate the flow of fluid from
one point to another. It is used to regulate the flow rate of gases, water, and steam below
a specified limit. The throttling action is achieved by varying the piping system’s pressure
and temperature to ensure the flow of gas or water is within acceptable limits. The valve
stem is generally raised or lowered to change the size of the flow path through the valve.
 1. The flow through a throttling valve is steady.
2. The flow through a throttling valve is fast enough so that the heat transfer
between the refrigerant and its surroundings is negligible.
3. No work input or output
4. Changes in kinetic and potential energy of the entering and leaving fluid are
usually neglected.

Types of valves: -
• Diaphragm valve
• Butterfly valve
• Ball valve
• Globe valve
• Pinch valve
• Needle valve
References
https://www.viessmann.co.uk/en/heating-advice/boilers/how-does-a-hot-water-tank-work.htm

[Guide] Hot Water Tanks | Repairs, Types, Costs and More | Square One

Steam Turbine - How Steam Energy Works | Turbine Generator

7 Types of Steam Turbines Explained - Felsics.com

Understanding Compressors (thomasnet.com)

What is Heat Exchanger - Definition (thermal-engineering.org)

Nozzle vs Diffuser: Understanding the Key Differences - Tool Trip

Condenser | Heat Exchanger, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning | Britannica

Condenser: Definition, Principle, Types, Working, Advantages (engineersrail.com)

What is a Throttling Valve? Definition, Applications, Working, Examples, Selection – What Is Piping