Department of Mechanical Engineering

Question Bank

Semester/Year V/III
Course Code& Course Title CME390 THERMAL POWER ENGINEERING
Credits 3
Course Type Core
Nature of the Course Theory

Course Outcomes (COs)

CO1 To study the psychrometric properties and how they are utilized in arriving at calculations
to determine heating loads
CO2 To study the working principles of various refrigeration systems and perform cop
calculations
CO3 To study the performance parameters of an air compressor
CO4 To study the different types of boilers and compute their performance parameters
CO5 To study the fuel properties and arrive at proximate and ultimate analysis of fuels
CL-Cognitive Level; R-Remember; Un-Understand; Ap-Apply; An-Analyze; Ev-Evaluate; Cr-
Create

2-Marks (10 Questions per Unit)

Sl.N Blooms Unit.

Question CO
o Taxonomy No
1 Explain natural draft cooling tower. R CO1 5
2 Explain humidification process. R CO1 5
3 Explain evaporative cooling process. R CO1 5
4 Explain adiabatic saturation process. R CO1 5
5 Define sensible heat factor (SHF) and explain its importance. R CO1 5
6 Define relative humidity and explain its significance. R CO1 5
Define grain specific humidity (GSHF) and explain its
7 R CO1 5
significance.
8 Define dry-bulb temperature and wet-bulb temperature. R CO1 5
9 Calculate specific humidity using Psychrometric chart. R CO1 5
10 Calculate cooling load using Psychrometric chart. R CO1 5
11 Explain the working principle of air cycle refrigeration system. R CO2 4
Explain the difference between vapor compression and vapor
12 R CO2 4
absorption refrigeration systems.
Explain the concept of superheating in vapor compression
13 R CO2 4
refrigeration cycle.
Explain the concept of isentropic expansion in vapor
14 R CO2 4
compression refrigeration cycle.
Draw the P-H diagram for vapor compression refrigeration
15 R CO2 4
cycle.
16 Describe the working principle of thermoelectric refrigeration. R CO2 4
Define sub-cooling and explain its benefits in refrigeration
17 R CO2 4
systems.
 18 Define COP of a refrigeration system and explain its significance. R CO2 4
Calculate the refrigerating effect of a vapor compression
19 R CO2 4
refrigeration system.
20 Calculate the capacity of a refrigeration system using COP. R CO2 4
21 Classify air compressors and explain their comparisons. R CO3 3
Compare rotary compressors with reciprocating air
22 R CO3 3
compressors.
23 Define isentropic efficiency and explain its calculation. R CO3 3
24 Define volumetric efficiency and explain its significance. R CO3 3
Describe the working principle of multistage air compressor
25 R CO3 3
with intercooling.
Draw the P-V diagram for single-stage reciprocating air
26 R CO3 3
compressor.
27 Explain isothermal efficiency and its importance. R CO3 3
Explain the effect of clearance volume on compressor
28 R CO3 3
performance.
Explain the working principle of single-stage reciprocating air
29 R CO3 3
compressor.
30 Calculate work of compression with clearance. R CO3 3
31 Classify boilers and explain their comparisons. R CO4 2
32 Explain the function of safety valve in a boiler. R CO4 2
33 Define boiler efficiency and explain its calculation. R CO4 2
34 List the essential mountings of a boiler. R CO4 2
Explain the difference between natural and forced circulation
35 R CO4 2
boilers.
36 Describe the purpose of superheater in a boiler. R CO4 2
37 Calculate equivalent evaporation from boiler trial data. R CO4 2
38 Explain the function of economizer in a boiler. R CO4 2
39 Define heat transfer coefficient and explain its significance. R CO4 2
40 Explain the difference between IBR and non-IBR boilers. R CO4 2
41 Classify fuels and explain their characteristics. R CO1 1
42 Define proximate analysis of coal and explain its significance. R CO5 1
43 Calculate gross calorific value (GCV) of a fuel. R CO5 1
44 Explain the difference between gross and net calorific values. R CO5 1
45 Describe the procedure for moisture determination in coal. R CO5 1
46 Define ultimate analysis of fuel and explain its importance. R CO5 1
47 Explain the concept of combustion efficiency. R CO5 1
48 List the properties of ideal fuel. R CO5 1
Calculate the percentage of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in
49 R CO5 1
coal.
50 Explain the significance of ash content in coal. R CO5 1

13-Marks (5 Questions per Unit)

Blooms
Sl.N Unit
Question Taxonom CO
o . No
y
1 Explain the construction and working of summer and winter air CO
Ap 5
conditioning systems. 1
2 An office is to air – conditioning for 50 staff when the outdoor Ap CO 5
0 1
conditions are 30 C DBT and 75% RH if the quantity of air supplied is
0.4 m3/min/person, find following: 1. Capacity of cooling in tones of
refrigeration 2. Capacity of the heating coil in KW 3. Amount of water
vapour removed per hour. Assume that required air inlet conditions are
200C DBT and 60% RH. Air is conditioned first by cooling and
dehumidifying and then by heating. 4. If the heating coil surface
 temperature is 250C, find the by – pass factor of the heating coil?

3 An industrial air conditioning system is to be designed for the following

hot and wet summer conditions.

Outdoor conditions = 75% RH, 300C DBT

Required indoor conditions = 65% RH, 200C DBT
CO
Amount of fresh air circulated = 200 m3/min Ap 5
1
Apparatus dew point temperature = 100C

The required indoor condition is achieved first by cooling and

dehumidification and then by heating. Determine: 1. Capacity of the
cooling coil 2. By – pass factor of cooling coil 3. Capacity of the heating
coil 4. Surface temperature of heating coil of the by – pass factor is 0.3
4 One kg of air at 35 0C DBT and 60% RH is mixed with 2 kg of air at 20 0C
DBT and 130C dew point temperature. Calculate the vapour pressure
CO
and dew point temperature of stream one, enthalpy of both the streams Ap 5
1
and specific humidity of the mixture.

5 40 m3 of air per minute at 310C DBT and 18.50C WBT is passed over the
cooling coil whose surface temperature is 4.40C. The coil cooling
CO
capacity is 3.56 tons of refrigeration under the given condition of air. Ap 5
1
Determine DBT and WBT of the air leaving the cooling coil.

6 With a simple block diagram, explain the working of a vapour CO

Ap 4
compression refrigeration system. 2
7 Explain the construction and working of vapour absorption
refrigeration system with neat sketch. Write the advantage and CO
Ap 4
disadvantageous of vapour absorption and vapour compression 2
refrigeration system.
8 A vapour compression refrigerator works between the pressure limits
of 56bar and 25bar. The working fluid is just dry at the end of
compression and there is no under cooling of the liquid before the
expansion valve. Determine 1. COP of the cycle and 2. Capacity of the
refrigerator if the fluid is at the rate of 5 kg/min
CO
Entropy Entropy Ap 4
Enthalpy Enthalpy 2
Pressure Temperature of of
of liquid of vapour
in bar in K liquid vapour
KJ/kg KJ/kg
KJ/kg K KJ/kg K
56 295 151.96 293.29 0.554 1.0332
25 261 56.32 322.58 0.226 1.2464
9 The temperature range in a Freon – 12 plants is -60C to 270C. The Ap CO 4
2
compression is isentropic and there is no cooling of the liquid. Find the
COP assuming that the refrigerant 1. After compression is dry and
saturated 2. Leaving the evaporator is dry and saturated. The properties
 of F – 12 are given in the table:

Temperature hf hg sf sg Specific Heat

0
KJ/
C KJ/kg KJ/kg K KJ/kg K KJ/kg K
kg
-6 413 571 4.17 4.76 0.641
27 445 585 4.28 4.75 0.714
10 A Freon – 12 Refrigerator producing a cooling effect of 20 KJ/sec
operates on a simple cycle with pressure limits of 1.509 bar and 9.607
bar. The vapour leaves the evaporator dry saturated and there is no
undercooling. Determine the power required by the machine. If the
compressor operates at 300 rpm and has a clearance volume of 3% of
stroke volume, determine the piston displacement of the compressor.
For compressor assume that the expansion following the law PV 1.13 =
constant. Properties of Freon – 12:
CO
Ap 4
Temperatu Specifi 2
PS Vg hf hg sf sg
re c Heat

0
KJ/ KJ/kg KJ/kg KJ/kg
C bar m3/kg KJ/kg
kg K K K
1.50 0.108 17.8 178.7 0.073 0.708
-20 -
9 8 2 3 1 7
9.60 74.5 203.2 0.271 0.682
40 - 0.747
7 9 0 8 5
11 Derive the work done by a two stage reciprocating air compressor with
intercooler and derive the condition for minimum work input and the
CO
expression for minimum work required for two stage reciprocating Ap 3
3
compressor.

12 Explain the construction and working principles of Multi stage

compressor and discuss the perfect and in – perfect inter cooling with
CO
neat sketch. Draw the P – V and T – S diagram for two stage Ap 3
3
compression

13 A single stage acting air compressor delivers 0.6 kg of air per min at 6
bar. The temperature and pressure at the end of suction stroke are 300 C
and 1 bar. The bore and stroke of the compressor are 100 mm and 150
mm respectively. The clearance is 3% of the swept volume. Assuming CO
Ap 3
the index of compression and expansion to be 1.3, find: 1. volumetric 3

efficiency of the compressor 2. Power required if the mechanical

efficiency is 85%, and 3. Speed of the compressor.

14 A single acting two stage air compressor deals with 4 m 3/min of air at Ap CO 3
 1.013 bar and 150 C with a speed of 250 rpm. The delivery pressure is
80 bar. Assuming complete intercooling. Find the minimum power
required by the compressor and the bore and stroke of the compressor.
Assume a piston speed of 3 m/sec, mechanical efficiency of 75% and 3
volumetric efficiency of 80% per stage. Assume the polytrophic index of
compression in both the stages to be n = 1.25.

15 A two stage air compressor compresses air from 1 bar and 200 C to 42
bar. If the law of compression is PV1.35 = constant and intercooling is
perfect. Find per kg of air 1. The Work done in compression 2. The mass CO
Ap 3
of cooling water necessary for abstracting heat in the intercooler, if the 3

temperature rise of the cooling water is 250 C.

16 (i) Briefly explain the working of a water-tube boiler and list their
merits and demerits. (9) CO
Ap 2
(ii) Compare the boiler mountings with accessories and give one 4
examples for each. (4)
17 (i) Explain the characteristic features and working of Benson boiler with
a neat sketch. (7)
(ii) In a boiler test, 1250 kg of coal is consumed in 24 hrs. Mass of water
CO
evaporated is 13000 kg and mean effective pressure is 7 bar. Feed water Ap 2
4
temperature is 40°C and heating value of coal is 30,000 kJ/kg. Taking
enthalpy of 1 kg of steam at 7 bar as 2570 kJ, find equivalent
evaporation per kg of coal and boiler efficiency. (6)
18 Explain with neat sketches of the following boiler mountings:
CO
(i) Water level indicator Ap 2
4
(ii) Pressure gauge.
19 The steam used by the turbine is 5.4 kg/kWh at a pressure of 50 bar and
temperature of 350°C. The efficiency of the boiler is 82% with feed
CO
water at 150°C. How many kg of coal having C.V. of 28100 kJ are Ap 2
4
required per kWh of power produced? If the cost of coal/tonne is
Rs.500. What is the fuel cost/k Wh?
20 The following data was obtained in a steam boiler trial : Feed water
supplied per hour 690 kg at 28°C, steam produced 0.97 dry at 8 bar, coal
fired per hour 91 kg of calorific value 27,200 kJ/kg, ash and unburnt
coal collected from beneath the fire bars 75 kg/hour of calorific value
CO
2760 kJ/kg, mass of flue gases per kg of coal burnt 173 kg, temperature Ap 2
4
of flue gases 325°C, room temperature 17°C, and the specific heat of the
flue gases 1026 kJ/kg K. Estimate the boiler efficiency, the percentage
heat carried away by the flue gases, the percentage heat loss in ashes,
and the percentage heat loss unaccounted for.
21 CO
Explain the classification of fuels and its properties. Ap 1
5
22 What is the difference between proximate analysis and ultimate analysis CO
Ap 1
of coal? 5
23 Explain the characteristics and properties of solid, liquid, and gaseous CO
Ap 1
fuels. Compare their advantages and disadvantages. 5
24 Compare the different methods of fuel analysis: proximate, ultimate, and CO
Ap 1
bomb calorimeter. Explain the advantages and limitations. 5
25 Calculate the gross and net calorific values of a fuel from the following CO
Ap 1
data: C = 80%, H2 = 10%, O2 = 5%, N2 = 5%. 5

16-Marks (2 Questions per Unit)

 Blooms Unit.
Sl.No Question CO
Taxonomy No
A sling psychrometer in laboratory test recorded the following
readings: Dry bulb temperature = 350C, Wet bulb temperature
= 250C, Calculate the following: 1. Specific humidity 2. Relative
1 humidity 3. Vapour density in air 4. Dew point temperature 5. Ap CO1 5
Enthalpy of mixture per kg of dry air. Take atmospheric
pressure = 1.0132 bar.

100 m3 of air per minute at 150C DBT and 80% RH is added

until its temperature is 220C. Calculate heat added to air per
2 minute, RH of the heated air and wet bulb temperature of the Ap CO1 5
heated air.

An ammonia refrigerator produces 30 tons of ice at 0 0C in a day

of 24 hours. The temperature range in the compressor is from
250C to -150C. The vapour is dry saturated at the end of
compression. Assume a COP of 60% of theoretical value.
Calculate the power required to drive the compressor. Assume
latent heat of ice is 335KJ/kg. For properties of NH 3, refer the
3 table below. Ap CO2 4

sf
Temperature hf hg sg
KJ/kg
in 0C KJ/kg KJ/kg KJ/kg K
K
25 298.90 1465.84 1.1242 5.0391
-15 112.39 1426.58 0.4572 5.5497
4 vapour compression refrigerator uses R – 12 as refrigerant and Ap CO2 4
the liquid evaporates in the evaporator at -15 0C. The
temperature of the refrigerant at the delivery from the
compressor is 150C when the vapour is condensed at 10 0C. Find
the coefficient of performance if 1. There is no under cooling 2.
The liquid is cooled by 50C before expansion by throttling

Take specific heat at constant pressure for the super-

heated as 0.64 KJ/kg K and that for liquid as 0.94 KJ/kg K.
the other properties of refrigerant are as follows:

Entropy Entropy
Enthalpy Enthalpy of
Temperature of of
0
of liquid vapour
in C liquid vapour
KJ/kg KJ/kg
KJ/kg K KJ/kg K
-15 22.33 180.97 0.0906 0.7052
 10 45.37 191.74 0.1752 0.6921
A single acting 14 cm x 10 cm reciprocating compressor is
operating at P1 = 1 bar, T1 = 200C, P2 = 6 bar and T2 = 1800C. The
speed of compressor is 1200 rpm and shaft power is 6.25KW. If
5 the mass of air delivered is 1.7 kg/min, calculate the actual Ap CO3 3
volumetric efficiency, the indicated power, the isothermal
efficiency, the mechanical efficiency and overall efficiency.

A three stage reciprocating air compressor compresses air

from 1 bar and 170C to 35bar. The law of compression is PV1.25
= constant and is the same for all stages of compression. Find
6 the minimum power required to compress 15 m3/min of free Ap CO3 3
air. Also find the intermediate pressures. Assume perfect
intercooling and neglect the clearance.

The following observation were recorded during a boiler trail:

Fuel used 65 kg/hr, mass of steam = 540 kg/hr at 10 bar,
moisture in fuel is 2% by mass, the mass of dry flue gases is 9
kg of fuel, the lower calorific value is 32000 kJ/kg, the
temperature of flue gases is 325°C, temperature of boiler is
28°C, feed water temperature is 50°C, the dryness fraction of
7 Ap CO4 2
the steam is 0.95, specific heat of gas is 1 kJ/kg°C and specific
heat of superheated steam is 2.3 kJ/kg°C. Determine the
following:
(i) Boiler efficiency
(ii) Equivalent evaporation
(iii) Prepare the energy balance sheet.
Why the different mounting and accessories are required for
boiler application? Explain in detail. Also, explain the
8 Ap CO4 2
functionality of mounting and accessories along with its
location and neat sketch.
Calculate the gross and net calorific value of coal having the
9 following compositions. Carbon - 85%, hydrogen - 8%, sulphur Ap CO5 1
- 1%, nitrogen - 2% and ash - 4%
Define gross and net calorific values. Calculate gross and net
10 calorific values of a coal sample containing 84% carbon, 1.5% Ap CO5 1
sulphur, 6% nitrogen, 5.5% hydrogen and 8.4% oxygen.