MEC551

Problem Based Learning/ Complex Engineering Problem

Assignment Description

Commence Date: Wednesday - 18th Dec 2024

Submission Date: Friday- 17th January 2025

Course Outcomes
This assignment is established to achieve these Course Outcomes:

CO1 Describe the principles of heat transfer mechanisms, refrigeration and air conditioning
systems in its fundamental aspect with relation to existing energy systems [PO1, LO1,
SS1]{C2}.
CO2 Analyse principles of energy mechanisms to solve a wide range of thermal engineering
problems [PO2, LO3, SS1]{C4}.
CO3 Develop solutions for mathematical models and propose appropriate results for thermal
engineering applications [PO3, LO3, SS1]{C6}.

Objective

The objective of this assignment is for students to conduct probabilistic calculations of a chiller
system covering the relevant topics in MEC551 Thermal Engineering.

Problem Statement

You are tasked to analyse the operation of a chiller system for a cold storage plant as shown in
Figure 1.

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SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

Figure 1. System schematic of the chiller system

A cold storage for a food processing plant requires chilled water to be supplied to the cold storage
space at -20oC.. A vapor compression refrigeration system produces chilled water that is used to
maintain the food cold storage space at the desired temperature.

The surrounding (ambient) temperature and relative humidity are assumed to be constant at 30oC
and 60%.

CHILLER SYSTEM ANALYSIS

The chiller system operates based on the vapour compression refrigeration cycle with a single-stage
compression and a water-cooled condenser. The isentropic efficiency of the compressor is assumed
at 90%. The coolant states at the exits of the evaporator and condenser can be assumed as
saturated.

The evaporator design is based on the shell-and-tube multipass heat exchanger. Chilled water exits
the evaporator at -20oC at a flow rate of 50 litres/minute and cools the cold storage space.

QUESTION 1 [CO1] 25M

Select a commercial refrigerant (other than R134a) and provide a list of important properties of the
refrigerant. Then, assign the suitable operating pressures of the chiller system based on all known
operating conditions. Explain the choice of pressures.

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QUESTION 2 [CO2] 25M

Calculate the maximum possible Coefficient of Performance of the chiller system based on the selected
pressures. 5M

Neglecting the refrigerant mass feed rate, plot the actual COP profile when the condenser pressure is
varied (at least 5 pressure values). Discuss the effect of increasing the condenser pressure to the
compressor work input and the COP. 20M

QUESTION 3 [CO3] 25M

As the chilled water exits the evaporator and flows to the cold storage heat exchanger, the surface
temperature of the pipe carrying the chilled water is at -20oC. The uninsulated pipe is exposed to the
surroundings.

Plot the heat transfer coefficients and steady-state heat loss from the pipe to the ambient under
conditions of natural convection current effect and wind effects of 2 ms-1, 4 ms-1, and 6 ms-1 velocities.
The effective chilled water pipe length is 40 meters with a pipe diameter of 25 cm.

QUESTION 4 [CO3] 25M

The evaporator is a one-shell pass and four-tube pass heat exchanger. At the design pressures, the
refrigerant absorbs heat from the chilled water until the chilled water temperature reaches -20oC. If
the chilled water inlet temperature to the evaporator varies at -15oC, -10oC, -50oC, and 0oC,

i) Plot the corresponding cooling rates of the chilled water,

ii) Plot the corresponding refrigerant flow rates, and
iii) Plot the changes in the required evaporator surface area (As).

Assume the overall heat transfer coefficient of the evaporator is constant at 150 W/m2.oC.

Report (technical writing)

Your team (max 4 members) must prepare a technical written report that is presented as according
to the course outcome for each part.

Question Course Outcome Marks

1 CO1 25%
2 CO2 25%
3 CO3 25%
4 CO3 25%
100%

The report must be submitted in hard copy.

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Please refer to the report rubrics in the attachment.

RUBRIC ASSESSMENT
Scale 1 2 3 4 5
Total Marks
Criteria Poor Acceptable Excellent
● The principles and
● The principles and ● The principles and fundamentals are well
fundamentals are poorly fundamentals are describe and are
correlated with the problem moderately describe and correlated with the
are correlated with the problem given.
given.
[CO1, problem given. ● All relevant heat transfer
● Making many errors in 15%
PO1] ● Make some but tolerable and thermodynamics
applications of heat transfer
errors in applications of principles and concepts
and thermodynamics heat transfer and are accurately and
principles and concepts. thermodynamics comprehensively
principles and concepts. demonstrated and
applied.
● Correct interpretation of all ● Correct and complete
results but lack interpretation of all results.
● Contain certain erroneous
insightfulness. Insightful, ● Draw Insightful, thoughtful,
elements in interpretations,
supported and supported and
discussion, and conclusion
[CO2, comprehensive discussions comprehensive discussions
of the thermal engineering. 40%
PO3] or conclusions of the or conclusions of the
● Only a very general
thermal engineering. thermal engineering.
discussion is made.
● Have some useful ● Use and technically sound
recommendations. recommendations.
●
● The mathematical
● Errors in integrating ● Substantially define the
and problems statement are
mathematical solutions and mathematical model and its
[CO3, well correlated
problem statement. problem statement 45%
PO3] ● Has given a
● No solution propose for the ● Fairly define the solution of
comprehensive solution for
given problem given problem statement
the given problem

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 UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PENGAJIAN KEJURUTERAAN MEKANIKAL

Report Assessment

Assignment’s Title : ________________________________________________________

Groups’ Name : ________________________________________________________

Leader’s Name : ________________________________________________________

Member’s Name : 1) _______________________________________________________

2) _______________________________________________________

3) _______________________________________________________

Scale 1 2 3 4 5
Level Poor Acceptable Excellent

Question Course Outcome Max. Marks Scale Given Marks

1 CO1 25%
2 CO2 25%
3 CO3 25%
4 CO3 25%
100%

COURSE OUTCOME ACHIEVEMENT SUMMARY

COURSE OUTCOME MAXIMUM MARKS GIVEN MARKS

CO1 25%
CO2 25%
CO3 50%
TOTAL 100%

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