University of Technology, Jamaica

MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY

Dryness Fraction of Steam

Name: ID: Group: Date:

Roneil Napier 9712441 B.ENG 4E (Art.) July 21st, 2011

LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

Objective To gain familiarity with the main components and operation of a gas fired steam boiler. To determine the dryness fraction of steam sampled from the pipeline

Theory A separating calorimeter uses mechanical means to separate the liquid from the vapour in a wet steam sample. The separated vapour is then passed through a water-cooled condenser, so that it can be collected as a liquid. Let mf = mass collected from separator mg = mass collected from condenser. Then, apparent dryness fraction of steam sample,

xa

However, the separation process is imperfect, and some amount of liquid is included with mg. If a throttling calorimeter is placed after the separator, the fall in pressure during the throttling process carries the separated vapour over into the superheat region. This then allows the enthalpy of the superheated vapour, h2, to be determined from steam tables, if the pressure and temperature after throttling is measured.

LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

Assuming constant enthalpy for throttling process, h2 = h1 = hf1 + xhfg1.

Hence, dryness fraction of vapour entering throttling calorimeter,

xb

Therefore, actual mass of separated vapour = xb (mg).

Actual dryness fraction of steam sample

= xb*xa.

LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

Apparatus

Boiler Manufacturer Model Serial Working Pressure Fuel Equivalent Evaporation

Tubeless Steam Boiler (Vertical) HURST 0850823 V86-200-4 150 psig (~10.3 bar) Diesel 1035lbs (~469.5kg) from and @ 212oF (100oC)

Combined separating and throttling calorimeter (Norwood Instruments, England). Thermometer Large and small cylindrical collection vessels Triple beam balance Fortin barometer

Figure 1 Apparatus

LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

Procedure The arrangement of the boiler was observed and sketched to show the main accessories and control components. The water level in the boiler was checked to ascertain whether it was in the operating range on the sight glass. The air vent at the top of the boiler was then opened to ensure the expulsion of air from the boiler. The Treatment Chemical dosing line and the feed water line valve to the boiler were then opened. The lock-off valve on the Diesel Fuel supply line was then opened and the boiler fired. The startup sequence was then observed. When steam began to emit from the air vent valve, the valve was closed slowly in order to prevent the water level from rising in the sight glass. The boiler was then allowed to pressurize. The masses of the small and large containers were determined by weighing them. When the boiler had run-up to pressure, valves A and E (located at the top of the steam lagging apparatus) were opened just wide enough to allow a slow bleed of steam through the pipeline. This heated the pipeline and evaporated any condensate that was present. After ensuring that valve D was closed, valve C was opened very slowly. Valve F (on the upper lagged leg on the Lagging Apparatus) was cracked open to the marked position so as to permit a slight bleed of steam. This was done in order to minimize condensation on the steam line. Valve C was then closed after adequate heat was supplied to the apparatus, and the throttled Steam Thermometer T2 showed a reading that was above 90oC. A container was positioned below the condenser to collect the condensate. With the use of gloves, valve D was gradually opened to release liquid from the mechanical separator. Valve D was then reclosed and cooling water turned on to flow moderately into the condenser. The large container was then placed below the condenser to collect the condensate. Valve C was then slowly reopened fully to allow
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LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

the steam to flow through the apparatus. After it was observed that the steam was superheated, readings of steam line pressure, water manometer, and thermometer readings were taken. When an adequate volume of water was collected in the large container, valve C was closed. After sufficient time had passed to allow all condensate to drain from the condenser, the small container was again placed at the outlet of valve D which was then gradually opened to collect all the water from the mechanical separator, after which valve D was reclosed. The containers were then weighed with their contents. In taken the atmospheric pressure, the cistern adjusting screw at the base of the fortin barometer was rotated until the surface of the mercury in the cistern just touched the tip of the tapered zero pointer. The vernier scale was then positioned such that the lower edge of the scale was level with the top of the mercury meniscus with two triangular spaces visible on each side of the mercury column, after which its height was recorded. The temperature in the barometer cabinet, the barometer reading, and the corresponding correction multiplier were then recorded.

Figure 2

Sketch of Vertical Tubeless Boiler

Boiler Firing Sequence The control firing sequence occurs at cold startup or when the steam pressure drops. The pressure control completes an electric circuit, which starts a timer motor cam turning in the programmer. The first contact on the timer motor cam closes and starts the burner motor that rotates the primary air fan. The primary air fan blows air into the furnace to purge any unburned fuel present in a gaseous condition. This process in called pre-purging the furnace. By prepurging the furnace before pilot ignition, the danger of a furnace explosion is reduced. Depending upon the size of the furnace the purge cycle takes approximately 30 seconds but may take as long as 60 seconds. The programmer is still operating and when the second contact closes, the circuit of the ignition transformer is completed. This causes a spark in front of the gas pilot tube. At the same time, a solenoid valve is opened in the gas pilot line, allowing gas to flow through the gas pilot tube and be ignited by the spark. The scanner is located on the front of the boiler and is used to sight the pilot. Sighting the pilot through the scanner will verify that the pilot is lit. This process is referred to as proving pilot. The next step is to close the contact which completes the circuit to the main fuel valve, which opens only after the scanner has proved pilot. With the main fuel valve open the fuel enters the furnace and is ignited by the pilot. The scanner is then used to prove the main flame. The programmer continues to operate for a few more seconds, securing circuits to the ignition transformer and the gas pilot. After the circuits are secured, the programmer stops. The burner is now regulated by the pressure control and the modulating pressure control. If the scanner senses

LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

a flame failure, the system is purged and secured. The programmer is then manually reset to the start cycle.

LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

Results

Parameters Mass (Small Container) Empty With Contents Empty With Contents

Group 1 Readings Value 1.65 2.10 0.45 1.60 10.0 8.4 117 68 1.5 102 746 32 0.00519 Inst. Units lb lb lb lb lb lb MN/m2 (psig)
o

Group 2 Readings Value 0.748 0.953 0.205 0.726 4.536 3.810 8.0672 341 0.1034 375 0.746 305 0.00519 SI Units kg kg kg kg kg kg bar K bar K m of Hg K Null

Mass of Separated Liquid, Mw Mass (Large Container)

Mass of Condensed Vapour, Ms Line Steam Pressure, P1 Line Steam Temperature, T1 Throttled Steam Pressure, P2 Throttled Steam Temperature, T2 Mercury Column Height Fortin Barometer Temperature Height Container Factor Gravity = 9.784 ms-2

C C C

Inch (w.g.)
o

mm of Hg
o

Null

Figure 3
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LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

Separating and Throttling Calorimeter

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LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

Sample Calculations

Conversions:

K 68 oC

= oC + 273 = (68 + 273) K = 341 K

1 psi 117 psi i.e. P1

= 6.895 kPa = (117 * 6.895) kPa = 806.72 kPa

Calculation of Apparent Dryness Fraction of Steam Sample xa: xa =

= 0.949

Absolute pressure, Pabs = Gauge pressure, Pgauge + Atmospheric pressure, Patm

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LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

Patm

= Hggh

Now h = Mercury Column Height (Mercury Column Height Height Container Factor) = 0.746 (0.746 * 0.00519) = 0.742 mHg

Patm

= 13595.5 * 9.784 * 0.742 = 98,699.63 Pa = 0.987 bar ~ 1.0 bar

Working pressure, P = P1 + Patm = 8.067 + 1 = 9.067 bar

Pressure of Throttled Steam, P2 = Manometer pressure, Pm + Atmospheric pressure, Patm h = 1.5 in = 0.0381 m

Pm

= 1000 * 9.784 * 0.0381 = 373.77 Pa = 0.00373 bar

P2

= 0.00373 + 1.0
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LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

= 1.00373 bar

Calculation of Dryness Fraction of Vapour Entering Throttling Calorimeter, xb

For hf at 9.067 bar: From Steam Tables and by Interpolation:

P (bar) 10.0

=
9.067

hf

= (0.067 * 20) + 743 = 744.34 kJ/kg

9.0 743 hf 763 h (kJ/kg)

For hfg at 9.067 bar: From Steam Tables and by Interpolation:

P (bar) 10.0

=
9.067

hfg = (0.067 * -16) + 2031 = 2029.93 kJ/kg

9.0 2031 hfg 2015 hfg (kJ/kg)

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LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

The temperature of the throttled steam is 102 oC which tells us that it is superheated. From the superheated section of the steam tables and by interpolation: At 1 bar:

=
h2 = (0.4 * 101) + 2676 = 2716.4 kJ/kg
102

T (oC) 150

xb

=
100

=
2676 h2 2777

h (kJ/kg)

= 0.922

Actual dryness fraction of steam sample, x: x = xa * xb = 0.949 * 0.922 = 0.875

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LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

Discussion The dryness fraction of steam describes how dry steam is, with a value of 1 representing steam that is 100% dry, and therefore free of entrained moisture. Steam with a dryness fraction of 0.99 consists of 99% steam and 1% water. If we measure the latent heat present in steam that has a dryness fraction of 0.99 we will find that it possesses 99% of the full quotient of latent heat. The actual dryness fraction in this experiment was calculated to be 0.875, and was found to be lower than both xa and xb which are 0.949 and 0.922 respectively. From the analogy in the paragraph above, we can deduce that the steam under investigation consisted of 87.5% steam and 12.5% water, intrinsically a 7:1 ratio. While this fraction may be acceptable for some processes, others may require a drier degree of steam or even steam that is less dry. The amount of water (12.5%) present in the sample of steam under observation can be attributed to errors that may have occurred during the experiment, leading to the incomplete separation of water. Possible sources are human errors in the form of parallax or reading accuracy when measurements were taken, and calculations. There was also evidence of steam escaping into the room resulting in systematic errors which might have altered room temperature and pressure. Conclusion The objectives of this laboratory exercise were realized, thus validating this experiment.

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LAB 2 - DRYNESS FRACTION OF STEAM

References Van Ness, H. C. (1983). Understanding Thermodynamics. Dover Publications; Dover ed edition (January 1, 1983). ISBN-13: 978-0486632773

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