Thermodynamics Qualifying Exam

Study Material
The candidate is expected to have a thorough understanding of undergraduate engineering
thermodynamics topics. These topics are listed below for clarification. Not all instructors cover
exactly the same material during a course, thus it is important for the candidate to closely
examine the subject areas listed below. The textbooks listed below are a good source for the
review and study of a majority of the listed topics. One final note, the example problems made
available to the candidates are from past exams and do not cover all subject material. These
problems are not to be used as the only source of study material. The topics listed below should
be your guide for what you are responsible for knowing.

Suggested textbook:
Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, 4th Ed., Michael Mortan and Howard
Shapiro, (John Wiley & Sons, pub.)
Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 4th Ed., Yunus Cengal and Michael Boles,
(McGraw Hill, pub.)
Fundamentals of Classical Thermodynamics, 4th Ed., Gordon Van Wylen, Richard
Sonntag, and Claus Borgnakke, (John Wiley & Sons, pub.)

Topic areas:
1. Properties of pure substances.
a. Identify states from properties
b. Using equations of state and general compressibility charts/tables
2. First Law
a. Application to closed and open systems
b. Steady and unsteady formulations and use
3. Entropy and Second Law
a. Definition of entropy
b. Carnot efficiency
c. Application to closed and open systems
4. Irreversibility, Availability, and Energy
a. Application to closed and open systems
5. Power and refrigeration systems
a. Rankine cycle with modifications
b. Vapor compression refrigeration
c. Air-standard cycles
d. Calculation of efficiencies and COPs
6. Thermodynamic relations
a. Maxwell relations
b. Behavior of real gases
c. Formulation for calculating changes in properties for real gases
d. Use of generalized correction charts/tables for entropy and enthalpy
7. Mixtures and Solutions
a. Ideal gases
b. Properties of mixtures
8. Chemical reactions
a. Equation balancing / stoichiometry
b. Enthalpy of formation
c. Heat of reaction
d. First law for a reacting system
9. Phase and chemical equilibrium
a. Requirements for equilibrium
b. Phase equilibrium for a pure substance
c. Gibbs phase rule
d. Chemical equilibrium for a mixture of reacting ideal gases
Name ___________________________ Summer 2007

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK
This portion of the qualifying exam is closed book. You may have a calculator.

Work 3 of the 4 problems. Be very clear which 3 you want graded (see below). It
is not acceptable to work all 4 problems and hope that the graders pick out the best
worked three.

I want problems #____, #____, and #____ graded.

Be sure to put your name on all papers handed in, including this cover sheet.

1. The differential of pressure obtained from a certain equation of state is given by one of the
following expressions.

dp = [2(v − b)/RT] dv + [(v − b)2/RT2] dT

dp = [− RT/ (v − b)2] dv + [R/ (v − b)] dT

The other expression is incorrect. Determine the original equation of state from which the
correct differential of pressure was obtained.

2. Consider ideal combustion of one kmol of acetylene ( C2 H 2 ) with 3 kmols of oxygen ( O2 )

and 11.28 kmols of nitrogen ( N 2 ) . The initial temperature of the acetylene, oxygen, and
nitrogen is 25o C . All reactants and products may be treated as ideal gases. Given that the
enthalpy of formation of acetylene is h fo = 226, 731 kJ kmol , and using the attached tables,
estimate the adiabatic flame temperature.
Name ___________________________ Summer 2007

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK
Name ___________________________ Summer 2007

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK
Name ___________________________ Summer 2007

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK
Name ___________________________ Summer 2007

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK
Name ___________________________ Summer 2007

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK
Name ___________________________ Summer 2007

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK
3. A dam retains water of height h above the valley below. Using the First Law:

Q − W = m [g (z2 − z1)] + (m/2) [(V2)2 − (V1)2]

a. if the water is allowed to flow through a pipe to the bottom of the dam, show that the
maximum velocity of the water at the exit of the pipe is the classical value:

i. Vmax = (2 g h)1/2

b. Next, assume a hydro-turbine is placed at the pipe at the bottom of the dam to extract
useful power from the falling water. Using the First Law again, determine the velocity of
the water at the turbine exit that will allow the production of the maximum power in the
turbine. Express this optimum water velocity of the exit of the turbine, Vopt, in terms of
Vmax, given above.

⎛ ∂T ⎞
4. The Joule-Thomson or Joule-Kelvin coefficient is μ J = ⎜ ⎟ . This coefficient may be
⎝ ∂P ⎠h
negative, zero, or positive. Provide a physical explanation for each possible sign. Consider
non-reacting gaseous substances.
Name ___________________________ Fall 2005

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK
This portion of the qualifying exam is closed book. You may have a calculator.

Work 3 of the 4 problems. Be very clear which 3 you want graded (see below). It
is not acceptable to work all 4 problems and hope that the graders pick out the best
worked three.

I want problems #____, #____, and #____ graded.

Be sure to put your name on all papers handed in, including this cover sheet.

1. Given that the Gibbs function is:

G = H − TS ( H = U + PV) ( dU = TdS − PdV) etc.

And since the Gibbs function is a “point function” and forms exact differentials, find a
simple expression for the change of entropy with respect to pressure for an isothermal
process with an ideal gas:

(∂S/∂P)T = ?
Name ___________________________ Fall 2005

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK

2. A stoichiometric mixture of oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2) are contained within a constant
volume container. The initial temperature and pressure are 273 K and 1 atm. At this
temperature there is negligible reaction between the oxygen and hydrogen. A spark initiates
the reaction, which goes very rapidly toward equilibrium. The measured temperature of the
products is 2000 K. Many products are possible but only the following will be considered: H,
H2, O, O2, OH, and H2O. The relevant equilibrium reactions are:

H2 2H log10 K p = −5.580
O2 2O log10 K p = −6.356
1
H 2O H2 + O2 log10 K p = −3.540
2
1
H 2O OH + H 2 log10 K p = −3.780
2

The equilibrium constant is:

( pE ) E ( pF ) F
ν ν

Kp = for the reaction ν A A + ν B B νEE +νFF

( p A ) A ( pB ) B
ν ν

where all partial pressures are measured in atmospheres. The mixture before and after the
reaction may be treated as an ideal gas. Determine the final partial pressures of the six
products considered.

Note: You cannot hope to finish this problem in the time allotted. Proceed as if you did have
enough time and you should be able to get to the point where you would need a computer to
actually solve the equations.
Name ___________________________ Fall 2005

Qualifying Exam: Thermodynamics

CLOSED BOOK
3. A substance whose Joule-Thomson coefficient is positive is throttled. During this process:

(a) The temperature of the substance will increase

(b) The temperature of the substance will decrease
(c) The entropy of the substance will remain constant
(d) The entropy of the substance will decrease
(e) The enthalpy of the substance will decrease

Pick one correct answer and explain your logic or reasoning.

4. Consider ideal combustion of methane (CH4) and oxygen (O2).

a. What are the products? Write out the balanced reaction equation.
b. How would you find the adiabatic flame temperature for constant pressure
combustion?
c. How would you find the adiabatic flame temperature for constant volume
combustion?
 Qualifying Exam Spring 2003
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is closed book. You may have a calculator.

Work all three problems.

Be sure to put your name on all papers handed in, including this cover sheet.

Problem 1:
A gas has the following equation of state:
RT
= v − αPT 2 − βP
P
Find the following:
a) The Joule-Thomson Coefficient
b) The Temperature at the inversion state in terms of α, β, and P.

Problem 2:
Rejected heat, Qi, from a Lenoir cycle is used to power a Diesel cycle in a new hybrid cycle
engine. The compression ratio, r, and cutoff ratio, rc, are assumed to be known. The efficiency
of a Lenoir cycle can be shown to be:
ηL = 1 − k ( r − 1) /( r k − 1) where k = c p / c v

Find an expression for the Hybrid cycle efficiency ηh in terms of r, rc, and k.

Qin
P
L

Qi
D

Qout

V
Problem 3:
A tank of fixed volume V is filled with a saturated mixture with both liquid and vapor present.
Gravity is present so the liquid is on the bottom and the vapor above. Other than this separation
of phases, gravity has no other effect (neglect pressure gradients). The tank is perfectly
insulated. A very slow leak is present. Set up the equations you would need to solve that would
tell you the temperature and pressure in the tank as a function of mass in the tank. You may
assume that tables of properties are available. There is no way you can solve these equations
here, so indicate a method you would use to actually solve the equations. Be sure to state any
assumptions or simplifications you make. Please use standard nomenclature such as subscript ƒ
for the fluid phase and g for the vapor phase.

Would it make any difference if the leak were from a hole at the top versus the bottom?
 Qualifying Exam Spring 1999
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is open book. You may have a calculator.

Work all problems

Problem 1:
Problem 2:
Problem 3:
 Qualifying Exam Fall 1998
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is open book. You may have a calculator.

Work all problems

Problem 1:

Problem 2:
 Qualifying Exam Spring 1997
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is open book. You may have a calculator.

Work 3 of the 4 problems

 Qualifying Exam Spring 1996
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is open book. You may have a calculator.

Work all problems

 Qualifying Exam Spring 1995
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is open book. You may have a calculator.

Work all problems

 Qualifying Exam Spring 1994
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is open book. You may have a calculator.

Work all problems

 Qualifying Exam Spring 1993
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is open book. You may have a calculator.

Work 3 of the 4 problems

 Qualifying Exam Spring 1992
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is open book. You may have a calculator.

Work all problems

 Qualifying Exam Spring 1991
Thermodynamics
This portion of the qualifying exam is open book. You may have a calculator.

Work all problems

Qualifying Exam Miscellaneous
Thermodynamics