THERMO-FLUIDS (THFMIB1)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment UNIVERSITY

OF JOHANNESBURG
Doornfontein Campus

Title: Marcet Boiler (Experiment 2)

By
Sikakane M.A
219096603

A Semester 2 Report submitted

in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the module

THERMOFLUIDS (THFMIB1)

B. ENG TECH (BENG(TECH))

Engineering: Industrial

LECTURER: Dr SL Gqibani

Date: 11 October 2021

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Statement of originality
I declare that this assignment is my own, original work. All secondary
material that I used, whether from print or electronic sources, has been
carefully acknowledged and referenced according to the Department
requirements. I understand that plagiarism is unacceptable, and I have
studied the department's plagiarism and referencing policies as set out in
the Learner guide.

Signed: Sikakane M.A.

Date: 11 October 2021

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 THERMO-FLUIDS (THFMIB1)

Acknowledgements
I would like to appreciate the advice and guidance offered by Mr N
Ngcukayitobi and Mr Tlali, our lab technician at the University of
Johannesburg throughout this work. They gave great feedback on the
issue. Information was also highly appreciated given by the sources listed
at the conclusion of this study.

Table of Contents

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Laboratory Report Format and Marking Rubric.............................................7

Experiment 1: Marcet Boiler..........................................................................6
1.1. Objective:..........................................................................................10
1.2. Apparatus.........................................................................................10
1.3. Introduction:......................................................................................10
1.4. Procedures:......................................................................................11
1.5. Questions:.........................................................................................12
1.6. Attachments:.....................................................................................14
1.7. Calculation........................................................................................15
1.8. Analysis of results.............................................................................17
1.9. Conclusion........................................................................................18
1.10. References.....................................................................................19

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Laboratory Report Format and Marking Rubric

Typed laboratory reports must be prepared, and will be assessed, using the topics
presented below.
The Laboratory report will be marked out of 100, as follows:

LABORATORY REPORT RUBRIC

TASK DETAILS PNT.

3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3

Title Page (3) Used the Used the Used the Title page
recommended recommended recommended used is not
Title page. title page but Title page but acceptable
some elements added own
are missing. graphics and
is not
acceptable.

3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3

Statement of Statement of Statement of Statement of There is no
originality (3) originality is originality is originality is Statement of
clear. unclear, but unclear, and originality.
the the structure is
writing is not
acceptable. acceptable.

3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3

Acknowledgement Acknowledgem Acknowledgem Acknowledge There is no
s (3) ent is clear. ent is clear but ment is acknowledge
some elements unclear and ment to the
are missing. the structure is piece.
not
acceptable.

3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3

Table of contents Table of Table of Table of There is no
(3) contents to contents is contents is Table of
experiment is computer manually contents to the
computer generated but generated is piece.
generated. the writing is not
unclear. acceptable.

10/10 6/10 3/10 0/10

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Objective of the Stated in own Used words, as Statement in Statement in

experiment (10) words, the stated in the own words, own words,
purpose of the Lab sheet on does not distorts the
experiment purpose of the explain the purpose of
experiment purpose of the the
experiment experiment

10/10 6/10 3/10 0/10

Theory/Backgroun Exceptional Good Theory Poor Theory Theory with
d (10) Theory with majority of with many almost no
incorporating equations and equations correct
equations and diagrams. missing and elements
diagrams. few or no
diagrams.

2/2 1½/2 1/2 0/2

apparatus (2) Listed the Listed the No List of the Does not
equipment and equipment and equipment but describe the
described the used a few used diagrams apparatus of
apparatus in relevant or pictures. use diagrams
own words and diagrams or or pictures.
used relevant pictures.
diagrams or
pictures.

3/3 2/3 1/3 0/5

Procedure and Described what Described what Personalised Does not use
apparatus (3) was done using was done using the reported
reported text in the lab Description of speech.
speech. sheet. what was
done.

3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3

Observations (3) All the All the All the All the
observations observations observations observations
Tabulated, and Tabulated but Tabulated but Tabulated,
implied data implied data implied data and implied
accurately not accurately not data do not
determined. determined. determined. represent
experimental
data.

3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3

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Data Analysis 1 Indicates clearly Indicates the Does not The Analysis of
Mathematical the formulas formulas but Indicate the data does not
manipulation (3) used and step- does not follow formulas and work at all as
bystep a step-by-step does not follow required.
procedure of procedure of a stepby-step
calculating one calculating one procedure of
set of tabulated set of tabulated calculating one
results results set of
tabulated
results

Data Analysis 2 (3)

3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3
Data Analysis 3 (3)
3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3
Data Analysis 4 (3)
3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3
Data Analysis 5 (3)
3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3
Data Analysis 6 (3)
3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3
Data Analysis 7 (3)
3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3
Data Analysis 8 (3)
Graph 3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3

Data Analysis 9 (3)

3/3 2/3 1/3 0/3

8/8 6/8 4/8 0/8

Discussion and Detailed Detailed There is some There is little or
conclusions (8) reference reference referenced no referenced
discussion is discussion is discussion but discussion.
done correctly done, some most salient
and salient core elements points are
points are are not missing.
highlighted. elaborated.

5/5 3/5 1/5 0/5

References (5) Information is Information is Information is Information is
cited properly cited but not cited, but has not cited or is
and in IEEE or formatted errors. cited
Harvard format. correctly. incorrectly.

TOTAL POINTS OUT OF 80

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Experiment 1: Marcet Boiler

1.1. Objective:

The main objective of this experiment is to achieve a balance of

temperature and saturation vapour pressure with water at all levels
between atmospheric pressure and 8bars (150 lb/in2). Then a theoretical
value from the steam table is compared to the theoretical value for the
graph (dT/dP)SAT slope.

1.2. Apparatus
Composition
The unit includes:
• Cylindrical boiler, made of thermically
insulated steel,
• Electrical resistance, for water
heating and evaporation
• Thermometer for the readout of the
temperature inside the boiler
• Pressure gauge for the readout of
the relative pressure inside the boiler
• Tap for filling the boiler controlling
the maximum water level in.
• Max pressure safety valve
• Water discharge tap.
• Magnetothermal differential switch,
manual controls, signalling lamps and
protection fuses

1.3. Introduction:

Thermodynamics is a thermal study in which heat is investigated and the

property of the system is altered in various forms of work and energy
between the system and the system itself.

The state equation shown below generally obeys ideal gas.))_

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mRT
PV =
M

However, real gas does not absolutely obey the equation of state. A few
changes on the ideal gas equation of state allow its application in the
properties of real gas.
If the energy in the water is increased. The rising molecules in the water
allow molecules to escape from the surface until they are in balance
(boiling point). The condition of balance relies on the pressure on the water
surface. It is easier for molecules to exit the water with less energy when
the pressure is low. In comparison with the steam table, Marcet boiler
examines the saturated steam connection between pressure and
temperature. Water is obtained at saturation temperature at the experiment
slope (dT/dp).

The Marcet boiler is applied to examine the pressure and temperature of

saturated steam, in balance with water, and the ideal gas may be defined
at all pressures between atmospheric and 8bar by three different state
variables: absolute pressure (P), volume (V) and absolute temperature (T).
The link between them may be inferred from film theory and is referred to
as the Laws Of Thermodynamics. An empirical determination was initially
made of the ideal gas law and this law known as Clausius-Clapeyron
states:

dT T ( V f −V g ) T V
( )
dP SAT r
=
hg ( )
= g

hf g ❑
as v g ≫ v f

In which, vf = specific volume of saturated liquid

vg = specific volume of saturated vapor

hf = enthalpy of saturated liquid

hg = enthalpy of saturated vapor

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hfg = latent heat of vaporization

1.4. Procedure:

1. Connect the unit to the power supply to provide a heating rate of

2kW to the electrical heater.
2. Open the level valve open and switch on the power supply.
3. Set the temperature 'setpoint' to 1800C.
4. Wait for the steam output through the level valve to ensure that
there is no air trapped in the boiler.
5. Close the level valve and continue heating until the maximum
gauge pressure reaches 8 bars.
6. Warning: Don't remove filler plug or open level valve when the
device is pressurized.
7. Decrease the temperature 'setpoint' to room temperature in which
the electrical heater will be off.
8. Record all temperature readings at different pressure settings of
the boiler when the boiler is heated and cooled.

1.5. Method:

1. Complete Table 1 attached.

2. Plot the graph of temperature, T, versus absolute pressure, P.
3. Plot dT/dP versus P and Tvg/hfg versus P on the same graph.
4. Compare and discuss the graph plotted from experimental data to
that calculated from the steam tables data.
5. Discuss any discrepancy and sources of error of the experiment.

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6. Why is it necessary to ensure that there is no air trapped within the

device at the beginning of the experiment?
7. Discuss the liquid and vapor behaviour observed through the
experiment and list some examples of its industrial applications.

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1.6. Attachments:

Atmospheric pressure : 0.986586bar

Table 3: Data Collected and Calculated Results

Calculated
Measured
Pressure, P Temperature,
Slope, Slope,
(bar) (°C)
dT/dP
Tvg/hfg

Gauge Abs. Incr. Decr. Aver. Aver.

0 0 0
( C) ( C) ( C) (0K)
1.0 2 121 121 121 394 - 0.12881
1.5 2.5 129 129 129 402 0.16 0.10620
2.0 3 134 134 134 407 0.10 0.09032
2.5 3.5 140 140 140 413 0.12 0.07908
3.0 4 144 144 144 417 0.08 0.07026
3.5 4.5 148 148 148 421 0.08 0.06388
4.0 5 152 152 152 425 0.08 0.05779
4.5 5.5 155 155 155 428 0.06 0.05302
5.0 6 159 159 159 432 0.06 0.04929
5.5 6.5 162 162 162 435 0.06 0.04587
6.0 7 165 164 164.5 437.5 0.05 0.04302
6.5 7.5 167 167 167 440 0.05 0.04040
7.0 8 169 169 169 442 0.04 0.0319
7.5 8.5 171 172 171.5 444.5 0.05 0.03625
8.0 9 174 174 174 447 0.05 0.03445

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1.7. Calculations:

NB- Values from the 7bar gauge pressure row (12) on the table were used for the
following calculations.

Absolute Pressure : P|¿|=7 ( gauge )+ 0.986586 ( atmospheric ) ¿ P|¿|=7.984252 ¿ P|¿|=8 ¯¿ ¿

169+169
Average Temparature ℃ = ¿ 169 ℃
2

Average Temparature K =169+273¿ 442 K

dT
Measure slope , :dT at 8 ¯¿ T avg at 8 ¯¿−T dT =442−440dT =2 K
dP avg at 7.5¯¿ ¿ ¿

dP at 8 ¯¿ P|at|8 ¯¿− P |at|7.5 ¯¿ ¿

dP=8−7.5dP=50 kPa
¿

( dTdP ) 8 ¯¿ =
2
50
¿
¿ 0.04 K /kPa

TV
Calculated slope , :T=442 K V f =0.24037 m 3 /kgV g=0.00111476 m 3 /kgh g=276839 KJ /kg
g

hg

TV 442 ( 0.24037−0.00111476 )
( )
hg
g

8 ¯¿=
T ( V f −V g )
hg
¿
¿
2768.9
¿ 0.03819 K /kPa

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Measured slope ×Calculated slope 0.04−0.03819

Percentage error = ×100 %% error= ×100
Measured slope 0.04

% error=3.82 %

1.8. Analysis of results:

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The plotted graph show that the two factors of the average temperature vs absolute
pressure are exactly proportionate. Regarding the other graph with the measured and
calculated slope vs absolute pressure, the observed decline and indirect proportionality
are the only differences.

The acquired percentage error was 3.82%, which proves the success of this experiment
from the conduction to the theoretical calculations. This experimental yield exceeds the
theoretical yield of this experiment.

Accuracy of results was achieved as the percentage error is minimal and most human
errors during the experiment were avoided.

A Marcet boiler can be utilised in the following forms of application:

 Water boiler
 Power plant
 Gasifier
 Steam plant industries
 Steam engines

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1.9. Conclusion:

In this experiment, a Marcet boiler was utilised with the sole purpose of studying the
relationship between pressure and temperature within water working fluid. A Marcet
boiler is a machine that is specifically responsible for evaluating/ moderating the
relationship of pressure and temperature of water when given that it is(water) at a
saturated phase.

With all the data that was collected, a discovery was determined, and it showed that
absolute pressure is directly proportional to temperature and the percentage error
proves that. With regards to the measured slope and the calculated slope, a decline
between the two slopes was observed.
At the end of this experiment, the objective of determining the relationship between
temperature and absolute pressure was achieved.

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1.10. References:

 Aree Salah (15:26:25 UTC) ‘marcet boiler’. Available at:

https://www.slideshare.net/areesalah/marcet-boiler-30868236 (Accessed: 09
October 2021).

 Cengel, Y.A., Cimbala, J.M. and Turner, R.H. (2017) ‘The First Law of
Thermodynamics’, in Fundamental of Thermal Fluid & Science. Fifth edition. 2
Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121: McGraw-Hill Education, p. 76.

 MYlearn Hazimi (2020) Marcet Boiler Experiment. Available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXqC4o9CKgg (Accessed: 11 October 2021).

 This Experiment Marcet Boiler Engineering Essay (no date). Available at:
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/engineering/this-experiment-marcet-boiler-
engineering-essay.php (Accessed: 09 October 2021).

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