DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Doornfontein Campus

Title: Separating and Throttling Calorimeter experiment

By
Y.Sindelo
220045430

A Semester 2 Report submitted

in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the module

STEAM PLANT (SPLM1B2)

B. ENG TECH (BENG(TECH))

Engineering: Mechanical

LECTURER: Dr Emmanuel Bakaya-Kyahurwa

Due Date: 10 August 2022
 I declare that this assignment is my original, self-written work. I carefully acknowledged and cited
all secondary sources, whether they were print or electronic, in accordance with the demands of
the Mechanical Department. I did not submit this project for credit earlier. I am aware that
plagiarizing is improper, and I have researched the Learner's Guide's definitions of plagiarism and
proper citation.
Student’s signature:
Contents
Theory/Background ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Separating Calorimeter............................................................................................................................................. 5
Throttling Calorimeter ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Apparatus ................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Procedure ............................................................................................................................................................... 10
Observations .......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Calculations ........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Sample of calculation ............................................................................................................................................ 12
Discussion and Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 14
References ............................................................................................................................................................. 15
Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................ 16

Table of figures

Graph 1 T-S diagram ............................................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of separating and throttling calorimeter .................................................................... 8

Figure 2 Schematic diagram of separating and throttling calorimeter .................................................................... 9
Figure 3 Steam Generator ........................................................................................................................................ 9
Figure 4 Steam turbine .......................................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 5 Steam Engine .......................................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 6 Steam Plant.............................................................................................................................................. 17

Table 1 Readings ................................................................................................................................................... 11

Table 2 Calculated values ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Table 3 Steam Tables ............................................................................................................................................ 12
Table 4 Steam tables .............................................................................................................................................. 13
 Acknowledgements
I want to thank Mr. Bakaya-Kyahurwa and Mr. W. M. Tlali for their insightful advice that helped
us finish the experiment and put together a technical report. The lab instruction sheet with the
grading matrix has been very beneficial.

Objective of Experiment
The major purpose of the experiment was to measure the dryness fraction of wet steam delivered
from a steam generator to an isolating and throttling calorimeter..

This was accomplished by:

• Calculating the steam's total enthalpy upon throttling using the pressure P2 and temperature
T2.
• Determining a dryness fraction of a steam just after separating calorimeter.
• Determining the enthalpy of water plus wet steam at pressure P1.
• Using the dryness fraction of the separated steam, the condensate's mass, and the amount
of water that was gathered in the separating chamber.
 Theory/Background
Figure 8-10 depicts the use of steam, a water vapor, as a working fluid in turbine generators,
boilers, and steam plants. Figure 10 depicts a steam plant in which water is cooked inside a boiler
to produce steam, which is then carried by pipe networks to a steam turbine to drive turbine blades
coupled to an electric engine. The quantity of heat collected by the boiler and the amount of work
produced by the turbine define the plant's efficiency.

These two elements are dependent on the quantity of heat transferred by the steam, which is
dependent on the quality of the steam. At this stage, the dryness fraction enters the picture. The
dryness fraction, x, which runs from 0 to 1, is a measurement of the amount of moisture in the air
The proportion of water droplets in each volume of steam or how dry the steam is. When the
dryness fraction approaches 1, it contains more vapor than water, and when it approaches 0, it has
more water.

A steam entering the boiler with a dryness percentage close to one should have a high energy
content. Because of the high energy content of steam, it is feasible to overcome pressure losses
caused by the distance of the pipe network, which result in energy losses and decreased steam plant
efficiency. The dryness fraction displays a boiler's ability to produce the most steam while using
the least quantity of fuel.

When steam leaves the boiler, to guarantee maximum efficiency, the dryness fraction should be
estimated so that the steam may be adequately overheated in the super n heater. A dividing and
controlling calorimeter is utilized to accomplish this. The vapor dryness fraction is determined and
used to predict how much heat should be injected during superheating to ensure high efficiency.

Separating Calorimeter

A dividing calorimeter is a vessel that filters water particles from wet steam mechanically. Wet steam from a
boiler enters the calorimeter through a throttle valve at the top. When steam reaches a perforated cup, the
momentum is quickly reversed. Moisture droplets fall out of suspension and gather towards the bottom of the
inner sanctum due to the larger moment of inertia. A graded water gauge is used to measure the amount of water
collected. The calorimeter-assisted dryness fraction of wet steam is
 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝑥1 =
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑊𝑒𝑡 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚
𝑀2
= [2]
𝑀1+𝑀2

Where:

𝑀2 = 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑀1 = 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑥1

= 𝐷𝑟𝑦𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 [1]

Throttling Calorimeter

The controlling calorimeter is a tank with a tiny intake aperture. The total temperature of the
steam remains constant as it is throttled via the little hole. Following regulating, the vapor is
reheated while the monitors record its pressure and temperature. The hot gas tables are then used
to calculate the energy and saturation temperature values. The dryness portion of

Figure 1: T-S diagram

Graph 1 T-S diagram
the vapor prior to throttling is determined using the steady flow equation.

In the separating calorimeter, a portion of the liquid (𝑀1) was separated from the steam, increasing
its dryness fraction to state B (𝑥1). The steam will go through a throttling procedure after crossing
the throttling valve, changing to superheated steam in condition C.

Due to the short distance travelled during throttling, no work is done (W) and no heat is transferred
(Q).
 𝑄 − 𝑊 = ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 − ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔(𝑄 = 0, 𝑊 (2)
= 0)𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔
= 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑓1 + 𝑥2ℎ𝑓𝑔1
= ℎ𝑔2 + 𝑐𝑝(𝑡𝑠𝑢𝑝 − 𝑡2)

Where:

𝑝1 =𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝2 = 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔ℎ𝑓1

= 𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑝1ℎ𝑓𝑔1
= 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑝1 ℎ𝑔2
= 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑝2𝑡𝑠𝑢𝑝
= 𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑐𝑝
= 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑥2
= 𝐷𝑟𝑦𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔

The actual dryness fraction of steam in the steam main is then determined by:

𝑥 = 𝑥1 × 𝑥2 (3)
 Figure 1 Schematic diagram of separating and throttling calorimeter

Assumptions

• To prevent any energy loss, the entire system is insulated; Qnet,in = 0.

• The system does not perform any work; therefore, Wnet,in = 0.

• The piping system has very little head loss.

• The entire length of the throttling pipes has the same elevation (zB = zC).

• As steam flows through the needle valve, its velocity stays constant, VB = VC.

• The vapor is superheated after throttling.

• The mass of the steam is constant as it leaves the separating calorimeter chamber.
Apparatus
● Steam Generator
● Separating and Measuring Calorimeter.
● Measuring Beaker

Figure 2 Schematic diagram of separating and throttling calorimeter

Figure 3 Steam Generator

Procedure

• Before turning on the pump and supplying feed water to the boiler, the collection
chamber was first checked to make sure it was dry.
• The feed water was then heated to the point of wet steam by turning on the boiler.
• A piping network was then used to deliver the created wet steam to the dividing
and controlling the calorimeter.
• Following that, the cooling water valve was opened to provide cooling water to the
condenser.
• The steam valve was then opened to let steam enter the calorimeter for separation.
• The throttle valve was also opened and set to provide an exhaust pressure of around
5 cm Hg, as indicated on the manometer.
• Table 1 lists the readings that were recorded at 2-3 minute intervals while the steam
was running through the apparatus.
• The water that had accumulated in the collection chamber was then emptied, and
its volume was noted.
• A record was made of the amount of condensate that was collected over a specific
period of time.
 Observations

Table 1 Readings

Reading Quantity

Steam pressure in main P1 (bars) 2.6

Steam pressure after throttling P2 (bars) 1.143
Temperature of main T1 (oC) 140.5
Temperature after throttling T2 (oC) 116.5
Quantity of Separated water m1 (kg) 0.170
Quantity of condensate m2 (kg) 1.00
Atmospheric pressure Pa (bars) 0,98659

Calculations

Table 2 Calculated values

Quantity Value

𝑥1 0.99

ℎ𝑓 (kJ⁄kg) 589.25

ℎ𝑓𝑔 (kJ⁄kg) 2144.5

𝑡𝑠𝑎𝑡 (°C) 103.05

Total heat after throttling hc (kJ⁄kg) 2709.25

𝑥 1,0

x (Actual dryness fraction) 0,85

 Sample of calculation
(4)

1𝑚𝑙 = 0.001𝑘𝑔

𝑀1 = 170 × 0.001 = 0.170 𝑘𝑔

𝑀2 = 1000 × 0.001 = 1 𝑘𝑔

740
𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 749 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔 = = 0,987 bar
750.062

𝑃1 = 2.6+ 0.987 = 3.6 𝑏𝑎𝑟

𝑃2 = 0.143 + 0.987 = 1.13 𝑏𝑎𝑟

Table 3 Steam Tables

3.6 bar

ℎ𝑓 − 584 3.6 – 3.5

=
605 − 584 4− 3.6

ℎ𝑓 = 589.25 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

ℎ𝑓𝑔 − 2148 3.6 – 3.5

=
2134 − 2148 4 – 3.5
 ℎ𝑓𝑔 = 2144.5 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Table 4 Steam tables

1.13 bar

Figure 6: Steam tables

𝑡𝑠 – 102.3 1.13 – 1.1

=
104.8−102.3 1.2 – 1.1

𝑡𝑠 = 103.05℃

𝐷𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡, ∆𝑇 = 𝑇2 − 𝑇𝑠 = 116.5 − 103.05 = 13.45℃

From figure 6
ℎ𝑔−2680 1.13−1.1
=
2683−2680 1.2−1.1

Hg=2681KJ/Kg

Hc =hg+Cp (Tsup-Ts) =2681+2.1(13.45) =2709.25KJ/Kg

 At 𝑃2= 1.13 bar ,𝑡𝑠 = 116.5 ℃ , ℎ𝑐 = 2709.25 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Applying equation(2):
ℎ𝑐 = ℎ𝑓 + 𝑥1ℎ𝑓𝑔

ℎ𝑐 − ℎ𝑓
𝑥1 =
ℎ𝑓𝑔

2709.25 – 589.25
𝑥1 =
2144.5

𝑥1 = 0.99

𝑥1𝑀2 0.99×1
Application equation (3) 𝑥= = = 0.85
𝑀2+𝑀1 1+0.170

Discussion and Conclusion

The dryness fraction was revealed to be x = 0.85, and the experiment was a success. The quantity of dryness
discovered means that the supplied wet steam is rich in energy. Furthermore, the dryness fraction suggests that
water accounts for about 24% of the supplied wet steam, which is supported by the observed water and steam
separation masses. A high dryness fraction implies that the provided wet steam would require less heating to
increase its energy content for use in steam generators and steam engines. This implies that the utilized boiler
generates the highest quantity of heat and a large volume of high-quality steam. If the created steam were to be
used If the created steam were to be used in scenarios, the steam would not lose as much energy. because of
lower irreversible losses caused by pipe networks in steam turbines As a result, the plant's efficiency improves.
Furthermore, when there is dry steam present, the turbine can work properly in the two-phase area, and rust
cannot form and injure the turbine blades. When employed in practice, the boiler may provide high-quality
steam. In these cases, the major objective is to produce steam with a dryness percentage as near to one as
possible. The lab's aim was met when the dryness percentage of the given wet steam was determined to be x =
0.85 .
References
[1] Gupta, J.K. and Khurmi, R.S. (©1978). A textbook of Thermal Engineering [SI Units]. India:
S Chand and Company Limited.

[2] Turbomachinery. (2020). Doosan Škoda Power to supply steam turbine to Japan. Available at:
https://www.turbomachinerymag.com/doosan-skoda-powerto-supply-steam-turbine-to-japan/
(Accessed 14/08/2020).

[3] Routledge, P. (2018). Railway steam engine era remembered on 50th anniversary of demise.
Mirror. Available at: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uknews/railway-steam-engine-era-
remembered-13023723 (Accessed 14/08/2020).

[4] Wikiversity. (2018). Power generation/ Steam plant. Available at:

https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Power_Generation/Steam_Power (Accessed 14/08/2020).

[5] Didion Separator company. (©2020). Importance of dryness fraction in steam separators.
Available at: http://www.didionseparator.com/blog/importance-ofdryness-fraction-in-steam-
separators/ (Accessed 14/08/2020)
Appendices

Figure 4 Steam turbine

Figure 5 Steam Engine

Figure 6 Steam Plant