Problem 4.041 SI Refrigerant 134a enters an insulated compressor operating at steady state as saturated vapor at -26oC with a volumetric flow rate of 0.18 m3/s. Refrigerant exits at 8 bar, 70oC. Changes in kinetic and potential energy from inlet to exit can be ignored. Determine the volumetric flow rate at the exit, in m3/s, and the compressor power, in kW

Hello! To solve this problem, we must first find all the thermodynamic properties at the input (state 1) and the compressor output (state 2), using the thermodynamic tables

Through laboratory tests, thermodynamic tables were developed, these allow to know all the thermodynamic properties of a substance (entropy, enthalpy, pressure, specific volume, internal energy etc ..)

through prior knowledge of two other properties such as pressure and temperature.

state 1

X=quality=1

T=-26C

density 1=α1=5.27kg/m^3

entalpy1=h1=234.7KJ/kg

state 2

T2=70

P2=8bar=800kPa

density 2=α2=31.91kg/m^3

entalpy2=h2=306.9KJ/kg

Now to find the flow at the outlet of the compressor, we remember the continuity equation that states that the mass flow is equal to the input and output.

m1=m2

(Q1)(α1)=(Q2)(α2)

[tex]\frac{(Q1)(\alpha 1) }{\alpha 2} =Q2\\Q2=\frac{(0.18)(5.27) }{31.91} =0.0297M^3/s[/tex]

the volumetric flow rate at the exit is 0.0297M^3/s

To find the power of the compressor we use the first law of thermodynamics that says that the energy that enters must be equal to the energy that comes out, in this order of ideas we have the following equation

W=m(h2-h1)

m=Qα

W=(0.18)(5.27)(306.9-234.7)

W=68.48kW

the compressor power is 68.48kW