Thermodynamics [ENGR 251] [Lyes KADEM 2007]

IV.2. First Law of thermodynamics for a control volume

IV.2.1. Mass rate balance

When analyzing a control volume, the first reflex is to apply the conservation of mass. At each
instant the following principle must be valid:
dmCV
= m& i − m& e
dt
Where the term on the left side represents the time rate of change of mass contained within the
control volume at time (t); and m & i is the time rate of flow of mass IN across inlet (i) at time (t); and
and m& e is the time rate of flow of mass OUT across exit (e) at time (t) (see Figure.4.1).

Inlet (i)
dmCV
Exit (e)
m& i dt
m& e

Figure.4.1. Control volume for a single inlet and a single exit.

The above formulation is valid for one inlet and one outlet. However, in general, there may be
several locations on the boundary through which mass enters or exits. In this case, the general
form is:
dmCV
= ∑ m& i − ∑ m& e
dt i e

IV.2.2. Computation of the mass flow rate

The mass flow rate can be computed under the following general form:
dm& = ρ Vn dA
Where ρ is the fluid density; Vn is the normal velocity and dA is surface element.
By integration we get:
m& = ∫ ρ Vn dA
A
For the special case of a one-dimensional flow, where the velocity profile is flat and normal to the
surface (A) and the surface A does not change with time, we can compute the mass flow rate
using the following expression:
Vn A
m& = ρ Vn A =
υ
IV.2.2.1. Computation of the mass flow rate for a steady flow
In the particular case of a steady flow meaning that all properties are unchanging in time, the left
term in the general expression of the mass rate balance vanishes. We obtain, therefore, the
following expression:

0 = ∑ m& i − ∑ m& e
i e

First Law of Thermodynamics

58
Thermodynamics [ENGR 251] [Lyes KADEM 2007]

Or

∑ m& = ∑ m&
i
i
e
e

Example 4

A feedwater heater operating at steady state has two inlets and one exit. At inlet 1, water vapour
enters at P1=7 bar, T1=200°C with a mass flow rate of 40 kg/s. At inlet 2, liquid water at P2=7 bar,
T2=40°C enters through an area A2=25 cm2. Saturated liquid at 7 bar exits at 3 with a volumetric
flow rate of 0.06 m3/s. Determine the mass flow rates at inlet 2 and at the exit, in kg/s, and the
velocity at inlet 2, in m/s.

IV.2.2.3 First Law of thermodynamics for a control volume

If we consider one inlet and one exit, the energy balance can be written under the following form:

dECV ⎛ V2 ⎞ ⎛ V2 ⎞
= Q& − W& + m& i ⎜⎜ ui + i + gzi ⎟⎟ − m& e ⎜⎜ ue + e + gze ⎟⎟
dt ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
Now we will try to write this energy balance under an alternative form that is more convenient for
our applications. This will be done, first by writing the term W& under another form where we are
able to separate the work associated with the fluid pressure as mass is introduced at the inlets
and removed at exits from the work due to all other effects (rotating shaft, electrical effects, …).
This latest term will be denoted W&CV .

The first term due to pressure can be written under the following form:

W& Pressure = (PA)V

Where V is the velocity.
Therefore, the total work can be expressed under the following form:

W& = W&CV + (Pe Ae )Ve − (Pi Ai )Vi

Here notice that the work at the exit has a positive sign and the work at the inlet has a negative
sign.
As we have, for a one-dimensional flow:

AV
m& = ⇔ AV = m& υ
υ
Then,

W& = W&CV + m& e (Peυe ) − m& i (Piυi )

If we replace this expression in the energy balance, we can get:

First Law of Thermodynamics

59
Thermodynamics [ENGR 251] [Lyes KADEM 2007]

dECV ⎛ V2 ⎞ ⎛ V2 ⎞
= Q& CV − W&CV + m& i ⎜⎜ ui + Piυi + i + gzi ⎟⎟ − m& e ⎜⎜ ue + Peυe + e + gze ⎟⎟
dt ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
It is interesting now to introduce the property: specific enthalpy as,

h = u + Pυ
We can, therefore, write the energy balance under the form:

dECV ⎛ V2 ⎞ ⎛ V2 ⎞
= Q& CV − W&CV + m& i ⎜⎜ hi + i + gzi ⎟⎟ − m& e ⎜⎜ he + e + gze ⎟⎟
dt ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
Note that the introduction of enthalpy was only for convenience.
Now, for several inputs and exists, the general form for the first law of thermodynamics for a
control volume is:

dECV ⎛ V2 ⎞ ⎛ V2 ⎞
= Q& CV − W&CV + ∑ m& i ⎜⎜ hi + i + gzi ⎟⎟ − ∑ m& e ⎜⎜ he + e + gze ⎟⎟
dt i ⎝ 2 ⎠ e ⎝ 2 ⎠

For a steady state, we obtain the following form:

⎛ V2 ⎞ ⎛ V2 ⎞
Q& CV + ∑ m& i ⎜⎜ hi + i + gzi ⎟⎟ = W&CV + ∑ m& e ⎜⎜ he + e + gze ⎟⎟
4⎝244443⎠ 1444 4⎝244444 3⎠
i 2 e 2
1444 4
Energy in Energy out

First Law of Thermodynamics

60