REPORT 191 PROGRAMMES
SYLLABUS
POWER MACHINES
N5
SUBJECT CODE:
Implementation: September 2024
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CONTENTS PAGE
1. 3
2. Error! Bookmark not defined.3
3. Pre-requisite3
4. 3
5. 3
6. 4
7. 5
Module 1: Thermodynamics -6-
Module 2: Air compressors 7
Module 3: Steam generation and nuclear power plant 8
Module 4: Condensers 11
Module 5: Gas turbines 12
Module 6: Renewable Energy Systems 13
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Syllabus: Power Machines N5
1. General Aims
To equip students with the necessary knowledge, principles and practices in the
mechanical/ electrical engineering field and to solve problems.
2 Specific Aims
2.1 The student should obtain in-depth understanding of Power Machines as it is applied
in the industry.
2.2 To enable the students to conceptualise and deal with specific and complex issues
and problems in the field of mechanical/ electrical engineering.
2.3 To provide a basic understanding with reference to systems and components used
in the mechanical/ electrical industry.
3. Pre-requisite
Student must meet at least one of the following requirements.
3.1 Pass N4 with Engineering Science
3.2 Relevant skills programme registered on the NQF with at least 120 credits.
4. Duration
Full-time: 7.5 hours per week. This instructional offering may also be offered part-
time.
5. Evaluation
5.1 Evaluation is conducted continuously by means of two formal tests at college level.
Student must obtain a minimum ICASS mark of at least 40% in order to qualify to
write the final examination and a mark will be calculated together in a ratio of 40:60
to derive the promotion mark. The student must obtain at least 40% on the final
examination.
The promotion mark will be calculated as follows:
Promotion Mark = 40% of (ICASS mark) + 60% of (Exam mark)
5.2 The examination in Power Machines N5 (Engineering Studies - Report 191) will be
conducted as follows:
Modules 1 to 6 MARKS: 100
DURATION: 3 HOURS
CLOSED BOOK: Formula sheet is attached to the question paper.
Steam table BOE 173 (Properties of Water and Steam).
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Appropriate drawing instruments allowed.
Scientific calculators allowed.
No programmable calculators allowed.
No references allowed.
No external examination papers or memoranda allowed.
5.3 Weighting:
The following weights are consequently awarded to each category:
Knowledge and Applying Analysing / Syntheses and Evaluating
understanding
10 – 15 65 - 75 15 - 20
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6. Learning content
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
It is essential that this subject should be explained and evaluated within the context of
technical skills and simulation of practical environment.
7. Mark allocation in the examination as an indication of the
weighting of the different modules
MODULES WEIGHTING
1. Thermodynamics 20
2. Air compressors 15
3. Steam generation and 20
nuclear power plant
4. Condensers 15
5. Gas Turbines and 20
Governors
6. Renewable Energy 10
Systems
TOTAL 100
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Module 1: Thermodynamics
General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to demonstrate the application of
the following concepts: Heating and expansion of gases, thermodynamics laws.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
1.1 Thermodynamics 1.1.1 Explain the following two laws of thermodynamics.
of gases ● First law of thermodynamics – Joules law
● Second law of thermodynamics – Clausius law
1.1.2 Explain the values of temperature and pressure at
standard temperature (STP) and normal temperature
and pressure (NTP).
1.1.3 Relate specific heat capacity at constant volume (Cv)
and specific heat capacity at constant pressure (Cp) in
the following calculations:
● Characteristic gas constant
● Gamma
1.2 Heating and 1.2.1 Analyse the relationship between volume, pressure,
expansion of temperature and calculate the work done, internal
gases energy and heat under expansion or compression
according to:
• Constant pressure (Isobaric process)
• Constant volume (Isochoric process)
• Constant temperature (Isothermal process)
• Polytropic process
• Adiabatic process
And determine the index of compression and expansion
according to the law 𝑃𝑉 𝑛 = C and 𝑃𝑉 𝛾 =C
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Module 2: Air compressors
General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to demonstrate an understanding
on types, functions and calculations of air compressors.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
2.1 Air compressors 2.1.1 ● Identify and explain the types and functions of air
compressors according to the following operation
principles:
⮚ Single acting
⮚ Double acting
2.1.2 ● Draw compression and expansion pressure
versus volume (P-V) curves of a single stage
reciprocating air compressor:
⮚ Adiabatic process
⮚ Polytropic process
⮚ Isothermal process
2.1.3 ● Calculate the following with regards to air
compressor with and/or without clearance
volume:
⮚ Volumes
⮚ Volumetric efficiency
⮚ Work done
⮚ Power
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Module 3: Steam generation and nuclear power plant
General aim
On completion of this module, the student should have a basic understanding of steam
generation in a power plant using combustion fuels to heat water. The following aspects
will be considered: Calculations of steam enthalpies, heat, efficiencies in different
auxiliaries of the steam plant and nuclear power plant.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
3.1 Basic elements of a 3.1.1 ● State the relevant factories regulations with
steam plant respect to boilers and pressure vessels.
● Identify the following types of boilers and
explain their application:
⮚ Fire tube
⮚ Water tube
3.1.2 ● Explain the methods of firing.
⮚ Pulverised coal firing
⮚ Solid coal firing
⮚ Oil firing
⮚ Gas firing
⮚ Nuclear reaction
● List relevant gaseous emissions resulting from
burning coal
● State advantages and disadvantages of using
coal to generate steam in coal-fired power
plants
3.1.3 ● List components of a steam plant and state
the function of each:
⮚ Air preheater
⮚ Economiser
⮚ Evaporator
⮚ Superheater
3.1.4 ● Use the steam table to calculate the enthalpy,
volume and internal energy for wet, dry and
superheated steam.
3.1.5 ● Explain the three phases of steam generation
and calculate:
⮚ Sensible heat (liquid enthalpy)
⮚ Latent heat (enthalpy of evaporation)
⮚ Superheat (enthalpy of superheat)
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3.2 Quality of steam 3.2.1 ● Determine dryness fraction of steam using the
results obtained during a test from the following
apparatus:
⮚ Separating calorimeter
⮚ Throttling calorimeter
⮚ The combined separating and
throttling calorimeter.
⮚ The barrel calorimeter
3.3 Steam plant 3.3.1 ● Analyse given data to determine specific
concepts enthalpy at inlet and exit points of the steam
generation plant units using the steam tables.
3.3.2 ● Determine the heat transferred per kilogram of
fuel in:
⮚ An economiser
⮚ An evaporator
⮚ A superheater
• Determine the heat in the air preheater
• Determine the mass of air in the air preheater
● Perform calculations according to:
⮚ The mass of fuel consumed according to
the efficiency of the boiler.
⮚ The boiler efficiency using the formula:
𝑚𝑠 (ℎ2 − ℎ1 )
𝜂=
𝑚𝑓 × 𝐶𝑉
⮚ Equivalent evaporation from and at
100oC.
𝑚𝑠 (ℎ2 − ℎ1 )
𝐸𝐸 =
𝑚𝑓 × 2257
3.4 Nuclear power plant 3.4.1 ● Assess environmental impact.
● Identify major housing parts and main
components of a nuclear power plant
3.4.2 ● Identify nuclear reactor safety systems
3.4.3 ● Determine the chemical symbol
● Calculate the molecular mass
● Calculate the mass of each atom
applicable to a type of Uranium used as a fuel
in a nuclear reactor
3.4.4 ● Analyse a typical reactor operation at full power
based on:
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⮚ Fuel assemblies
⮚ Years of operation
⮚ Refuelling and replacement
3.4.5 Perform typical thermal reactor calculations using the
appropriate formulae according to:
⮚ Reaction rate
⮚ Rate of fuel consumption in a reactor per
typical annual fuel cycle
The student should be able to apply the formulae:
o Reaction rate
𝑄
𝑅𝑅 =
𝐸𝑟 × 𝐶
Where;
𝑅𝑅 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝑄 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
𝑒𝑉
𝐸𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑖𝑛
𝑓𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐶 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒
o Determine the mass (𝑚𝑓 ) of each Uranium
atom applicable and apply the formula for rate
of fuel consumption per annum:
𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑅𝑅 × 𝑚𝑓 × 𝑡
Where;
𝑅𝑅 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑚𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙
3.4.6 ● Explain the working principle of a rankine cycle
● Explain and graphically represent isentropic
compression and expansion, isobaric heat
supply and rejection processes on a:
⮚ Temperature versus entropy (T-s)
diagram
⮚ Pressure versus enthalpy (P-h) diagram
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Module 4: Condensers
General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to explain the theoretical and
practical application of condensers and condenser pumps.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
4.1 Steam condensers 4.1.1 ● Identify the types and explain the functions of
condensers:
⮚ The surface condenser
⮚ The jet / spray condenser
● Identify the parts from given diagrams of:
⮚ The surface condenser
⮚ The jet / spray condenser
4.1.2 ● Determine the condensing water required.
● Determine the logarithmic temperature
difference.
● Determine the surface area, the number of tubes
and the length of the tubes required.
4.2 Air pumps 4.2.1 ● State Dalton’s laws of partial pressures
⮚ First law
⮚ Second law
● Identify types of condenser pumps.
⮚ The Edwards air pumps.
⮚ The rotary air pumps.
⮚ Air ejector
4.2.2 ● Apply Dalton’s law to:
⮚ Calculate the air pump capacity.
⮚ Calculate the mass of steam by relating
the air pump capacity to the specific
volume of dry saturated steam (𝑉𝑔 ).
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Module 5: Gas Turbines and Governors
General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to explain the role of governors
in power systems, apply calculations and illustrate the operating principles of a single stage
gas turbine using relevant calculations.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
5.1 Governors 5.1.1 ● Identify examples of centrifugal governors.
● State the main function of the governor.
● Explain the terms hunting and isochronism in
terms of governors.
5.1.2 Determine the centrifugal force, sensitivity and speed
limits with or without friction on a Watt governor
5.1.3 Determine the centrifugal force, sensitivity and speed
limits with or without friction on a Porter governor
5.2 Gas turbines 5.2.1 Name the types of gas turbines and compare their
operating principle.
5.2.2 Draw and label single stage velocity diagram to scale
5.2.3 Determine and calculate the following based on the
velocity diagram:
● Angles
● Velocities
● Power
● Diagram Efficiency
● Axial thrust
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Module 6: Renewable Energy Systems
General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to assess, plan and select the
suitable renewable energy technology in the generation of electricity.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
6.1 Environmental impact 6.1.1 ● Assess the parameters of a consumer scale stand
alone and grid connected photovoltaic system for an
identified site location.
6.2 Solar photovoltaic 6.2.1 ● Know the operation and comparative analysis of
cells and solar thermal different concentrating solar power systems.
electricity generation ● Identify the components of a solar photovoltaic power
plant.
● Explain the working principle of solar thermal
systems.
● Draw a layout of a simplified solar power plant with
direct steam and Rankine cycle
6.2.2 ● Perform calculations using appropriate formulae
according to:
⮚ Power injected into the grid by large-scale
photovoltaic plant.
⮚ Power and energy generated by solar thermal
generation.
