Spring 2008

METHODOLOGY FOR SOLVING THERMODYNAMICS PROBLEMS

A major goal of this textbook is to help you learn how to solve engineering problems that involve thermodynamic principles. It is extremely important for you to study the examples and solve problems, for mastery of the fundamentals comes only through practice.

 To maximize the results of your efforts, it is necessary to develop a systematic approach. You must think carefully about your solutions and avoid the temptation of starting problems in the middle by selecting some seemingly appropriate equation, substituting in numbers, and quickly ‘‘punching up’’ a result on your calculator. Such a haphazard problem-solving approach can lead to difficulties as problems become more complicated. Accordingly, we strongly recommend that problem solutions be organized using the five steps in the box below, which are employed in the solved examples of this text.

 The problem solution format used in this text is intended to guide your thinking, not substitute for it. Accordingly, you are cautioned to avoid the rote application of these five steps, for this alone would provide few benefits. Indeed, as a particular solution evolves you may have to return to an earlier step and revise it in light of a better understanding of the problem. For example, it might be necessary to add or delete an assumption, revise a sketch, determine additional property data, and so on.

 The solved examples provided in the book are frequently annotated with various comments intended to assist learning, including commenting on what was learned, identifying key aspects of the solution, and discussing how better results might be obtained by relaxing certain assumptions. Such comments are optional in your solutions.

 In some of the earlier examples and end-of-chapter problems, the solution format may seem unnecessary or unwieldy. However, as the problems become more complicated you will see that it reduces errors, saves time, and provides a deeper understanding of the problem at hand.

 RECOMMENDED STRUCTURE FOR PROBLEM SOLVING:

Known: State briefly in your own words what is known. This requires that you read the problem carefully and think about it.

Find: State concisely in your own words what is to be determined.

Schematic and GivenData: Draw a sketch of the system to be considered. Decide whether a closed system or control volume is appropriate for the analysis, and then carefully identify the boundary. Label the diagram with relevant information from the problem statement. Record all property values you are given or anticipate may be required for subsequent calculations. Sketch appropriate property diagrams (see Sec. 3.2), locating key state points and indicating, if possible, the processes executed by the system.

The importance of good sketches of the system and property diagrams cannot be overemphasized. They are often instrumental in enabling you to think clearly about the problem.

Assumptions: To form a record of how you model the problem, list all simplifying assumptions and idealizations made to reduce it to one that is manageable. Sometimes this information can also be noted on the sketches of the previous step.

Analysis: Using your assumptions and idealizations, reduce the appropriate governing equations and relationships to forms that will produce the desired results.

It is advisable to work with equations as long as possible before substituting numerical data. When the equations are reduced to final forms, consider them to determine what additional data may be required. Identify the tables, charts, or property equations that provide the required values. Additional property diagram sketches may be helpful at this point to clarify states and processes.

When all equations and data are in hand, substitute numerical values into the equations. Carefully check that a consistent and appropriate set of units is being employed. Then perform the needed calculations.

Finally, consider whether the magnitudes of the numerical values are reasonable and the algebraic signs associated with the numerical values are correct.