Question

Refrigerant-134a enters the expansion valve of a refrigeration system at 120 psia as a saturated liquid and leaves at 20 psia. Determine the temperature and internal energy changes across the valve. Use data from the steam tables.

Answer 1

Solution :

$P_1 = 120 \ psia$

$P_2 = 20 \ psia$

Using the data table for refrigerant-134a at P = 120 psia

$h_1=h_f=40.8365 \ Btu/lbm$

$u_1=u_f=40.5485 \ Btu/lbm$

$T_{sat}=87.745^\circ F$

∴ $h_2=h_1=40.8365 \ Btu/lbm$

For pressure, P = 20 psia

$h_{2f} = 11.445 \ Btu/lbm$

$h_{2g} = 102.73 \ Btu/lbm$

$u_{2f} = 11.401 \ Btu/lbm$

$u_{2g} = 94.3 \ Btu/lbm$

$T_2=T_{sat}=-2.43^\circ F$

Change in temperature, $\Delta T = T_2-T_1$

                                         $\Delta T = -2.43-87.745$

                                           $\Delta T=-90.175^\circ F$

Now we find the quality,

$h_2=h_f+x_2(h_g-h_f)$

$40.8365=11.445+x_2(91.282)$

$x_2=0.32198$

The final energy,

$u_2=u_f+x_2.u_{fg}$

   $=11.401+0.32198(82.898)$

   $=38.09297 \ Btu/lbm$

Change in internal energy  

$\Delta u= u_2-u_1$

   = 38.09297-40.5485

  = -2.4556