THERMODYNAMIC LAB:EXPERIMENT 8:

SPECIFIC HEAT OF AIR

Name of student : RONALDO ULISI

Matric number : BK18110241
Group : 11
UMS ( FACULTY OF ENIGINEERING - FKJ )

ABSTRACT
The main objectives of this experiment is to determine the specific heat of air by any
convenient steady flow process , provided that there is no change in the moisture
content of the air. The experiment uses air conditioning laboratory unit A660 to
detrmine the specific heat of air. First of all, the tape water sources was operned and
the water connected to the air conditioning system. After that, the air conditioning was
switched onn and the air flow was set to a convenient value and the pre-heaters
was switched to give 2kW (nominal) heating. The orifice differential pressure was set
to 4mm H2O for all condition. After that, the temperature will be recored from t1 to t8
and t13 to t15 with 1minutes time interval. With different condition (batton 1 to batton
4), repeat the experiment to get all the data required. Based on the experiment, the
specific heat capacity of the air is 1.12173kJ/kg*K . The value is not same as the
theorectical which is 1.005 kJ/kgK because of some error occur such human error and
systemetic error. The percentage error for this experiment is 11.6%.

INTRODUCTION
Specific heat is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit of
mass by one degree. In other words, heat capacity defined as the amount of heat to
be supplied to a given mass of a material to produce a unit change in its temperature.
In this experiment, the concept applied to know the specific heat capacity of air are
convertion of energy,heat transfer and the relation of temperature and pressure.Heat
energy cannot be destroyed but can be transferred from one body to other and this
relaed to the first law of thermodynamic.

The main objective is to determine specific heat capacity of air by any convenient
steady flow process provided that there is no change in the moisture content of the air.
The experiment using Air Conditioning Laboratory Unit A660 to get the data for
determine the specific heat capacity of air. The formula used for calaculate the specific
heat capacity of air shown below.
Formula mass flow rate:
 Z
ma  0.0517 )
v

Formula electrical power for pre-heat:

  VL2 VL2
QP  
RP1 RP 2

Formula of the specific heat of air :


FanPower  QP
C Pair  
m a (t3  t1 )

OBJECTIVE

To determine specific heat capacity of air by any convenient steady flow process( i.e.
heating or cooling) provided that there is no change in the moisture content of the air.

PRECEDURES

1. The air conditioning unit switched on and the air flow was set to a convenient value
and the pre-heaters was switched to give 2kW (nominal) heating.

2. The orifice differential pressure was set to 4mm H2O .

3. When conditions have been stabilized, the following observations should be made,

Dry bulb temperature at the fan inlet, t1 .

Dry bulb temperature after pre-heaters, t3 .

Dry bulb temperature after re-heating, t 7 .

Wet bulb temperature after re-heating, t8 .

Orifice differential pressure, Z

Supply Voltage, VL

Fan Supply Voltage, VF

4. The procedures was repeated using the re-heaters across section C to D.

RESULT
Test Ref. 1 2 3 4
A Air at Fan Inlet dry T1 C
O
27 28 28.2 28.6
we T2 C
O
- - - -
t
B After Pre-heat or Steam dry T3 C
O
44.6 43.1 43.7 45.6
Injection we T4 C
O
23.7 23.7 24 24
t
C After Cooling / dry T5 C
O
19.6 20 16.1 19.1
Dehumidification we T6 C
O
15.7 16 17.9 17.4
t
D After Re-heating dry T7 C
O
16.7 16 37.7 38.9
we T8 C
O
17.4 17.4 22 25.5
 t
Evaporator Outlet Temperature T13 O
C 9.2 9.9 9.6 9.7
Condenser Inlet Temperature T14 O
C 68.3 73 74.8 75.7
Condenser Outlet Temperature T15 O
C 44.1 44.2 44.6 59.8
Supply Volts: L1 to N (415V) or L2 to N VL V AC 220 220 220 220
(220V)
Evaporator Outlet Pressure (gauge) P1 kNm-2 240 225 225 225
Condenser Inlet Pressure (gauge) P2 kNm-2 1100 1090 1100 1105
Condenser Outlet Pressure (gauge) P3 kNm-2 1075 1080 1090 1100
Duct Differential Pressure Z mmH2O 4 4 4 4
Fan Supply Voltage VF 90 90 90 90
Condensate Collected me ml 227 219 180 218
Time Interval x s 30 30 30 30
R134aMass Flow Rate ref g/s 12 12 12 12

SYSTEM HEATER RESISTANCES

Boiler, Lower 2kW Rb Ω 25.3
Boiler, Upper 2kW Rb Ω 24.3
Boiler, 1kW Rb Ω 57.4
1st Pre-heater, 1kW Rp Ω 46.1
2nd Pre-heater, 1kW Rp Ω 45.6
1st Re-heater, 1kW Rr Ω 45.1
2nd Re-heater, 1kW Rr Ω 45.0

Test Ref. 1 2 3 4

0.1115 0.1115 0.1115 0.1115

Air mass flow rate, (kg/s)
2111.3 2111.3 2111.3 2111.3
Steady flow energy, (Watt)
1.1217 1.3075 1.2737 1.1613
Specific heat of air, (kJ/kg K)
Percentage error (%) 11.6 30.1 26.8 15.6

Average percentage error (%) 21.025 %

DISCUSSION
Based on the experiment, the specific heat capacity of air was determined by
using the airconditioning laboratory A660. By followed all the procedur given , the
data was recorded like shown in Table 1. Since the value of Duct Differential Pressure,
Z = 4, and the specific volume of air at the orifice, V = 0.86. The mass flow can
𝑍
calculated by using formua ,ṁ = 0.0517 √𝑉 and the mass flow rate is 0.1115 kg/s.
𝑉𝐿2
While for the electrical power for pre heat can be calculated by using 𝑄̇𝑝 = 𝑅𝑃1
+
𝑉𝐿2
𝑅𝑃2
, so the calculated Qp is 2.1113 kW. Next, we apply the stedy flow energy
equation between station A and B because there is no mosture change between that
station. The temperature was recorded , at t1 is 27℃(Air at Fan Inlet) and at t3 is
44.6℃(After Pre-heat or Steam Injection). By having all the data, the specific of heat
𝐹𝑎𝑛𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟+ 𝑄̇𝑝
can be calculate using formula, 𝐶𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑟 = ṁ(t3−t1)
, and the specific heat
capacity is 1.12173kJ/kg*K.

Therefore, 1.12173kJ of energy is needed to increase the temperature of 1kg

air to T=1K. The experimental value of specific heat of air not same as the theoretical
(Cp air= 1.005 kJ/kgK) because some error occur. For example is human error, where
the ways there take the reading or handling the mechine is wrong. Other then
that,environmental conditions or other unpredictable factor such as the conditon of the
mechine not allow us to take the accurate reading. Thus , the percentage error for this
experiment is 11.6%.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the objective of the experiment is accepted due the heat capacity
of air from the experiment was obtained which is 1.12173kJ/kg*K. We can see
the experimental( 1.12173kJ/kg*K) and accepted(1.005 kJ/kgK)) specific heat
capcity of air are not same due to some error occur. Parallax error and systematic
error should be prevent by use the right method. For example, eyes must be
perpendicular with the scale and do take the reading at least three times and find
the average. Other then hat, prevent the heat loss to minimize the percentage
error.

REFERENCES
1. Thermodynamic Equilibria and Extrema. (2006). doi: 10.1007/0-387-38604-1

2. Cengel, Y. A., Boles, M. A., & Kanoglu, M. (n.d.). Thermodynamics Ninth Edition.
McGrawHill Education.

3. (n.d). Air conditioning Laboratory Unit A660. P.A. Hilton Ltd. Retrieved from

http://www.yxact.com/teaching-instrument/pa-hilton/item/download/152 .

APPENDICES
CALCULATION
MASS FLOW RATE
Specific volume of air at the orifice, V = 0.86
 𝑍
ṁ = 0.0517 √
𝑉

4
ṁ = 0.0517 √ = 0.1115
0.86

Since all of them has value of Duct Differential Pressure, Z = 4, all tests of the mass
flow is equals to 0.1115

STEADY FLOW ENERGY

𝑉𝐿2 𝑉𝐿2
𝑄̇𝑝 = +
𝑅𝑃1 𝑅𝑃2
2202 2202
𝑄̇𝑝 = +
46.1 45.6
𝑄̇𝑝 = 2111.295 𝑊

SPECIFIC HEAT OF AIR

𝐹𝑎𝑛𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 + 𝑄̇𝑝
𝐶𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑟 =
ṁ(t3 − t1)

0.090 + 2.1113
𝐶𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑟 = = 1.1217
0.1115( 44.6 − 27)

PERCENTAGE ERROR
1.005 − 1.1217
| | ∗ 100% = 11.6%
1.005