About this previous year paper
The B.Tech Applied Thermodynamics (ME403) question paper from the 2016–17 IV Semester Theory Examination is a comprehensive 100-mark, 3-hour assessment that evaluates a student's understanding of steam power plants, Rankine cycle analysis, gas turbine systems, boilers, condensers, combustion, jet propulsion, steam nozzles, and turbine velocity diagram calculations.
The paper is divided into three structured sections (A, B, C) to test conceptual knowledge, descriptive understanding, and numerical problem-solving ability.
SECTION – A (Short Answer Fundamentals, 20 Marks)
This section contains 10 questions of 2 marks each, covering the essential elements of applied thermodynamics. Students must define or explain:
Adiabatic flame temperature
Thrust augmentation in jet engines
Sources of air leakage in condensers
Use of equivalent evaporation for boiler performance comparison
Concept of cogeneration
How regeneration improves gas turbine thermal efficiency
Classification of condensers
Definition of saturation curve and missing quantity
Different types of compounding in steam turbines
What a ramjet engine is
These short questions ensure the student understands key thermodynamic concepts used throughout steam and gas power systems.
SECTION – B (Descriptive / Numerical Questions, Any 5 × 10 = 50 Marks)
This section requires detailed explanations, cycle analysis, sketches, and multi-step numerical computation. Major topics include:
1. Gas Turbine Cycle Modifications
Students describe gas turbine cycles with:
Intercooling
Reheat + Regeneration
Reheat + Intercooling
2. Choked Flow & Nozzle Friction
Explanation of choked flow, Mach number effects, and how friction alters nozzle performance.
3. Steam Engine Indicator Diagrams
(i) Hypothetical vs Actual indicator diagrams
(ii) Meaning of the diagram factor
Also re-explanation of saturation curve & missing quantity
4. Rankine Cycle with Reheat — Numerical Problem
Steam conditions:
HP turbine inlet: 20 MPa, 500°C LP turbine exit: 90% dryness
Condenser pressure: 0.005 MPa Reheat to 500°C
Students calculate: Pressure after HP turbine
Thermal efficiency of the complete cycle
5. Babcock & Wilcox Boiler
Explanation with neat labelled sketch.
6. Natural Draught Chimney Numerical
Given:
Chimney height: 60 m Flue gas temp = 300°C
Ambient air temp = 17°C Draught gas cp = 1.0032 kJ/kg·K
Air requirement: 19 kg/kg fuel Hot gas exit temp with artificial draught: 150°C
Calorific value = 32604 kJ/kg
Students compute:
(i) Draught (mm of water)
(ii) Chimney efficiency
(iii) Extra heat carried away by flue gases
7. Combustion Analysis Problem
1 kg of C₈H₁₈ with 13 kg of air → compute % CO₂ in dry exhaust gas.
8. Steam Nozzle Flow
Expansion from 16 bar → 5 bar, T = 300°C, ṁ = 1 kg/s
Find throat & exit areas for:
(i) Frictionless expansion
(ii) 10% friction loss
SECTION – C (Long Analytical Problems, Any 2 × 15 = 30 Marks)
This section contains higher-order thermodynamic analysis and velocity diagram problems.
Q3 – Ideal Rankine Cycle (100 MW Plant)
Given:
Turbine inlet: 8 MPa, saturated vapour Condenser exit: 0.008 MPa, saturated liquid
Net power: 100 MW Students must compute:
Thermal efficiency Back work ratio
Mass flow rate of steam (kg/h)
Q4 – Jet Propulsion + Impulse Turbine Numerical
(a) Principles of:
Jet propulsion Turbojet engine
Turboprop engine Rocket propulsion
(b) One-stage impulse turbine:
Mass flow = 5 kg/s Rotor diameter = 1.2 m
Speed = 3000 rpm Nozzle angle = 18°
Blade speed ratio = 0.4 Velocity coefficient = 0.9
Outlet blade angle = inlet angle – 3° Students determine:
Blade inlet & outlet angles
Power developed
Q5 – Impulse Turbine with Velocity Diagram
Given:
Isentropic enthalpy drop = 200 kJ/kg Nozzle efficiency = 96%
Nozzle angle = 15° Blade velocity coefficient = 0.96
Blade speed ratio = 0.5 Mass flow = 20 kg/s
Inlet velocity = 50 m/s Students must determine:
(i) Blade angles for smooth entry and axial exit
(ii) Blade efficiency
(iii) Power output (kW)
(iv) Axial thrust
This requires detailed velocity triangles and thermodynamics.