Equivalent Evaporation — “From and At 100°C” Definition The term “equivalent evaporation from and at 100°C” is defined as the amount of water evaporated from feedwater at __________ into dry saturated steam at 100°C at normal atmospheric pressure (1.013 bar). Select the correct feedwater temperature.
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A0°C
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B40°C
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C60°C
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D100°C
Answer
Correct Answer: 100°C
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Boiler performance is compared using a common reference called “equivalent evaporation from and at 100°C.” This normalizes different steam conditions and feedwater temperatures to a standard basis so that efficiencies and steaming capacities can be compared meaningfully across plants and fuels.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Reference pressure is atmospheric (approximately 1.013 bar).
- Reference steam state is dry saturated steam at 100°C.
- Reference feedwater temperature is also at the saturation temperature of 100°C.
Concept / Approach:“From and at 100°C” literally means the water begins at 100°C and is evaporated to dry saturated steam at 100°C. On this basis, the latent heat of vaporization used for comparison is the standard value at 100°C. Real boilers seldom operate exactly at these conditions; the definition provides a calculation method to convert the actual heat absorbed by feedwater into an equivalent mass that would have been evaporated under the standard reference condition.
Step-by-Step Solution:Define the reference latent heat: h_fg at 100°C.Compute actual heat added to water/steam in the boiler per kilogram under operating conditions.Divide actual heat added by h_fg at 100°C to obtain equivalent kilograms evaporated “from and at” 100°C.Hence, the feedwater reference temperature in the definition is 100°C.
Verification / Alternative check:Textbook boiler trials convert the measured enthalpy rise of feedwater to this standard using the factor of evaporation, which is based on the same 100°C reference.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- 0°C, 40°C, 60°C: These are common feedwater temperatures in practice, but they are not the reference for the standardized “from and at 100°C” definition.
Common Pitfalls:Confusing “equivalent evaporation” with actual mass flow; it is a normalized reference for comparison, not necessarily the real evaporated mass at operating conditions.
Final Answer:100°C