Laboratory Manual
ME Laboratory 1
Engr. Precious Arlene V. Melendrez
GUIDELINES FOR THE EXPERIMENTS AND REPORT PREPARATION
1. Preparation for the experiment
The student must have read the experiment background and method from the experiment
handbook and studied the associated theory before doing the experiment. During the
experiment, the lab teacher may ask students questions about the technique and theory.
An unprepared student may receive negative marks or possibly be barred from doing the
experiment by the lab teacher.
2. Laboratory Teams
The class will be separated into three or four groups of three or four students. The
students' preferences for team composition (which students will partner up) are taken into
consideration, but the lab teacher makes the final choice.
A report is required for each lab experiment. The next lab meeting is when the lab reports
are due. A week following the last lab meeting, the lab report for the final experiment is
due.
Per experiment, each team produces one report (unless otherwise required). Everyone on
the team receives a grade for the report. Late reports are penalized by deducting 5 points
for each day the report comes late. The students are provided the other grade
components of the experiments on an individual basis.
3. Preparation of Report
The report must be produced electronically (e.g. using MS-WORD). Tables displaying data or
results, as well as figures and graphs, should be created electronically and integrated into the main
body of the document (e.g. using MS-Excel or MS-Vision). Figures, graphs, and tables should all
include captions and names, as well as numbers for equations. The present tense and third person
are the preferred language styles. The following sections must be included in the report:
a) Cover page: Include number and title of the experiment, date the experiment was performed and
the names of the team members.
b) Objective: Give a short description of the purpose of the experiment.
c) Theoretical background: Give a brief description of the relevant theory.
d) The experimental procedure: For each experiment technique, provide a summary of what was
done. Do the method description from the lab handbook should not be copied or repeated. Report
the results of the measurement as well as any additional experimental data. If required, make a
chart of the measurements. Over the tables, include the table number and title.
(e) Analysis of experimental data: Analyze the data. Compare the findings to those predicted by
theory. Create graphs in MS-Excel and insert the graph figure into the report's main body. Include
the figure number as well as a caption. Axis should be labeled. Show your units. Tables and graphs
should be included in the text near and in the same section as where they are first discussed. If
required, add notes and calculations to each step.
f) Conclusions: Summarize the experiment and the results. Discuss the factual knowledge gained.
LABORATORY EXERCISE 1
MINI STEAM BOILER
Objectives:
1. To be able to know how to operate the mini steam turbine.
2. To know what are the basic mechanical components present in a steam turbine power plant.
3. To assess the relationships and effects between different properties and variables.
4. To be able to know how to compute the values of different thermodynamic properties.
Introduction:
This miniature of a modern-day steam turbine power plant aims to provide important ideas on how
this type of power plant works on actual situations and conditions. Thus, this experiment aims to
provide ideas to students on how components of a steam turbine power plant system function and
what are the significant relationships between different properties like temperature, pressure,
volume flow rate, power, torque, and rpm. Moreover, solving calculations involving some
thermodynamic properties are also discussed in this experiment. After this experiment, students are
expected to know all basic concepts about a steam turbine power plant.
1. Principle of Method
The purpose of steam turbine power plant is to convert the stored chemical energy form
various types of fuel to mechanical energy through the Thus, this energy is then converted into
electrical energy by connecting the steam turbine into a generator; hence, this form of energy is
the most important and it is widely used in various applications and procedures. On the other
hand, steam turbine power plant is composed of different mechanical components; each has
different tasks which is vital in making the process efficient and economical.
Rankine cycle is used by engineers as a standard of reference for comparing the
performance for steam engines and for actual steam turbines; hence, in this experiment, it
follows a simple process of Rankine cycle where vapour is expanded in an isentropic process
in a single stage impulse turbine, then it is condensed in an isobaric process. Water from the
feed water tank is pump in an isentropic process going to the furnace and then further heated
until it reaches its saturated vapour state in a constant pressure process and then moving back
to the single stage impulse turbine.
2. Instrumentation:
Name of Materials Quantity Specification
Boiler
Fuel Tank
Feed Water Tank
Steam Turbine
Safety Relief Valve
Temperature Sensors
Pressure Gauges
Voltmeter and Ammeter
3. Procedure:
Test Preparation:
ButaineTank
1. Make sure the butaine tank has sufficient gas.
2. Connect the tank outlet to the power plant gas inlet.
3. Close both butaine gas regulator and flow control valves to the boiler.
Feed water Tank
1. Fill the tank with distilled water.
2. Pump water to the boiler to the maximum level.
3. Refill the feed water tank to a full level and always keep it to nearly full
level at all times.
Boiler
1. The boiler safety valve is set at the factory to operate at 70 psi
gauge. It is recommended that the test carried out at a pressure of not
more than 70 psi
gauge.
Power Output Measurement
1. Electrical Power Output
- Connect a rubber belt to the turbine and generator pulleys.
2. Mechanical Power Output
- Adjust the load screw.
Plant Start Up:
Start Up the Boiler
1. Adjust the butane tank outlet pressure regulator to _____.
2. Open the boiler fuel flow meter control valve to about 0.3 liters per minute or lower but should not
exceed 3.5 liters per minute.
3. Start the boiler burner using a burner knob or outside igniter.
Boiler Control
At any given fuel flow rate, the saturated steam temperature is related to pressure. Steam pressure
is controlled by a steam flow control valve. Steam rate is determined by weighing the condensate.
1. When boiler pressure reaches a required level, slowly open the steam supply valve, steam flow
control valve to maintain the required pressure. Steam is now discharged to temporary discharge
line through the discharge valve.
2. If the boiler pressure reaches the required pressure too fast just for example, before the super
heater temperature is heated up to the required. level, (in case of super heater is used), temporarily
reduce the boiler fuel. flow to delay reaching the required pressure.
3. If water level in the boiler is below the maximum, use the feed pump to keep the boiler level to
full.
Plant Shutdown
After completing the experiment, the plant shutdown procedures are as follows.
1. Direct steam from the turbine through the temporary discharge valve.
2. Turn off the boiler outlet valve. The boiler is left to slowly cool down.
3. Close the Butaine gas tank regulator valves.
4. Discussion and Analysis
5. Conclusion
Reference
