A flow calorimeter is used to measure the specific heat of a liquid. Heat is add

Question

A flow calorimeter is used to measure the specific heat of a liquid. Heat is added at a known rate to a stream of the liquid as it passes through the calorimeter at a known rate. Then a measurement of the resulting temperature difference between the inflow and the outflow points of the liquid stream enables one to compute the specific heat of the liquid. A liquid of density 0.85 g/cm^3 flows through a calorimeter at a rate of 7.80 cm^3/s. Heat is added by means of a 266 watt heater coil, and a temperature difference of 11.0 degrees C is established in steady-state conditions between the inflow and outflow points. Find the specific heat of the liquid (in joules/kilogram-degree C).

Explanation / Answer

Mass flow rate of the fluid = Density x volume flow rate = 0.85 gm/cc x 7.80 cc/sec = 6.63 gm/sec

Temperature difference = 11 degree C

Rate of heat added = mass flow rate x specific heat x temperature difference

266 J/sec = 6.63x10^-3 kg/sec x specific heat x 11 K (Change in K and degree C is same)

Specific heat = 3.6473 x 10^3 J/kg.K

Note: The density here is assumed to be constant neglecting its variation with rise in temperature.

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