given by the same expression as for the Carnot and Ericsson cycles.

Since all three

cycles are reversible, we can imagine them as being executed in various ways, including
use of gas turbines and piston–cylinder engines. In each embodiment, however,
practical issues prevent it from actually being realized.
STIRLING ENGINE. The Ericsson and Stirling cycles are principally of theoretical
interest as examples of cycles that exhibit the same thermal efficiency as the
Carnot cycle. However, a practical engine of the piston–cylinder type that operates
on a closed regenerative cycle having features in common with the Stirling cycle has
been under study for years. This engine is known as a Stirling engine. The Stirling
engine offers the opportunity for high efficiency together with reduced emissions
from combustion products because combustion takes place externally and not within
the cylinder as for internal combustion engines. In the Stirling engine, energy is transferred
to the working fluid from products of combustion, which are kept separate. It
is an external combustion engine.
Stirling engine
2
3
1
4
TH
T=c
T=c

TC
p
v
21
34
TH
v=cv=c
TC
T
s
Fig. 9.21 p–_ and T–s diagrams of the Stirling cycle.
9.9 Gas Turbine–Based Combined Cycles
In this section, gas turbine–based combined cycles are considered for power generation.
Cogeneration, including district heating, is also considered. These discussions
complement those of Sec. 8.5, where vapor power systems performing similar functions
are introduced.
The present applications build on recognizing that the exhaust gas temperature of
a simple gas turbine is typically well above ambient temperature and thus hot gas
exiting the turbine has significant thermodynamic utility that might be harnessed
economically. This observation provides the basis for the regenerative gas turbine
cycle introduced in Sec. 9.7 and for the current applications.
9.9.1 Combined Gas Turbine–Vapor Power Cycle
A combined cycle couples two power cycles such that the energy discharged by heat
transfer from one cycle is used partly or wholly as the heat input for the other cycle.
This is illustrated by the combined cycle involving gas and vapor power turbines shown
in Fig. 9.22. The gas and vapor power cycles are combined using an interconnecting
heat-recovery steam generator that serves as the boiler for the vapor power cycle.
The combined cycle has the gas turbine’s high average temperature of heat addition
and the vapor cycle’s low average temperature of heat rejection and, thus, a thermal
efficiency greater than either cycle would have individually. For many applications
given by the same expression as for the Carnot and Ericsson cycles. Since all three
cycles are reversible, we can imagine them as being executed in various ways, including
use of gas turbines and piston–cylinder engines. In each embodiment, however,
practical issues prevent it from actually being realized.
STIRLING ENGINE. The Ericsson and Stirling cycles are principally of theoretical
interest as examples of cycles that exhibit the same thermal efficiency as the
Carnot cycle. However, a practical engine of the piston–cylinder type that operates
on a closed regenerative cycle having features in common with the Stirling cycle has
been under study for years. This engine is known as a Stirling engine. The Stirling
engine offers the opportunity for high efficiency together with reduced emissions
from combustion products because combustion takes place externally and not within
the cylinder as for internal combustion engines. In the Stirling engine, energy is transferred
to the working fluid from products of combustion, which are kept separate. It
is an external combustion engine.
Stirling engine
2
3
1
4
TH
T=c
T=c
TC
p
v
21
34
TH
v=cv=c
TC
T
s
Fig. 9.21 p–_ and T–s diagrams of the Stirling cycle.
9.9 Gas Turbine–Based Combined Cycles
In this section, gas turbine–based combined cycles are considered for power generation.
Cogeneration, including district heating, is also considered. These discussions
complement those of Sec. 8.5, where vapor power systems performing similar functions
are introduced.
The present applications build on recognizing that the exhaust gas temperature of
a simple gas turbine is typically well above ambient temperature and thus hot gas
exiting the turbine has significant thermodynamic utility that might be harnessed
economically. This observation provides the basis for the regenerative gas turbine
cycle introduced in Sec. 9.7 and for the current applications.
9.9.1 Combined Gas Turbine–Vapor Power Cycle
A combined cycle couples two power cycles such that the energy discharged by heat
transfer from one cycle is used partly or wholly as the heat input for the other cycle.
This is illustrated by the combined cycle involving gas and vapor power turbines shown
in Fig. 9.22. The gas and vapor power cycles are combined using an interconnecting
heat-recovery steam generator that serves as the boiler for the vapor power cycle.
The combined cycle has the gas turbine’s high average temperature of heat addition
and the vapor cycle’s low average temperature of heat rejection and, thus, a thermal
efficiency greater than either cycle would have individually. For many applications