Results and discussions

The following graphs represent the experimental data collected during the Rankine Cycle
experiment.

Boiler Pressure Vs Time

140.00
120.00
100.00
Pressure (psig)

80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
-20.00
Time (sec)

Boiler Press (psig)

Figure 1 Boiler pressure vs Time

 Boiler Temp (°C) Vs Time
250.00

200.00
Temperature ( C) 150.00

100.00

50.00

0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time (sec)

Boiiler Temp (°C)

Figure 2 Boiler Temperature Vs time

Turbine Inlet Temperature

160.00
140.00
120.00
Temperature ( C)

100.00
80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time (sec)

Turbine In Temp (°C)

Figure 3 Turbine inlet temperature vs time

 Turbine Exit Temperature
140.00

120.00

100.00
Temperature ( C)

80.00

60.00

40.00

20.00

0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time (sec)

Turbine Exit Temp (°C)

Figure 4 Turbine exit temperature vs time

Turbine Inlet Pressure

30.00

25.00

20.00
Pressure (psig)

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time (sec)

Turbine In Press (psig)

Figure 5 Turbine inlet pressure Vs time

 Turbine Exit Pressure
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
Pressure (psig)

4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
-1.00
Time (sec)

Turbine Exit Press (psig)

Figure 6 Turbine exit pressure vs time

Generator output vs time:

Generator RPM
3000.00

2500.00

2000.00

1500.00
RPM

1000.00

500.00

0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
-500.00
Time (sec)

Generator RPM

Figure 7 Generator RPM vs Time

 Generator Voltage
16.00

14.00

12.00

10.00
Volts

8.00

6.00

4.00

2.00

0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time (sec)

Generator Volt

Figure 8 Generator Voltage vs time

Generator Current
0.60

0.50

0.40
Amps

0.30

0.20

0.10

0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time (sec)

Generator Curr (Amps)

Figure 9 Generator current vs time

 Generator Power
6.00

5.00

4.00
Watts

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time (sec)
Generator Power (Watts)

Figure 10 Generator power vs time

At the end of the experiment, the total amount of water consumed, which is also the boiler’s total
production of steam is found to be 2.8 L.

Figure 11 Theoretical representation of Rankine Cycle

 Figure 12 Experimental representation of Rankine cycle

Fuel Flow
6.00

5.00

4.00
Flow (L/min)

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time (sec)

Fuel Flow (L/min)

Figure 13 Fuel consumption during the experiment

The total fuel consumption is 5.5L/min.

A-Turbine:

According to the graphs obtained from the experiment figs 3, 4, 5 and 6 the following data were

obtained:

 0<t<750s : Tin=20⸰C fig 3

Tout=20⸰C fig 4

Pin=Pout=0⸰C fig 5 and 6.

 t=750s: sudden increase in Temperature and pressure

Tin=150⸰C fig 3

Tout=119⸰C fig4

Pin=25psig fig 5

Pout=7.3 psig fig 6

 750<t<1000s: Both inlet and exit temperatures decrease and the curves undergo

variations till reaching constant values at 1000s; Tin=125⸰C fig3 and Tout=107⸰C fig4

 t=1400s: Tin=118⸰C fig3

 t=1750s fig3 and t=1900s fig4: temperatures undergo sudden variation which explains

that later on the experiment will reach its end and the process will be turned OFF.

 780<t<900s: sudden decrease in both inlet and exit pressure till they reach 0 psig.

 t>=900s: both pressures start increasing exponentially till both reach their maxima at

t=1250s, Pin=17.5psig and Pout=4.3psig. figs 5and 6

 t>1250s the curves start decreasing till t=1800s.

  t>1800s: both curves undergo variations which explain that the process is turned OFF and

the experiment is toward reaching its end.

From the results obtained previously, we can conclude that the steady state occurs between

1000s and 1400s. So, Tin(sat)= 125⸰C ,Tout(sat)=107 ⸰C, Pin(sat)=17.5psig and

Pout(sat)=4.3psig.

B-Boiler:

According to the graphs obtained from the experiment figs 1 and 2 the following data were

obtained:

 0<t<750s: Both temperature and pressure curves increase exponentially to reach their

maxima at t=750s P=120psig and T=200⸰C.

 750s<t<800s: sudden decrease in pressure to 80psig at t=800s.

 800<t<1000s: Both temperature and pressure curves increase exponentially till reaching

constant values at 1000s; T=175⸰C fig2 and P=120psig fig1.

 Starting t=1250s, the pressure curve decreases till reaching 100psig at 1850s (fig1).

 Starting 1500s, the temperature curve increases linearly to reach 210⸰C at 1800s.(fig 2).

 t>1800s: both curves decrease which explains that the heating process is turned OFF and

the experiment reaches its end.

From the results obtained previously, we can conclude that the steady state occurs between

1000s and 1400s. Psat=120 psig and Tsat= 175⸰C.

C-Generator:

According to graphs obtained experimentally figs 7, 8, 9 and 10.

 0<t<750: Voltage V=0V, Current I=0 A, Power P=0W and rpm=500. The process

was at its start.

 t=750s All graphs increase suddenly to reach their maxima: V=13.9v, I=0.5A,

RPM=2600 and P=5.7W; and then decrease suddenly.

 All curves reach zero at 750<t<850s. Afterwards, they all increase to reach their

maxima.

 1000<t<1400s, curves start reaching constant values V=8v, I=0.3A, RPM=2000 and

P=2.5W.

 t>1400s, all curves (fig 7, 8, 9 and 10) decreases undergoing variations till the end of

the experiment.

Figure 14 Rankine cycle experiment (saturation state)

Table 1 Table of terms

Term Value
WP (in) Pump Work
Wt (out) Turbine Work
Wcycle Net Work
qin&out Energy in and out
ηth Thermal Efficiency (%)

Now applying the energy balance equation on each control volume in the cycle according to

figure 11, and also referring to:

Moran, M. J., Shapiro, H. N., Boettner, D. D., & Bailey , M. B. (2014). Fundamentals of

Engineering Thermodynamics. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Using Table A-3: at the inlet of the turbine P1=17.5psig = 32.2psia=2.22 bar. By interpolation:

h1= hg=2710KJ/kg and s1=sg=7.075KJ/Kg.K.

At the exit of the turbine: P2=4.3psig=19psia=1.31bar. By interpolation: hf=450.5KJ/Kg,

hfg=2235.3KJ/Kg, sf=1.37KJ/Kg.K and sg=7.308KJ/Kg.K. Note that for isentropic expansion

s2=s1.

x2=(s2-sf)/(sg-sf)= 0.96. h2= hf+x2.hfg= 2596.388KJ/Kg.

Wt =h1-h2= 2710-2596.388=113.612 =1.33 KW.

For the condenser: isothermal expansion T2=T3=107⸰C (saturated liquid). Using table A-2 and

by interpolation: h3=hf=450.5KJ/Kg.

Qout= h2-h3=2145.88KJ/Kg.
Boiler: At the inlet of the boiler, P1=P4=120psig=9.3bar. From table A-3: hf=750KJ/Kg=h4.

Qin =(2710-750)=1940

Pump: Wp= 0.0117*(h4-h3)=299.5

Wcycle= Wt-Wp= -2.17KW<0 work done on the system.

ηth = 2.17/22.932= 0.094=9.46%.

Referring to figure 14, the steam ejecting from the tower is a sign of reaching the steady state.

However, the collection of the data was based on the behavior of the system according to the

5.5L of water added to the system. Only 2.8L of water and 5.5L/min of fuel were consumed

during the experiment..