QUESTION 1 [15 MARKS]

In a simple air-standard Ideal Brayton cycle, air enters the compressor at 1 bar and 27 oC. The
pressure ratios in the compressor and the turbine are 5. The temperature of the air entering the
turbine is 1127oC. A regenerator with effectiveness of 90% is incorporated in the cycle for
preheating the compressed air before entering the combustor. Accounting for variation of
specific heats with temperature, determine:
(a) The back work ratio of the cycle. [5 Marks]
(b) The thermal efficiency of the cycle. [6 Marks]
(c) If the processes in the compressor and turbine are non-ideal, with an isentropic efficiencies
of 0.85, what is the effect to the back work ratio of the cycle? The thermal efficiency of the
cycle increases, decreases or remain the same? [4
Marks]