Example 1

A steam power plant operates between a boiler pressure of 42bar and condenser
pressure of 0.035bar. Calculate for these limits the cycle efficiency, the work ratio, and
the specific steam consumption, SSC.

a) A Carnot cycle using wet steam

T1 @ 42bar  526.2K ( refer steam table)

T2 @ 0.035bar  299.7 K ( refer steam table)

TL 299.7
 Carnot  1  1  0.4304  43.04%
TH 526.2

q in  h 1  h 4  h fg @ 42bar  1699.2kJ kg  ( refer steam table)

W
 Carnot   W  q in Carnot  1699.2  0.4304  731.34 kJ kg
q in

Assume ;
s 1  s 2  s 1,g @ 42bar  s 2  6.05 kJ kgK ( refer steam table)
h 1  2799.6 kJ kg

s 2  s f 2 @ 0.035bar  x 2 s fg 2
6.05  0.391  x 2 8.13 where s g 2  8.5223kJ kg ( 8.5223  0.391  8.13 kJ kg )
x 2  0.696

h f 2  111.8 kJ kg ; h g 2  2550.33 kJ kg ( h fg 2  2550.33  111.8  2438.58 kJ kg )

h 2  h f 2  x 2 h fg 2  111.8  0.696  2438.53  1809.02 kJ kg

W12  h 1  h 2  2799.6  1809.02  990.58 kJ kg

 Nett work Win 731.34
Work ratio     0.738
Gross work Wout 990.58

3600 3600
SSC    4.92 kg kWhr
W 731.34

b) A Rankine cycle with dry saturated steam enter the turbine

h 1 @ g  2799.6 kJ kg
h 2 fg  1809.02 kJ kg
h 3 @ hf 0.035bar  111.8 kJ kg

105
Pump work input  v f P4  P3   h 4  h 3  0.00142  0.035  4.2 kJ kg (conversio n from bar to SI unit)
103
h 4  4.2  111.8  116 kJ kg
W12  h 1  h 2  2799.6  1809.02  990.58 kJ kg

h 1  h 2   h 4  h 3  2799.6  1809.02  116  111.8  990.58  4.2

 Rankine     0.3676  36.76%
h 1  h 4  2799.6  116 2687.8   4.2 

Wout  Win 990.58  4.2

Work ratio    0.996
Wout 990.58

3600 3600
SSC    3.65 kg kWhr
W 990.58  4.2

c) A Rankine cycle with an irreversible expansion process has an isentropic

efficiency 80%
 h 1  h 2' W12'
Isentropic efficiency  
h1  h 2 W12
W12'
 0.8   W12'  792.46 kJ kg
990.58

Cycle efficiency 
Wnet h  h 2   h 4  h 3   0.8  2800 1808  112  4.2  112  0.294@ 29.4%
 1
Gross heat sup plied h 1  h 4  2800 112  4.2 

Net work output W  pump work 792.46  4.2

Work ratio   12'   0.995
Gross work output W12' 792.46

3600 3600
SSC    4.56 kg kWhr
Wnet 792.46  4.2