MODULE 5 ANALYSIS OF RANKINE CYCLE:

RANKINE CYCLE
1. Heat Added in the Boiler, QA
I. RANKINE CYCLE
Rankine Cycle is the ideal cycle used as the standard for Q A =h1−h4 ( kJ/kg ) or Q A =ṁ ( h1−h 4 ) ( kW )
comparison for thermal power plants.

Rankine Cycle Plant Layout

where: ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
h1 = enthalpy of steam leaving the boiler, kJ/kg
h4 = enthalpy of water entering the boiler, kJ/kg

1 Approximate Heat Added in the Boiler:

turbine
Q A =h1−h3 ( kJ/kg ) or Q A =ṁ ( h1−h3 ) ( kW )
boiler
4 generator
2
condenser 2. Work Output of the Turbine, WT

3 W T =h1 −h2 ( kJ/kg ) or W T =ṁ ( h1−h2 ) ( kW )

pump
where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
h1 = enthalpy of steam entering the turbine, kJ/kg
T-s Diagram of Rankine Cycle
h2 = enthalpy of steam leaving the turbine, kJ/kg

T If velocities of steam entering and leaving the turbine are

1
given, then

2 2
4 ν 1−ν 2
W T =h1 −h2 + ( kJ/kg ) or
2000
3 2
s
W T =ṁ ( h1−h2 ) + ṁ (
2000 )
ν 21−ν 22
( kW )

where:
Processes of Rankine Cycle
ν2 = velocity of steam leaving the turbine, m/s
ν 1 = velocity of steam entering the turbine, m/s
1 – 2 : Isentropic expansion in the turbine
2 – 3 : Isobaric heat rejection in the condenser
3. Heat Rejected in the Condenser, QR
3 – 4 : Adiabatic or Isometric pumping
4 – 1 : Isobaric heat addition in the boiler
Q R=h 2−h3 ( kJ/kg ) or Q R=ṁ ( h2−h3 ) ( kW )

where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
h2 = enthalpy of steam entering the condenser, kJ/kg
h3 = enthalpy of steam leaving the condenser, kJ/kg

4. Pump Work, WP,

49
 W P=h 4−h3 ( kJ/kg ) or W P=ṁ ( h 4−h3 ) ( kW ) II. REHEAT CYCLE
Moisture is harmful to the blades of the turbine. It
causes erosion and cavitation of the turbine blades. As
where:
have been observed in the simple Rankine cycle, the
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
moisture content increases during the later stages of the
h3 = enthalpy of water entering the pump, kJ/kg
expansion process. One solution to this problem is by
h4 = enthalpy of water leaving the pump, kJ/kg
reheating the steam after partial expansion in the
turbine. Reheating minimizes the moisture content and
Approximate Pump Work:
at the same time increases the efficiency of the cycle.

W P=v f 3 (P ¿ ¿ 4−P 3) ( kJ/kg ) ¿ or

W P=ṁ v f 3 (P ¿ ¿ 4−P3 )( kW ) ¿ Plant Layout of Reheat Cycle:

where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
vf3 = specific volume of water entering the pump, m 3/kg
1
P3 = pressure of water entering the pump, kPa
P4 = pressure of water leaving the pump, kPa turbine
boiler 2
generator
5. Net Cycle Work, Wnet
reheater 4
3
condenser
W net =W T −W Por W net =Q A −Q R

5
6. Thermal Efficiency, e
6 pump

W net
e= ×100 %
QA T – s Diagram of Reheat Cycle:
T 1 3

6
2

5 4

Processes of Reheat Cycle:

1 – 2 : Partial isentropic expansion in the turbine
2 – 3 : Isobaric reheating in the reheater
3 – 4 : Complete isentropic expansion in the turbine
4 – 5 : Isobaric heat rejection in the condenser
5 – 6 : Adiabatic pumping
6 – 1 : Isobaric heat addition in the boiler

ANALYSIS OF REHEAT CYCLE (Single Reheat only):

50
1. Heat Added in the Boiler, QB W P=h 6−h5 ( kJ/kg ) or W P=ṁ ( h6 −h5 ) ( kW )

QB =h1−h6 ( kJ/kg ) or QB =ṁ ( h1−h 6 ) ( kW ) Approximate Pump Work:

where: W P=v f 5 ( P ¿ ¿ 6−P5 ) ( kJ/kg ) ¿ or

ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
h1 = enthalpy of steam leaving the boiler, kJ/kg
h6 = enthalpy of steam entering the boiler, kJ/kg
2. Heat Added in the Reheater, QRh
Q Rh=h3−h2 ( kJ/kg ) or Q Rh=ṁ ( h3−h2 ) ( kW )
where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
h3 = enthalpy of steam leaving the reheater, kJ/kg
h2 = enthalpy of steam entering the reheater, kJ/kg
W P=ṁ v f 5 ( P ¿ ¿ 6−P 5) ( kW ) ¿
where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
vf5 = specific volume of water entering the pump,
m3/kg
P5 = pressure of water entering the pump, kPa
P6 = pressure of water leaving the pump, kPa
7. Net Cycle Work, Wnet
W net =W T −W Por W net =Q A −Q R

3. Total Heat Added, QA

8. Thermal Efficiency, e

Q A =Q B +Q RhorQ A =h1−h6 +h3−h2 ( kJ /kg )or W net

e= ×100 %
Q =m(¿ h −h +h˙ −h )( kW )¿
A 1 6 3 2 QA

4. Work Output of the Turbine, WT 9. Steam Rate, SR

W T =W HPT +W LPT
SR=
3600
(kg
W net kW ∙ hr )
W T =h1 −h2 +h3−h4 ( kJ/kg ) or
W T =ṁ ( h1−h2+ h3−h 4 ) ( kW ) where: Wnet = net cycle work, kJ/kg

where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
h1 = enthalpy of steam entering the HP turbine, kJ/kg
h2 = enthalpy of steam leaving the HP turbine, kJ/kg
h3 = enthalpy of steam entering the LP turbine, kJ/kg
h4 = enthalpy of steam leaving the LP turbine, kJ/kg

5. Heat Rejected in the Condenser, QR

Q R=h 4−h5 ( kJ/kg ) or Q R=ṁ ( h4 −h5 ) ( kW )

where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
h4 = enthalpy of steam entering the condenser, kJ/kg
h5 = enthalpy of steam leaving the condenser, kJ/kg

6. Pump Work, WP,

51
III. REGENERATIVE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF REGENERATIVE CYCLE (Single Extract only):
The efficiency of a simple steam power plant is less than
50%. This means that more than half of the heat added to 1. Heat Added in the Boiler, QA
the water in the boiler is just wasted and rejected in the
condenser. In order to utilize some of these heats that Q A =h1−h7 ( kJ/kg ) or Q A =ṁ ( h1−h7 ) ( kW )
would have been wasted and rejected in the condenser,
part of the throttle steam is extracted or bled for feedwater
where: ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
heating after it has partially expanded in the turbine. The
h1 = enthalpy of steam leaving the boiler, kJ/kg
extraction/bled points occur near the saturation state. The
h7 = enthalpy of steam entering the boiler, kJ/kg
process of heating feedwater in this manner is called
regeneration.
2. Work Output of the Turbine, WT
Plant Layout of Regenerative Cycle:
W T =W HPT +W LPT

W T =h1 −h2 + ( 1−mx ) (h ¿ ¿ 2−h3) ( kJ/kg ) ¿ or

1
W T =ṁ ¿
turbine

boiler where:
generator mx = ratio of mass flow rate of bled steam to the total
2
3 mass flow rate of steam (i.e., mx = ṁb /ṁ)
condenser ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
ṁb = mass flow rate of bled or extracted steam, kg/s
7 5 4 h1 = enthalpy of steam entering the HP turbine, kJ/kg
h2 = enthalpy of steam leaving the HP turbine, kJ/kg
pump h3 = enthalpy of steam leaving the LP turbine, kJ/kg
pump
6 heater

3. Heat Rejected in the Condenser, QR

PROCESSES OF REGENERATIVE CYCLE: Q R=( 1−mx ) ( h3−h4 ) ( kJ /kg ) or

1 – 2 : Partial isentropic expansion in the turbine
2 – 6 : Isobaric heat rejection in the heater Q R=( ṁ−ṁb )( h3−h 4 ) ( kW )
2 – 3 : Complete isentropic expansion in the turbine
3 – 4 : Isobaric heat rejection in the condenser where:
4 – 5 : Adiabatic pumping in the first pump ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
5 – 6 : Isobaric heat addition in the heater ṁb = mass flow rate of bled or extracted steam, kg/s
6 – 7 : Adiabatic pumping in the second pump h3 = enthalpy of steam entering the condenser, kJ/kg
7 – 1 : Isobaric heat addition in the boiler h4 = enthalpy of steam leaving the condenser, kJ/kg

4. Pump Work, WP
T – s Diagram of Regenerative Cycle:
W P=( 1−m x ) ( h5 −h4 ) + ( h7−h6 ) ( kJ /kg ) or
T
1 W P=( ṁ−ṁb ) ( h5−h4 ) + ṁ ( h7 −h6 ) ( kW )

7
1 Approximate Pump Work:
5 mx 2 W P=( 1−m x ) v f 4 ( P5−P 4 ) +v f 6 ( P 7−P6 ) kJ /kg
6
1 – mx or
4 3 W P=( ṁ−ṁb ) v f 4 ( P5−P4 ) + m v˙ f 6 ( P7−P6 ) kW

s 5. Net Cycle Work, Wnet

52
 W net =W T −W Por W net =Q A −Q R

6. Thermal Efficiency, e

W net
e= ×100 %
QA PROCESSES OF REHEAT – REGENERATIVE CYCLE:

7. Steam Rate, SR 1 – 2 : Partial isentropic expansion in the turbine

2 – 3 : Intermediate expansion in the turbine
SR=
3600
(
kg
W net kW ∙ hr ) 3 – 8 : Isobaric heat rejection in the heater
3 – 4 : Isobaric heat addition in the reheater
4 – 5 : Complete isentropic expansion in the turbine
where: Wnet = net cycle work, kJ/kg 5 – 6 : Isobaric heat rejection in the condenser
6 – 7 : Adiabatic pumping in the first pump
7 – 8 : Isobaric heat addition in the heater
8 – 9 : Adiabatic pumping in the second pump
9 – 1 : Isobaric heat addition in the boiler

IV. REHEAT – REGENERATIVE CYCLE: ANALYSIS OF REHEAT – REGENERATIVE CYCLE (Single

The reheat-regenerative cycle are combined to further Extract and Single Reheat only):
improve the overall thermal efficiency of the plant and it
also further reduce the moisture content of steam during 1. Heat Added in the Boiler, QB
the latter part of the expansion process.
QB =h1−h9 ( kJ/kg ) or QB =ṁ ( h1−h 9 ) ( kW )
Plant layout of Reheat-Regenerative Cycle:
where: ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
reheater h1 = enthalpy of steam leaving the boiler, kJ/kg
1 h9 = enthalpy of steam entering the boiler, kJ/kg
3 4
2. Heat Added in the Reheater, QRh
turbine
boiler
generator
Q Rh=( 1−m x ) ( h 4−h3 ) ( kJ/kg ) or
2
5 Q Rh =( ṁ−ṁb ) ( h 4−h 3 ) ( kW )

condenser where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s
7 6
9 mx = ṁ b / ṁ
8
pump ṁb = mass flow rate of bled steam, kg/s
pump feedwater h4 = enthalpy of steam leaving the reheater, kJ/kg
heater
h3 = enthalpy of steam entering the reheater, kJ/kg

3. Total Heat Added, QA

Q A =Q B +Q Rh
T – s Diagram of Reheat - Regenerative Cycle:
4. Work Output of the Turbine, WT
T
1 4

1 53
9
2
mx
7 8 3
 6 5

W T =( h 1−h2 ) + ( 1−mx ) ( h2−h3 +h4 −h5 ) kJ /kg W net

e= ×100 %
or W T =ṁ ( h1−h2 ) + ( ṁ−ṁb ) ( h2 −h3 +h 4−h 5) kW QA

where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam, kg/s 9. Steam Rate, SR
m x = ṁb / ṁ
h1 = enthalpy of steam entering the HP turbine, kJ/kg
h2 = enthalpy of steam leaving the HP turbine, kJ/kg
SR=
3600
( kg
W net kW ∙ hr )
ṁb = mass flow rate of bled steam, kg/s
h2 = enthalpy of steam entering the IP turbine, kJ/kg where: Wnet = net cycle work, kJ/kg
h3 = enthalpy of steam leaving the IP turbine, kJ/kg
h4 = enthalpy of steam entering the LP turbine
h5 = enthalpy of steam leaving the LP turbine

5. Heat Rejected in the Condenser, QR

Q R=( 1−mx ) ( h5−h6 ) ( kJ /kg ) or

Q R=( ṁ−ṁ b )( h5−h 6 ) ( kW )

where:
ṁ = mass flow rate of steam
m x = ṁb / ṁ
ṁb = mass flow rate of bled steam, kg/s
h5 = enthalpy of steam entering the condenser, kJ/kg
h6 = enthalpy of steam leaving the condenser, kJ/kg

6. Pump Work, WP,

W P=( 1−mx ) ( h7 −h6 ) + ( h9−h 8 ) ( kJ /kg ) or

W P=( ṁ−ṁb ) ( h7−h6 ) + ṁ ( h9−h8 ) ( kW )

Approximate Pump Work:

W P=( 1−mx ) v f 6 ( P 7−P6 ) + v f 8 ( P9−P 8 ) ( kJ / kg )

or
W P=( ṁ−ṁb ) v f 6 ( P7 −P6 ) + ṁ v f 8 ( P9 −P8 ) ( kW )

7. Net Cycle Work, Wnet

W net =W T −W Por W net =Q A −Q R

8. Thermal Efficiency, e

54