Experiment “4”

The effect of boiler pressure on Rankine cycle

Objectives:

1. To study the boiler pressure effect on Rankine cycle (power and efficiency)
2. To Draw the boiler pressure versus cycle specific work
3. To Draw the boiler pressure versus cycle efficiency
4. Draw the boiler pressure versus the quality (x) of the steam at exit of steam turbine

Theory:

A steam power plant consists of four main components:

1. Boiler: comprises an economizer, evaporator and superheater.

2. Turbine

3. Condenser

4. Pump

In this experiment, the intention to study the effect of boiler pressure on performance of the power
plant, i.e specific work and efficiency. In addition to study effect of boiler pressure on the quality of
steam at exit of steam turbine.

What is the effect of low quality of steam at exit of steam turbine on the plant? And, how can be
resolved?

Rankine cycle efficiency can be calculated using the following equation:

η = Wnet / Qadded

According to T-S diagram of Rankine cycle shown below:

Then,

ηth = ([h1 – h2] – [h4 – h3])/(h1 – h4), where:

h1 : Enthalpy of the steam at entry of steam turbine as shown on the T-S diagram

h2 : Enthalpy of the steam at exit of steam turbine as shown on the T-S diagram

h3 : Enthalpy of the saturated water after being condensed in the condenser as shown on the T-S
diagram

h4 : Enthalpy of the compressed liquid water at exit of the pump as shown on the T-S diagram

Starting from the pump:

Wpumpactual = vf*(P2 – P1)/ ηpump

Where,

vf is the specific volume of steam at point 3, which is a function of the condenser pressure, from the
steam saturated tables.

P2 is the boiler pressure in N/m 2

P1 is the condenser pressure in N/m 2

ηpump is the pump efficiency

Then,

h4a = Wpump + h3

h1 = function of boiler pressure and steam turbine entry temperature from superheated steam tables
then,

Qin = h1 - h4a

WTurbine, actual = (h1 – h2s)* ηTurbine (kJ/kg)

So,

The net specific work = Wnet, actual = WTurbine, actual - Wpumpactual (kJ/kg)

and the thermal efficiency = ηthermal = Wnet, actual / Qin

x = (S2 - Sf)/(Sg – Sf)

Data:
#
Pboiler

Pboiler (abs)

T1(TIT) oC

Vtank(L/min)

M (kg)

S (N)

1. 2.5 200 6.5 7.5 58

2. 2 200 5 7 56

3. 1.5 200 3 7.5 54

4. 1 200 2.5 6 51

TIT is turbine inlet temperature in oC., Condenser pressure = -0.8 bars

SGfuel = 0.826, L = 0.4 m, Volume flow rate of fuel (ὑfuel)= 5 gallon per hour.

mcp = 45 liters per hour, Turbine efficiency = 85%., Pump efficiency = 90%

Water density = 1000 kg/m3.

Results:
#
h2(kJ/kg)

h3(kJ/kg)

H4(kJ/kg)

Wnet(kJ/kg)
(%)
Efficiency
Thermal

(%)
Quality
h1(kJ/kg)

1.
2.

3.

4.

Discussion and conclusion:

After completing the table above,
1. plot the specific work versus the boiler pressure output power then discuss the results and write
down your conclusion
2. plot the thermal efficiency versus the boiler pressure
3. plot the quality versus the boiler pressure
4. Discuss the results and write down you conclusion