VAPOR POWER CYCLES

a. Properties of Fluids

2 3

(Wet region)

Latent heat of fusion: Heat required for change of phase at a constant temperature
accompanied by a reduction of specific volume.

Latent enthalpy of fusion: Since pressure is constant, heat transfer is equal to the change
of enthalpy.

Sensible enthalpy: This is enthalpy change of a substance while its temperature changes.

Latent heat of vaporization: This is the heat required to turn the liquid to vapor at a
constant temperature.

Latent enthalpy of vaporization: This is the enthalpy change associated with latent heat
of vaporization.

Isobars: Constant pressure lines.

Saturated liquid line: Line separating the liquid and two phase region.

Saturated vapor line: Line separating vapor and 2-phase region.

Saturation pressure: Pressure at which a liquid vaporizes or a vapor condenses.

Dry saturated vapor: A vapor in a state lying along the saturated vapor line.

Unsaturated/ superheated vapor: Vapor on the right side of the saturated vapor line.
The different states through which a liquid passes through during expansion 1-2-3-4 are:

1-2: Substance is in an unsaturated liquid

2: It is a saturated liquid

2-3: It is a 2-phase mixture of liquid and vapor….also known as wet-vapor

3: It is a saturated vapor

3-4: It is an unsaturated vapor…….superheated

Cycles composed of reversible processes is called ideal cycles. Various ideal cycles are
analyzed. The Carnot cycle is considered first and the Rankine cycle is presented as a
logical modification of this to meet certain practical considerations. Steam is used as a
working fluid because it is cheap and chemically stable. The principles presented apply
equally to any condensable vapor.

b. Carnot Cycle

1
2

4
3

At the boiler (heat exchanger 1-2), heat is taken in at constant temperature Ta and at the
condenser (heat exchanger 3-4) heat is rejected at a lower temperature Tb. It consists of
two reversible isothermal processes at Ta and Tb connected by two reversible adiabatic
(isentropic) processes.
 Ta

Tb

Saturated water in state 1 is evaporated in a boiler at a constant pressure to form saturated

steam in state 2, the heat being added:

ܳ௜௡ = ܳଵଶ = ݄ଶ െ ݄ଵ = ݄௚ െ ݄௙

The steam is expanded isentropically to state 3 while doing work in the turbine or
reciprocating engine where ‫ݏ‬ଶ = ‫ݏ‬ଷ = ‫ݏ‬௚ @ ௕௣ . The work transfer is:

ܹ௢௨௧ = െܹଶଷ = ݄ଷ െ ݄ଶ

After expansion the steam is then partially condensed at a constant pressure while heat is
rejected.

ܳ௢௨௧ = ܳଷସ = ݄ସ െ ݄ଷ

Condensation is stopped at state 4 where ‫ݏ‬ସ = ‫ݏ‬ଵ .

‫ݏ‬ଶ = ‫ݏ‬ଷ = ‫ݏ‬௙ + ‫ݔ‬ଷ ‫ݏ‬௙௚

݄ଷ = ݄௙ + ‫ݔ‬ଷ ݄௙௚

The steam is compressed isentropically in a rotary or reciprocating compressor to state 1.

The work transfer is given by:

ܹ݅݊ = ܹସଵ = ݄ଵ െ ݄ସ

The cycle efficiency ߟ is:

ܹ௡௘௧
ߟ=
ܳ௜௡

Work ratio ‫ݎ‬௪ is:

 ܹ௡௘௧
‫ݎ‬௪ =
ܹଶଷ

A more direct indication of relative sizes of steam plant is provided by the specific steam
consumption (SSC). It is expressed in kg/kWh.

1 1 ݇݃ ‫ݏ‬
ܵܵ‫= ܥ‬ =൮ ൲൤ ൨ ‫ ݔ‬3600[ ]
ܹ௡௘௧ ݇‫ܬ‬
ܹ ൤ ൨ ܹ݇‫ݏ‬ ݄
݇݃
3600 ݇݃
=( )
݇‫ܬ‬
ܹ௡௘௧ ൤ ൨ ܹ݄݇
݇݃

Q. Calculate the heat and work transfers, cycle efficiency, work ratio and SSC of a Carnot
cycle using steam between the pressures of 30 bar and 0.04 bar.