Power Cycles

The Rankine Cycle

- Is name after William Johnson Macquorn Rankine, a 19th century Scottish

engineer and physicist known for his research in the thermodynamic
properties of steam.

- is a thermodynamic cycle which converts heat into work.

- is the process widely used by power plants such as coal-fired power
plants or nuclear reactors.

Diagrammatic Layout for Steam Power Plant

The ideal Rankine cycle is composed of the following processes:

1 – 2: Isentropic Expansion in the engine S1 = S2

2 – 3: Constant pressure rejection of heat in the condenser P2 = P3

 3 – 4: Adiabatic Pumping S3 = S4

4 – 1: Constant pressure addition of heat in the steam generator

P4 = P1

Cycle Analysis:

1. Heat added in the steam generator, QA

By Energy Balance

Ein = Eout

QA + h4 = h1

QA = h1 – h4 (kJ/kg)

QA = m (h1 - h4 ) kW

where: m = mass flow rate of steam (kg/s)

2. Heat Rejected in the Condenser, QR :

By Energy Balance

Ein = Eout

h2 = QR + h3

QR = h2 – h3 (kJ/kg)

QR = m (h2 – h3 ) (kW)

3. Turbine Work, Wt :

By Energy Balance

Ein = Eout

h1 = Wt + h2

Wt = h1 – h2 (kJ/kg)

Wt = m (h1 – h2 ) kW
Note: If change in Kinetic Energy is given:

Wt = h1 – h2 + ΔKE (kJ/kg)

Wt = m [(h1 – h2 ) + (KE1 – KE2)] kW

4. Pump Work, Wp :

By Energy Balance

Ein = Eout

Wp + h3 = h4

Wp = h4 – h3 kJ/kg

Wp = m (h4 – h3) Kw

Approximate Pump Work :

Wp = Vf3 (P4 – P3 ) kJ/kg

5. Net Cycle Work, Wnet :

Wnet = Wt – Wp

Wnet = h1 – h2 – Wp

Or

Wnet = QA – QR

Wnet = h1 – h4 - ( h2 – h3)

Wnet = h1 – h4 - h2 + h3

Wnet = h1 - h2 – ( h4 - h3)

Wnet = h1 – h2 – Wp

6. Thermal Efficiency, eth

Wnet
e =
Q

h − h −W
e =
h −h −W
7. Steam Rate, m:

kg KJ
mass lowrate( ) 3600( )
m= hr = KWh
power output(KWh) KJ
W ( )
Kg

m= ,

For the ideal Rankine cycle

mc = ,

The ideal Rankine engine

- is either a steam turbine or a steam engine. The difference between ideal

Rankine engine and an ideal Rankine cycle is that an ideal engine does not
include pump work since it is concerned only with all the processes occurring
inside the engine.

Engine Analysis

1. Work, W
W = h1 – h2
2. Thermal efficiency, ee
W h − h
e = =
E h −h

Where:

Ec (energy chargeable) = enthalpy of steam entering the engine – enthalpy of

saturated liquid at the condensing temperature

3. Steam Rate, me

me = ,

4. Heat Rate, HR
- is the energy chargeable per unit of work or the rate of energy chargeable per
unit of power.
 HR = ,

kg kJ
mass lowrate 𝐸𝑐
hr kg
HR = =
power output(KWh)

HR = (EC)

HR = (me)(Ec)
HR = me (h − h )

The Actual Rankine Cycle

- Any presence of the following conditions will transform the ideal cycle into
an actual one.
a. Pressure drop in the steam generator.
b. Pressure drop in the steam line (1 – 1’).
c. Pressure drop in the condenser.
d. Pressure drop in the feedwater line (4 – 4’)
e. Heat losses in the steam line.
f. Heat losses in the turbine/engine.
g. Irreversible adiabatic expansion in the turbine.
h. Inefficient pump.
i. Subcooled condensate.

4’
4
Cycle analysis

1. Heat added, QA.

QA = h1 – h4
2. Heat rejected, QR
QA = h2’ – h3’
3. Engine Work, W’
a. Irreversible adiabatic expansion from 1’ – 2’
W’ = h1’ – h2’
b. Polytropic expansion from 1’ – 2’
W’ = h1’ – h2’ – Qloss
4. Pump Work, Wp’
𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤
Wp’ =
𝐧𝐦

Where:
nm = pump mechanical efficiency
5. Actual Cycle Thermal Efficiency, ec’
𝐖 𝐖𝐏
ec’ =
𝐐𝐀

The Actual Rankine Engine

- If during the expansion process the steam undergoes a process other than
isentropic process, the engine is said to be an actual one.

Engine Analysis

1. Work
W’ = h1’ – h2’
2. Energy Chargeable Against the Engine, EC’
Ec’ = h1’ – hf3’
3. Thermal Efficiency, ee’
𝐖 𝐡𝟏 𝐡𝟐
Ee’ = =
𝐄𝐞 𝐡𝟏 𝐡𝐟𝟑
Definition of Terms

 Turbogenerator – is a generator driven by a turbine.

 Ideal work, W – is the work done by the steam during a reversible adiabatic
expansion process in the turbine.
 Indicated or actual fluid work, W, or W’ – is the work done by the steam
during an irreversible adiabatic expansion or polytropic expansion in the
turbine.
 Brake work, WB – is the useful work, i.e., the available work at the engine
shaft.
 Combined work, WK - is the electrical energy available at the generator
outlet.

Thermal Efficiencies

1. Ideal Thermal Efficiency, e

𝐖
e=
𝐄𝐂

2. Indicated Thermal Efficiency, ei

𝐖𝐈
ei =
𝐄𝐂

3. Brake Thermal Efficiency, eb

𝐖𝐁
eb =
𝐄𝐂

4. Combined Thermal Efficiency, ek

𝐖𝐊
ek =
𝐄𝐂

Note:
e>ei>eb>ek
Steam Rates

1. Ideal Steam Rate, m

𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎
m=
𝐖

2. Indicated Steam Rate, mi

𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎
mi =
𝐖𝐈

3. Brake Steam Rate, mb

𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎
mb =
𝐖𝐁

4. Combined eam Rate, mk

𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎
mk =
𝐖𝐊

Engine Efficiencies

1. Indicated Engine Efficiency, ni

𝐖𝐈
ni =
𝐖

2. Brake Engine Efficiency, nb

𝐖𝐁
nb =
𝐖

3. Combined Engine Efficiency, nk

𝐖𝐊
nk =
𝐖

4. Turbine/Engine Mechanical Efficiency, nme

𝐖𝐁
nne =
𝐖𝐈

5. Generator Efficiency, ng
𝐖𝐊
ng =
𝐖𝐁

Heat Rates

1. Ideal Heat Rate, HR

HR = (m) (Ec)
2. Indicated Heat Rate, HRi
HRi = (mi) (Ec)
3. Brake Heat Rate, HRb
HRb = (mb) (Ec)
4. Combined Heat Rate, HRk
HRk = (mk) (Ec)