Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME 322 – Mechanical Engineering

Thermodynamics

Lecture 24

Power Generation Cycles

Vapor Power Generation
The Rankine Cycle
 Power Generation Cycles
• Vapor Power Generation Cycles
– Working fluid experiences a phase change
– Example: Steam Power Plant
• Gas Power Generation Cycles
– Working fluid stays in the vapor or gas phase
– Example: Gas Turbine Engine
• Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Cycles
– The working fluid is air in a closed piston-cylinder
– Example: Spark ignition ICE
– Example: Compression ignition ICE

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 A Simple Vapor Power Plant

In ME 322, we are concerned

with subsystem A

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 The Rankine Cycle - Components

(Heat Exchanger)

(Heat Exchanger)

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 The Rankine Cycle – A Heat Engine

(Heat Source)

TH
TH
W&net = W&cycle

E
TL

TL

(Heat Sink)

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 Component Analysis
Turbine
W&t = m&( h1 - h 2 )

Condenser
Q&out = m&( h 2 - h 3 )
Q&out = m&w ( h 6 - h5 )
Q&out �m&wc p ( T6 - T5 )
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Boiler
( w)
Q&in = m&( h1 - h 4 ) 5

Pump
W&p = m&( h 4 - h3 )

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 Performance Parameters
Thermal Efficiency

hth =
energy sought
=
( ) (
W&t - W&p m& h1 - h 2 - m& h 4 - h3
= =
) (
h1 - h 2 - h 4 - h 3 ) ( )
energy that costs $$ &
Qin (
m& h1 - h 4 ) h1 - h 4 ( )
Heat Rate

HR =
energy input to the cycle (Btu)
=
Q&in [Btu/hr]
=
(
h1 - h 4 [Btu/hr] )
net work output (kW-hr) ( Wt - Wp ) [ kW ] �
& & ( ) (
�
�h1 - h 2 - h 4 - h3 � [ kW ] )
Back Work Ratio

bwr =
pump work required
= =
(
W&p m& h 4 - h 3
=
h 4 - h3 ) ( )
&
turbine work delivered Wt m& h1 - h 2 ( h1 - h 2 ) ( )

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 Department of Mechanical Engineering
ME 322 – Mechanical Engineering
Thermodynamics

Vapor Power Generation

The Ideal Rankine Cycle

 The Ideal Rankine Cycle
• 1-2: Isentropic expansion through the
turbine from a saturated (or
superheated) vapor state to the
condenser pressure

• 2-3: Heat transfer from the steam at

constant pressure through the
condenser to a saturated liquid

The ideal Rankine Cycle is • 3-4: Isentropic process through the

internally reversible pump to the boiler pressure
- No friction effects
• 4-1: Heat transfer to the steam at
Turbine and pump are constant pressure through the boiler to
reversible and adiabatic complete the cycle
- Isentropic

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 The Ideal Rankine Cycle
PH

Boiler pressure

PL

Condenser pressure

The ideal cycle also includes the possibility

of superheating the saturated vapor

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 Department of Mechanical Engineering
ME 322 – Mechanical Engineering
Thermodynamics

Example

Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat

 Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat
Given: An ideal Rankine Cycle with water as the working
fluid with known properties as shown below.
P1 = 1600 psia
T1 = 1100�F
m&= 1.4 �106 lbm/hr Find:
(a) The net power
developed (Btu/hr)
P2 = 1 psia (b) The thermal efficiency
T6 = 80�
F (c) The heat rate
(d) The back work ratio
T5 = 60�
F (e) The mass flow rate of
the cooling water

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 Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat
P1 = 1600 psia
T1 = 1100�F
m&= 1.4 �106 lbm/hr

P2 = 1 psia

T6 = 80�
F

T5 = 60�
F

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 Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat
P1 = 1600 psia
The net power delivered from the T1 = 1100�F
m&= 1.4 �106 lbm/hr

cycle is,
W&net = W&t - W&p P2 = 1 psia

T6 = 80�
F

The First Law applied to the turbine T5 = 60�

F

W&t = m&( h1 - h 2 )

The enthalpy at the exit of the turbine can be found because

the turbine is isentropic,

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 Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat
P1 = 1600 psia
The First Law applied to the pump, T1 = 1100�F
m&= 1.4 �106 lbm/hr

W&p = m&( h 4 - h3 )
P2 = 1 psia

T6 = 80�
F

T5 = 60�
F

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 Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat
P1 = 1600 psia
The thermal efficiency of the cycle is, T1 = 1100�F
m&= 1.4 �106 lbm/hr

W&net
hth = &
Qin P2 = 1 psia

T6 = 80�
F

T5 = 60�
F

The heat transfer rate at the boiler is

determined from the First Law,

Q&in = m&( h1 - h 4 )

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 Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat
P1 = 1600 psia
The heat rate and back work ratio T1 = 1100�F
m&= 1.4 �106 lbm/hr

are defined as,

Q&in [Btu/hr] W&p
HR = bwr = P2 = 1 psia

W&net [ kW ] W&
t T6 = 80�
F

T5 = 60�
F

To determine the mass flow rate of the cooling water, draw a

system boundary around the condenser that keeps the heat
transfer all internal.

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 Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat
P1 = 1600 psia
For the system identified (red), T1 = 1100�F
m&= 1.4 �106 lbm/hr

& 2 + m&w h5 - mh
mh & 3 - m&w h 6 = 0
m&( h 2 - h3 ) = m&w ( h6 - h5 )
P2 = 1 psia

T6 = 80�
F

m&( h 2 - h3 ) = m&wc p ( T 6 - T5 ) T5 = 60�

F

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 Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat
P1 = 1600 psia

EES Solution (Key Variables): T1 = 1100�F

m&= 1.4 �106 lbm/hr

P2 = 1 psia

T6 = 80�
F

T5 = 60�
F

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 Ideal Rankine Cycle with Superheat
Results: P1 = 1600 psia ( 891.2 - 6.7 ) MBtu/hr
T1 = 1100�F hth = = 0.429
m&= 1.4 �106 lbm/hr 2063 M/Btuhr

= 891.2 MBtu/hr
(350,257 hp)
P2 = 1 psia
2063 MBtu/hr =
T6 = 80�
F
= 1178 MBtu/hr
T5 = 60�
F
2063 MBtu/hr 3412 Btu/hr
HR =
( 891.2 - 6.7 ) MBtu/hr kW
Btu 6.7 MBtu/hr
HR = 7958
kW-hr bwr = = 0.0075
891.2 MBtu/hr
= 6.7 MBtu/hr

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