Vapor and Combined

Power Cycles
The steam cycle and more

Carnot Cycle

The standard all others are measured

against
Not realistic model for vapor cycles

Rankine Cycle, Ideal

1-2 isentropic
compression (pump)
2-3 constant pressure
heat addition (boiler)
3-4 isentropic
expansion (turbine)
4-1 constant pressure
heat rejection
(condenser)

Rankine Cycle, Ideal

Rankine Cycle Energy Analysis

Energy balance, each process

For pump

Rankine Cycle Energy Analysis

For boiler

For turbine

For condenser

Rankine Cycle Energy Analysis

Thermal efficiency

Heat rate: amount of heat (Btu) to

generate 1 kWh of electricity

Real vs. Ideal Cycle

Real vs. Ideal Cycle

Major difference is irreversibilities in

pump and turbine

Increase Efficiency?

Lower condenser pressure

Increase superheat
temperature

Increase Efficiency?

Increase boiler pressure

Reheat

Materials limit temperature of steam, but can we

take advantage of higher steam pressures and
not have quality of steam issues?

Reheat

Equations become:

Purposes of reheat: keep turbine inlet

temps within limits, increase quality
of steam in last stages of turbine

Ideal Regenerative Rankine Cycle

Regeneration:
effective use of
energy
Open (direct
contact) feedwater
heaters (mixing
chambers)
Closed feedwater
heaters (heat
exchangers)

Ideal Regenerative Rankine Cycle

Ideal Regenerative Rankine Cycle

Ideal Regenerative Rankine Cycle

2 Law Analysis
nd

Ideal Rankine cycle is internally

reversible
Analysis indicates where
irreversibilities are
Again for steady-flow system:

2 Law Analysis
nd

For a cycle:

Cogeneration

Combined Gas-Vapor Power Cycle

Use of two cycles to maximize

efficiency
Gas power cycle topping a vapor power
cycle
Combined cycles have higher efficiency
than either independently
Works because:

Gas turbine needs high combustion temp

to be efficient, vapor cycle can effectively
use rejected energy