RANKINE CYCLE
Introduction. What is a power steam plant
• A steam power plant consists of a steam generator (boiler), which converts water to steam,
(and other auxiliaries such as superheaters, air preheaters, economizer).
• The steam, at high temperature and pressure, expands in the steam turbines to produce
mechanical energy. The mechanical energy can be used directly to run machines or run
generators thus producing electric power.
• Steam power plant is works on the vapor power cycle. In the vapor power cycle, the working
fluid, which is water, undergoes a change of phase.
• Significant amount of industrial energy is provided for by the steam power plant. Steam
power plants are commonly referred to as coal plants, nuclear plants, or natural gas plants,
depending on the type of fuel used to supply heat to the steam.
• the steam goes through the same basic cycle in all of them. Therefore, all can be analyzed in
the same manner.
• Steam is the most common working fluid used in vapor power cycles because of its many
desirable characteristics, such as low cost, availability, and high enthalpy of vaporization.
• Heat energy from the fuel converts
water to steam in the boiler
Block diagram of Rankine cycle
• The vapor enters the turbine,
where it expands isentropically and
produces work by rotating the shaft
connected to an electric generator.
• The steam from the turbine is
passed through a condenser and
converted back to liquid
• The liquid is then send back into
the boiler via a pump to generate
steam and the cycle is repeated,
Rankine cycle
Block diagram of Rankine cycle Rankine cycle on a T-S diagram
Energy analysis: steady flow process
• The cycle consists of a number of flow processes.
• Each process shall be analyzed by the application of the steady-flow energy
equation
• A unit mass flow rate shall be considered
ℎ + + + + =ℎ + +
2 2
• If change in kinetic and potential energy is neglected, then the equation
becomes
+ = dℎ
3 - 4 Pump
• the liquid is pressurized to boiler
pressure
• Compression is isentropic =
and adiabatic = 0 hence
+ =ℎ −ℎ
• Therefore work done by the pump
=ℎ −ℎ
4 -1 Boiler
• water enters the boiler at point 4
• Heat is added until it reaches point 5
(Saturation temp).
• Heat is added at constant temperature and
pressure till it reaches point 1 (dry vapor).
+ =ℎ −ℎ
• Net heat supplied
=ℎ −ℎ
1-2 Turbine
• 1-2 – the vapor expands
isentropically in the turbine
=
+ =ℎ +ℎ
• Temperature reduces. No heat gain
or heat loss ∆ = 0
=ℎ −ℎ
Work output
− =ℎ −ℎ
condenser
• Latent heat of vaporization is
rejected
• Vapor is converted to liquid.
+ =ℎ −ℎ
• No work is done =0
• Thus heat rejected
=ℎ −ℎ
Criterion of performance of steam plant
• = =
ℎ −ℎ − ℎ −ℎ
=
(ℎ − ℎ )
ℎ −ℎ − ℎ −ℎ
=
ℎ −ℎ − ℎ −ℎ
• Pump work input ℎ −ℎ = −
In a real Rankine Cycle the expansion process (1-2) and compression process (3-
4) are not isentropic, entropy increases, thus the process is irreversible.
• for expansion process (1-2)
• Turbine isentropic efficiency
ℎ −ℎ
=
ℎ −ℎ
Specific steam consumption
Work ratio
• Steam flow required to develop
• = unit power output
− 1
= =
ℎ −ℎ
ℎ − ℎ − (ℎ − ℎ )
=
ℎ −ℎ
Example
A steam power plant operates between a boiler pressure of 42bar
and condenser pressure of 0.035bar. Calculate for these limits the
cycle efficiency, the work ratio, and the specific steam
consumption, for the following cycles.
1. Rankine cycle with dry saturated steam at entry to the turbine
2. A Rankine cycle with an irreversible expansion process and has
an isentropic efficiency 80%
3. Steam is superheated to 500 °C
