Improvement of Steam Rankine Power Cycle:

Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

Objectives:
At the end of this topic, the student will be able to:
1. Explain the processes involved in the Ideal and Actual Reheat-Regenerative
Rankine Cycle.
2. Draw the correct T-s and schematic diagrams for the Ideal and Actual Reheat-
Regenerative Rankine Cycle.
3. Use steam tables and software to determine the enthalpies at various points in
the cycle.
4. Analyze the thermodynamics of the Ideal and Actual Reheat-Regenerative
Rankine Cycle.

24/04/2023

[Engr. Angelo Acenas, MEE]

 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

Introduction
The quest for higher thermal efficiency led to several improvements to the simple Rankine
Power Plant. Based on the previous lessons, we learned that the cycle efficiency can be
increased in three ways: increasing the boiler pressure, increasing the superheating
temperature, and decreasing the condenser pressure. As previously learned, increasing
the efficiency of power generation can be done by increasing the average temperature of
heat reception through regeneration or reheating.

The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station is the first of its kind in Mainland China. The station produces about
15 billion kWh of electricity every year and supplied electricity to Hong Kong. Regenerative-reheat system
is the core of the thermal system of this pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant (PWR NPP), which
determines the economy of the unit directly.

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 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

Schematic and T-s Diagram

The analysis of reheat-regenerative Rankine cycle varies depending on the number and
types of heater as well as the stages of reheating. Sample schematic and T-s diagram is
shown below:

Ideal reheat-regenerative Rankine cycle with an open feedwater heater

Ideal reheat-regenerative Rankine cycle with closed feedwater heater

(using pump for closed feedwater heater)

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 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

Ideal reheat-regenerative Rankine cycle with one closed and one open feedwater heater
(using pump for closed feedwater heater)

Ideal reheat-regenerative Rankine cycle with one closed and one open feedwater heater
(using trap for closed feedwater heater)

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 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

Cycle analysis
Similar to the analysis of regenerative Rankine cycle, energy balance is very useful in analyzing
each component of reheat-regenerative rankine cycle. To illustrate this, the cycle analysis for
ideal reheat-regenerative Rankine cycle with an open feedwater heater and one stage reheating
is presented below.

Ideal reheat-regenerative Rankine cycle with an open feedwater heater

a. Mass and energy analysis in the open FWH
The mass and energy entering the OFWH are at
state 6 and state 2, while the mass and energy
leaving is at state 3.
By mass balance in the open feedwater heater:

∑ min = ∑ mout

m6 + m2 = m3

By energy balance in the open feedwater heater:

∑ Ein = ∑ Eout

m6 h6 + m2 h2 = m3 h3
myh6 + m(1 − y)h2 = mh3
yh6 + (1 − y)h2 = h3
yh6 + h2 − yh2 = h3
𝐡𝟑 − 𝐡𝟐
𝐲=
𝐡𝟔 − 𝐡𝟐
y represents the fraction of steam extracted from the turbine

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 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

b. Mass and energy analysis in the pumps

By energy balance for both pumps

∑ Ein = ∑ Eout

m1 h1 + m3 h3 + Wpump = m2 h2 + m4 h4

The mass flow through pump I & II

m1 = m2 = m(1 − y)
m3 = m4 = m
m(1 − y)h1 + mh3 + Wpump = m(1 − y)h2 + mh4

𝐖𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐩 = 𝐦(𝟏 − 𝐲)(𝐡𝟐 − 𝐡𝟏 ) + 𝐦(𝐡𝟒 − 𝐡𝟑 )

Alternative formula:
𝑊𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝 = 𝑚(1 − 𝑦)𝑣1 (𝑃2 − 𝑃1 ) + 𝑚𝑣3 (𝑃4 − 𝑃3 )

c. Mass and energy analysis in the turbine

By energy balance in the inlet and outlet of the turbine,
taking turbine work as energy output.

∑ Ein = ∑ Eout

m5 h5 + m7 h7 = Wturbine + m6a h6 + m8 h8
The mass flow through the turbine
m5 = m6a = m
m7 = m8 = (1 − y)m
mh5 + m(1 − y)h7 = Wturbine + mh6 + m(1 − y)h8
Wturbine = mh5 + m(1 − y)h7 − mh6 − m(1 − y)h8
𝐖𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐞 = 𝐦(𝐡𝟓 − 𝐡𝟔 ) + 𝐦(𝟏 − 𝐲)(𝐡𝟕 − 𝐡𝟖 )
This represents the energy or power output in the turbine using one open FWH.
Alternative formula:
𝑊𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 𝑊𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 + 𝑊𝐿𝑜𝑤 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒

𝑊𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 𝑚(ℎ5 − ℎ6 ) + 𝑚(1 − 𝑦)(ℎ7 − ℎ8 )

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 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

d. Mass and energy analysis in the boiler

By energy balance in the inlet and outlet of the
boiler, taking heat addition as energy input:

∑ Ein = ∑ Eout

m4 h4 + m6b h6 + Q in = m5 h5 + m7 h7
The mass flow through the boiler
m4 = m5 = m
m6b = m7 = m(1 − y)
mh4 + m(1 − y)h6 + Q in = mh5 + m(1 − y)h7
Q in = m(h5 − h4 ) + m(1 − y)(h7 − h6 )
This represents the energy added in the boiler using one open FWH.
Alternative formula:
𝑄𝑖𝑛 = 𝑄𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 + 𝑄𝑟𝑒ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝑄𝑖𝑛 = 𝑚(ℎ5 − ℎ4 ) + 𝑚(1 − 𝑦)(ℎ7 − ℎ6 )

e. Mass and energy analysis in the condenser

By energy balance in the inlet and outlet of the
condenser, taking heat rejection as energy out:

∑ Ein = ∑ Eout

m8 h8 = Q out + m1 h1
The mass flow through the condenser
m8 = m1 = m(1 − y)
m(1 − y)h8 = Q out + m(1 − y)h1
𝐐𝐨𝐮𝐭 = 𝐦(𝟏 − 𝐲)(𝐡𝟖 − 𝐡𝟏 )
This represents the energy rejected in the condenser using one open FWH.

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 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

f. Mass and energy analysis in the entire

power cycle
The four main energies associated in the cycle are
the turbine work, total pump work, heat added,
and heat rejected.

∑ Ein = ∑ Eout

Q in + Wpump = Q out + Wturbine

𝐐𝐢𝐧 − 𝐐𝐨𝐮𝐭 = 𝐖𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐞 − 𝐖𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐩

This represents the net work of the cycle

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 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

Guided Problem Solving

1. A 100 MW steam power plant that operates on an ideal reheat–regenerative Rankine
cycle with one open feedwater heater, one closed feedwater heater, and one reheater.
Steam enters the turbine at 15 MPa and 600 C and is condensed in the condenser at a
pressure of 10 kPa. Some steam is extracted from the turbine at 4 MPa for the closed
feedwater heater, and the remaining steam is reheated at the same pressure to 600 C.
The extracted steam is completely condensed in the heater and is pumped to 15 MPa
before it mixes with the feedwater at the same pressure. Steam for the open feedwater
heater is extracted from the low-pressure turbine at a pressure of 0.5 MPa. Determine the
ff:
a) The fraction of steam extracted from the turbine
b) The pump work (in kJ/kg)
c) The turbine work output (in kJ/kg)
d) The back work ratio (in %)
e) The net work output of the power plant (in kJ/kg)
f) The mass flow rate of steam through the boiler (kg/s)
g) The heat input in the boiler (in kJ/kg)
h) The heat output in the condenser (in kJ/kg)
i) The thermal efficiency (in percent)
j) The heat rate (in BTU/kWh)

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 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

Practice Problem Solving

1. A steam power plant operates on an ideal reheat–regenerative Rankine cycle and
has a net power output of 80 MW. Steam enters the high-pressure turbine at 10
MPa and 550C and leaves at 0.8 MPa. Some steam is extracted at this pressure
to heat the feedwater in an open feedwater heater. The rest of the steam is
reheated to 500C and is expanded in the low-pressure turbine to the condenser
pressure of 10 kPa. Show the cycle on a T-s diagram with respect to saturation
lines, and determine (a) the mass flow rate of steam through the boiler and (b) the
thermal efficiency of the cycle.
kg
Ans. m = 54.5 , ηth = 44.4%
s
2. Repeat Problem 1, but replace the open feedwater heater with a closed feedwater
heater. Assume that the feedwater leaves the heater at the condensation
temperature of the extracted steam and that the extracted steam leaves the heater
as a saturated liquid and is pumped to the line carrying the feedwater.
kg
Ans. m = 54.5 , ηth = 44.4%
s
3. Consider a reheat–regenerative vapor power cycle with two feedwater heaters, a
closed feedwater heater and an open feedwater heater. Steam enters the first
turbine at 8.0 MPa, 480°C and expands to 0.7 MPa. The steam is reheated to
440°C before entering the second turbine, where it expands to the condenser
pressure of 0.008 MPa. Steam is extracted from the first turbine at 2 MPa and fed
to the closed feedwater heater. Feedwater leaves the closed heater at 205°C and
8.0 MPa, and condensate exits as saturated liquid at 2 MPa. The condensate is
trapped into the open feedwater heater. Steam extracted from the second turbine
at 0.3 MPa is also fed into the open feedwater heater, which operates at 0.3 MPa.
The stream exiting the open feedwater heater is saturated liquid at 0.3 MPa. The
net power output of the cycle is 100 MW. There is no stray heat transfer from any
component to its surroundings. If the working fluid experiences no irreversibilities
as it passes through the turbines, pumps, steam generator, reheater, and
condenser, determine (a) the thermal efficiency, (b) the mass flow rate of the steam
entering the first turbine, in kg/h.
kg
Ans. m = 2.8 x 105 , ηth = 43.1%
hr

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 ME232 Engineering Thermodynamics 2
Topic 7: Reheat - Regenerative Power Cycle and Plant

References:
Thermodynamics, An Engineering Approach 9th Edition by Cengel, Boles, and Kanoglu
Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics 9th Edition by Moran, Shapiro, Boettner,
and Bailey

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