CHAPTER 4: VAPOR

POWER CYCLE
DR ZURRIATI MOHD ALI
FKM
 4.1 Basic Steam Power Plant

4.2 The Rankine Cycle

CHAPTER
CONTENT 4.3 Improving performance:
Rankine Reheat Cycle

4.4 Improving performance:

Rankine Regenerative Cycle
 Objectives:

Analyze vapor power cycles in which the working fluid is

alternately vaporized and condensed

Investigate ways to modify the basic Rankine vapor power cycle to

increase the thermal efficiency

Analyze the reheat vapor power cycle

4.1 Basic Steam Power Plant
The Carnot Vapor Cycle – revisit
 The Carnot cycle is the most efficient cycle operating
between two constant temperature limits (TH & TL).
 But it is not practical for power cycles because in;
• Boiler- Isothermal heat transfer eliminates the
possibility of using subcooled liquid boiler feed or
producing superheated vapor in the boiler effluent.
• Turbine-Adiabatic
expansion yields low steam quality in the turbine
feed.
This can result in damage to the turbine rotor.
• Condenser-Isothermal heat transfer eliminates the
possibility of using superheated vapor in the
condenser feed.
• Pump - Quality > 0 in the pump feed. This can result
in damage to the pump rotor.
4.1 Basic Steam Power Plant
The Carnot Vapor Cycle – revisit

Carnot cycles are not encountered in reality

since
 achieving isothermal heat transfer is very
difficult (needs very large heat exchangers
and long time).
 Adiabatic expansion yields low steam quality
in the turbine feed. This can result in
damage to the turbine rotor.
 process 4-1 requires a pump or compressor
that can handle two phase mixture (liquid
and vapor) which is impractical.
4.2 The Rankine Cycle
The Ideal Cycle
The impracticalities associated with the Carnot Cycle are
eliminated by:
Superheating the steam in the boiler and condensing it
completely in the condenser.
The cycle is called the Rankine Cycle – ideal cycle for power plant.
4.2 The Rankine Cycle
◦ The ideal Rankine cycles consist of four processes:

◦ 1-2 Isentropic compression in a pump

◦ 2-3 Constant-pressure heat addition in a boiler

◦ 3-4 Isentropic expansion in a turbine

◦ 4-1 Constant-pressure heat rejection in condenser

4.2 The Rankine Cycle
Energy Analysis of the Ideal Rankine Cycle
All four components (pump, boiler, turbine and condenser) are steady flow devices. So, it can be analyze as steady flow
process.
The SFEE:
𝒄𝒄𝟐𝟐 𝒈𝒈𝒈𝒈 𝒄𝒄𝟐𝟐 𝒈𝒈𝒈𝒈
𝑸𝑸̇ 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 + 𝑾𝑾̇ 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 + ∑𝒊𝒊𝒏𝒏 𝒎𝒎̇ 𝒉𝒉 + + = 𝑸𝑸̇ 𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 + 𝑾𝑾̇ 𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 + ∑𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝒎𝒎̇ 𝒉𝒉 + +
𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏

If KE and PE is negligible, then the SFEE will be reduced to:

𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 − 𝒒𝒒𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 + 𝒘𝒘𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 − 𝒘𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 = 𝒉𝒉𝒆𝒆 − 𝒉𝒉𝒊𝒊
 4.2 The Rankine Cycle
Energy Analysis of the Ideal Rankine Cycle

The boiler and the condenser do not involve in any work, and the pump and the
turbine are assumed to be isentropic. The SFEE can be expressed as:

Pump (q=0) – it has work in

𝑤𝑤𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝,𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = ℎ2 − ℎ1
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑤𝑤𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝,𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝜐𝜐 𝑃𝑃2 − 𝑃𝑃1 ; ℎ1 = ℎ𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝜐𝜐1 = 𝜐𝜐𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓

Boiler (w=0)-no work done

𝑞𝑞𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = ℎ3 − ℎ4
 4.2 The Rankine Cycle
Energy Analysis of the Ideal Rankine Cycle

The boiler and the condenser do not involve in any work, and the pump and the
turbine are assumed to be isentropic. The SFEE can be expressed as:

Turbine (q=0) – it has work out

𝑤𝑤𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡,𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = ℎ3 − ℎ4

Condenser (w=0)-no work done

𝑞𝑞𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = ℎ4 − ℎ1
 4.2 The Rankine Cycle
Energy Analysis of the Ideal Rankine Cycle

The thermal efficiency :

𝒘𝒘𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏 𝒘𝒘𝒕𝒕 − 𝒘𝒘𝒄𝒄

𝜼𝜼𝑹𝑹 = =
𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊

𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶

𝒉𝒉𝟑𝟑 − 𝒉𝒉𝟒𝟒 − 𝒉𝒉𝟐𝟐 − 𝒉𝒉𝟏𝟏

𝜼𝜼𝑹𝑹 =
𝒉𝒉𝟑𝟑 − 𝒉𝒉𝟐𝟐
 4.2 The Rankine Cycle
Energy Analysis of the Ideal Rankine Cycle
The work ratio :

net work output wt −wc

work ratio = =
gross work output wt

The specific steam consumption (SSC) - the amount of steam required to produce
a unit power output

ṁ kJ
ssc =
Ẇ net kg

3600
ssc = (kJ�kW h)
wnet
Example of Ideal Rankine
Cycle
Consider a steam power plant operating on the simple
ideal Rankine cycle. Steam enters the turbine at 3 MPa and
350∘C and is condensed in the condenser at pressure of 75
kPa. Sketch T-s diagram and determine the thermal
efficiency of this cycle.
(26%)
 Solution  State 2: P=3MPa, 𝑠𝑠1 = 𝑠𝑠2
𝑤𝑤𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝,𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝜐𝜐 𝑃𝑃2 − 𝑃𝑃1 = 0.001037 × 75 − 3 = 3.03 kJ/kg
ℎ2 − ℎ1 = 3.30 → ℎ2 = (384.44 + 3.03)=387.47 kJ/kg
 T-s Diagram  State 3: P=3MPa, T=350 , phase: superheated
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
ℎ3 = 3116.1 , 𝑠𝑠 = 𝑠𝑠4 = 6.7450 . 𝐾𝐾
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 3 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

 State 4: P=75kPa, s3=s4, phase: sat.mixture

𝑠𝑠4 − 𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑓 6.7450 − 1.2132

𝑥𝑥4 = = = 0.8861
𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 6.2426
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
ℎ4 = ℎ𝑓𝑓 + 𝑥𝑥ℎ𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 384.44 + 0.8861 2278 = 2403
 Substance: steam 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
 State 1: P=75kPa, phase: sat.liquid 3116.1−2403 − 387.47−384.44
Refer table A5: ℎ1 = ℎ𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝜂𝜂𝑅𝑅 = 3116.1−387.47
=0.2602=26%
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
384.44 , 𝜐𝜐1 = 𝜐𝜐𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 =
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
0.001037 𝑚𝑚3 /kg
4.2 The Rankine Cycle
Deviation of Actual Vapor Power Cycles from Idealized Ones

 Result of irreversibility in various

components
 Sources of irreversibility:
i. Fluid friction
ii. Heat loss to the surrounding
FLUID FRICTION
-caused pressure drop in boiler, the
condenser & piping between various
components.
-as a result, steam leaves the boiler at
lower pressure.
-also, pressure at the inlet of turbine is
lower than exit of boiler due to
pressure drop in connecting pipes.
-Pressure drop in condenser is usually
very small.

SOLUTION
-Water must be pumped to higher
pressure than the ideal cycle.
-Requires a large pump and larger
work input into the pump.
HEAT LOSS
-From the steam to the surrounding as
steam flows through the various
components
.

SOLUTION
-More heat needs to be transferred to
the steam in the boiler
-As a result, cycle efficiency decreases
4.2 The Rankine Cycle

Deviation of Actual Vapor Power Cycles from Idealized Ones

 The deviation of actual pumps and

turbines from isentropic ones can be
expressed by utilizing isentropic
efficiency (as discussed in Chap.3 (part
2)
4.2 The Rankine
Cycle - Example
A steam power plant
operates on the cycle
shown in Figure . If the
isentropic efficiency of
the turbine and pump
are 87% and 85%,
determine:
a) The thermal
efficiency of the
cycle (%)
b) The net power
output of the plant
for a mass flow
rate of 15kg/s
Solution 𝜂𝜂𝑝𝑝 =
𝑤𝑤𝑠𝑠 ℎ2𝑠𝑠 − ℎ1
=
𝑤𝑤𝑎𝑎 ℎ2𝑎𝑎 − ℎ1
→ 0.85 =
207.01 − 191.81
ℎ2𝑎𝑎 − 191.81

209.69𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
0.85 ℎ2𝑎𝑎 − 191.81 = 15.2 → ℎ2𝑎𝑎 =
• Understand the schematic and T-s diagram 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
State 3
• Substance: Steam
a) Thermal efficiency of the cycle 𝑃𝑃2 = 𝑃𝑃3 = 15 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀, 𝑇𝑇3 = 600℃ ; 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑤𝑤𝑡𝑡 − 𝑤𝑤𝑝𝑝 (ℎ3 −ℎ4 ) − (ℎ2 − ℎ1 ) 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝜂𝜂𝑡𝑡𝑡 = = Refer table A6, ℎ3 = 3583.1𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, 𝑠𝑠3 = 6.6796
𝑞𝑞𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 ℎ3 − ℎ2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
State 4
State 1 (saturated liquid) 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑃𝑃1 = 10 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, 𝑇𝑇1 = 38℃, 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝑃𝑃1 = 𝑃𝑃4 = 10𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, 𝑠𝑠3 = 𝑠𝑠4 = 6.6796
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
ℎ1 = ℎ𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 191.81 , 𝜐𝜐1 = 𝜐𝜐 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Table A5: 𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑔 = 8.1488 , 𝑠𝑠4 < 𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑔 , 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
3
= 0.001014 𝑚𝑚 /𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑠𝑠4 − 𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑓 6.6796 − 0.6492
𝑥𝑥4 = = = 0.804
State 2 𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 7.4996
ℎ2𝑠𝑠 − ℎ1 = 𝜐𝜐1 𝑃𝑃2 − 𝑃𝑃1 → ℎ2𝑠𝑠 ℎ4𝑠𝑠 = ℎ𝑓𝑓 + 𝑥𝑥ℎ𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 191.81+(0.804)(2392.1)=2115.06 kJ/kg
= 0.001014 15000 − 10 + 191.81
= 207.01𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝜂𝜂𝑡𝑡 =
𝑤𝑤𝑎𝑎
=
ℎ3 −ℎ4𝑎𝑎
→0.87=
3583.1−ℎ4𝑎𝑎
𝑤𝑤𝑠𝑠 ℎ3 −ℎ4𝑠𝑠 3583.1−2115.06

ℎ4𝑎𝑎 = 3583.1 − 1277.195 = 2305.91 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

 (3583.1−2305.91)−(209.69−191.81)
𝜂𝜂𝑡𝑡𝑡 =
3583.1−209.69
=37.3%

b) Net power output

𝑊𝑊̇ 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = 𝑚𝑚𝑤𝑤

̇ 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = 15 1259.31
= 18.9 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀
4.3 Improving
Performance
Motivation:
”..even small increases
in thermal efficiency
can mean large savings
from the fuel
requirement”
 4.3 Improving
Performance
• The idea:
 The average fluid temperature should be
as high as possible during heat addition.
 The average fluid temperature should be as
low as possible during heat rejection.
The thermal efficiency :

𝒘𝒘𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏 𝒘𝒘𝒕𝒕 − 𝒘𝒘𝒄𝒄

𝜼𝜼𝑹𝑹 = =
𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊
4.3 Improving Performance
Superheating the steam to high temperature (increase Thigh, avg)

 Superheat the steam to the high temperatures (P const)

– to increase average temperature of the steam
 Effect:
i. Increase in a net work and heat input
ii. Increase thermal efficiency
iii. Decrease moisture content of the steam at the turbine
exit

The thermal efficiency :

𝒘𝒘𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏 𝒘𝒘𝒕𝒕 − 𝒘𝒘𝒄𝒄

𝜼𝜼𝑹𝑹 = =
𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊
4.3 Improving Performance
Increasing the boiler pressure (increase Thigh, avg)

 Increase the operating pressure of the boiler–

automatically increase average temperature of the
steam at which boiling takes place
 Effect:
i. For fixed turbine inlet temperature, the cycle shift to the left
ii. Moisture content of steam at the turbine exit is increase, but
it can be corrected by reheating the steam.

The thermal efficiency :

𝒘𝒘𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏 𝒘𝒘𝒕𝒕 − 𝒘𝒘𝒄𝒄

𝜼𝜼𝑹𝑹 = =
𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊
4.3 Improving Performance
Lowering the condenser pressure (lower Tlow, avg)

 Steam exits as saturated mixture in the condenser at the saturation

temperature corresponding to the pressure inside the condenser.
 Therefore, lowering the operating pressure of the condenser,
automatically lower the temperature of the steam.

The thermal efficiency :

𝒘𝒘𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏 𝒘𝒘𝒕𝒕 − 𝒘𝒘𝒄𝒄

𝜼𝜼𝑹𝑹 = =
𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒒𝒒𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊
 Consider a steam power plant operating on the Ideal
Rankine Cycle. Steam enters the turbine at 3 MPa and
350∘C and is condensed in the condenser at a
pressure of 10 kPa. Determine:
i. The thermal efficiency of this power plant (33.4%)
EXAMPLE OF ii. The thermal efficiency if steam is superheated to
600 ∘C instead of 350∘C (37.3%)
IMPROVING
iii. The thermal efficiency if the boiler pressure is
PERFORMANCE raised to 15 MPa while turbine inlet temperature
is maintained at 600 ∘C (43%)
Do-it-yourself
Exam- Sept 2013
Water is the working fluid in a steam power plant. Steam enters the turbine at 20 MPa and
580 oC. The steam expands through the turbine, exiting at 5 kPa and the turbine efficiency
is 82%. Condensate leaves the condenser at 5 kPa as a saturated liquid and is pumped to 20
MPa before entering the steam boiler. If the pump efficiency is only 80%, show the cycle on
T-s diagram with respect to saturation lines with state 1 at the turbine inlet and determine:

i. The net work per unit mass of steam flow (1226.93 kJ/kg)
ii. The heat transfer input per unit mass of steam (3319.14 kJ/kg)
iii. The thermal efficiency (37 %)
iv. The heat transfer output per unit mass of steam (2092.09 kJ/kg)
v. How would the answer in (iii) change if efficiencies of both turbine and pump were
100% (45.5 %)
4.3 Improving
Performance
The Ideal Reheat Rankine
How can we take advantage of the
increased efficiencies at higher boiler
pressure without facing the problem of
excessive moisture at the final stage of
the turbine??
Ans:
1. Superheat the steam to very high
temperature before entering turbine
2. Expand the steam in the turbine in
two stages, and reheat in between –
Reheat process
 4.3 Improving Performance
The Ideal Reheat Rankine

 The ideal reheat Rankine cycle differs from the simple ideal
Rankine cycle in that the expansion process takes place in two
stages.
 In HPT:
-steam is expanded isentropically to an intermediate pressure, and
send back to the boiler where it is reheated at constant pressure.

 In LPT:
-steam expands isentropically in second stage (LPT) to condenser
pressure.
4.3 Improving Performance
The total heat input:

𝑞𝑞𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝑞𝑞𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 = ℎ3 − ℎ2 + ℎ5 − ℎ4

The total turbine work output:

𝑤𝑤𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡,𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 𝑤𝑤𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 + 𝑤𝑤𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = ℎ3 − ℎ4 + ℎ5 − ℎ6

Thermal efficiency ( for reheat):

ℎ3 − ℎ4 + ℎ5 − ℎ6 − ℎ2 − ℎ1
𝜂𝜂𝑡𝑡𝑡 =
ℎ3 − ℎ2 + ℎ5 − ℎ4
Example of Reheat
Rankine Cycle

Consider a steam power plant that operates on

the ideal Reheat cycle. The plant maintains the
boiler at 17.5MPa, the reheater at 2MPa, and the
condenser at 50kPa. The temperature is 500℃ at
the entrance of the high pressure turbine (HPT)
and 300℃ at the entrance of low pressure
turbine (LPT). Sketch the T-s diagram and
determine the thermal efficiency of this system.
THE IDEAL REHEAT RANKINE CYCLE
To take advantage of the increased efficiencies at higher boiler
pressure and overcome the problem of excessive moisture of
the turbine, we can
• Superheat the steam to higher temperature.
• Expand the steam in the turbine in two stages with reheating
(at constant pressure) in between.

13
• A single reheat in a modern power plant improves the cycle
efficiency by 4 to 5%.
• The reheat temperatures are very close or equal to the turbine
inlet temperature.

THE IDEAL REGENERATIVE

RANKINE CYCLE
Heat transfer to the feedwater
from 2-2’ is at a relatively low
temperature. Tavg

This lowers the average heat-

addition temperature and thus
14
the cycle efficiency.
• Some steam is extracted from the turbine at various points
(eg at 6) and is used to heat the feedwater.
• The device where the feedwater is heated by regeneration is
called a regenerator, or a feedwater heater (FWH).
• Heat is transferred from steam to the feedwater either by
• mixing the two fluid streams directly (open feedwater
heaters) or
• without mixing them (closed feedwater heaters).

15
 • An open (or direct-contact) FWH is basically a mixing
chamber
• the steam extracted from the turbine mixes with the
incoming feedwater, releasing its latent heat to the
feedwater.
• the mixture leaves the heater as saturated liquid at the
heater pressure.

For a unit mass of steam supply to the boiler, the amount

extracted at 6 is y kg.

SFEE for the FWH

16
For the regenerative cycle 1 kg 1 kg

y kg
1-y kg
1-y kg

17
Let’s do it together
Consider a steam power plant that operates on a reheat Rankine Cycle and has a
net power output of 80 MW. Steam enters the HPT at 10 MPa and 500℃ and the
LPT at 1 MPa and 500℃. Steam leaves the condenser as saturated liquid at a
pressure of 10 kPa. The isentropic efficiency of the turbine is 80%, and that of the
pump is 95%. Show the cycle on a T-s diagram with the respect to saturation lines,
determine:
a) The temperature of the steam at the exit of turbine - (88.1℃)
b) The thermal efficiency of the cycle - (34.1%)
c) The mass flow rate of the steam – (62.7 kg/s)
d) Assuming the both pump and turbine are isentropic, find
i. The quality - (0.949)
ii. The thermal efficiency of the cycle – (41.3%)
iii. The mass flow rate of the steam – (50 kg/s)
FINAL EXAM
QUESTION
(MAC 2017)
 END OF
CHAPTER 4