S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 1

TOPIC 5: GAS POWER

CYCLES
Joule/Brayton Cycle
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 2

Learning Outcomes
• Conduct air-standard analyses of gas turbine power
plants based on the Joule cycle and its modifications,
including the ability to:
• sketch T-s diagrams and evaluate property data at principal
states.
• applying mass, energy, and entropy balances.
• determine net power output, thermal efficiency, work ratio,
and the effects of compressor pressure ratio on performance.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 3

Introducing Power Generation

• Thermodynamic cycles are a fundamental aspect of
several power plant types that employ renewable or
non-renewable sources.
• Vapour power cycles are the focus of Topic 4. In this
topic gas turbine power systems are studied as
thermodynamic cycles. The basic building block of gas
turbine cycles is the Joule (Brayton) cycle.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 4

Considering Gas Turbine Power Plants

• Gas turbine power plants are more quickly constructed,
less costly, and more compact than the vapour power
plants.
• Gas turbines are suited for stationary power generation
as well as for powering vehicles, including aircraft
propulsion and marine power plants.
• Gas turbines are:
• increasingly used for large-scale power generation, and
• for such applications fueled primarily by natural gas, which is
relatively abundant today.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 5

Gas Power cycles (for Internal Combustion Engines)

• Joule Cycle:
Gas turbine/Jet Engines (Rotary engine)
• Otto Cycle:
Gasoline Engines (Reciprocating engine)
• Diesel cycle:
Diesel Engines (Reciprocating engine)
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 6

Gas Turbine engine (Rotary engines)

Turboprop engine Gas turbine/Jet
engines

A – Propeller; B – Gear-box;
C – Compressor
D – Combustion chamber;
E – Turbine; F – Nozzle
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 7

Considering Gas Turbine Power Plants

Closed
• Gas turbines may operate on
an open or closed basis.
• The open gas turbine is more
commonly used and is the
focus of our study. Open to the atmosphere
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 8

Considering Gas Turbine Power Plants

• The open mode gas turbine is an internal combustion
power plant.
•Air is continuously drawn into the
compressor where it is compressed to a
high pressure.
•Air then enters the combustion chamber
(combustor) where it mixes with fuel and
combustion occurs.
•Combustion products exit at elevated
temperature and pressure.
•Combustion products expand through
the turbine and then are discharged to the
surroundings.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 9

Considering Gas Turbine Power Plants

• The closed gas turbine operates as follows:
•A gas circulates through four components: turbine,
external source
compressor, and two heat exchangers at higher
and lower operating temperatures, respectively.
•The turbine and compressor play the same roles
as in the open gas turbine.
•As the gas passes through the higher-temperature
heat exchanger, it receives energy by heat transfer
from an external source.
•The thermodynamic cycle is completed by heat
transfer to the surroundings as the gas passes
through the lower-temperature heat exchanger.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 10

Air-Standard Joule Cycle

• The energy transfers by heat and work are in the
directions of the arrows.
• Air circulates through the
components:
• At state 1, air is drawn into the
compressor from the surroundings.
• Process 1-2: the air is compressed
from state 1 to state 2.
• Process 2-3: The temperature rise that
would be achieved in the actual power
plant with combustion is realised here
by heat transfer, Qin .
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 11

Air-Standard Joule Cycle

• Process 3-4: The high-pressure, high-temperature air expands
through the turbine from state 3 to state 4. The turbine drives the
compressor and develops net power, Wcycle .

• Air returns to the surroundings at state 4

with a temperature typically much greater
than at state 1.
• After interacting with the surroundings,
each unit of mass returns to the same
condition as the air entering at state 1,
thereby completing a thermodynamic
cycle.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 12

Air-Standard Joule Cycle

• Process 3-4: The high-pressure, high-temperature air expands
through the turbine from state 3 to state 4. The turbine drives the
compressor and develops net power, Wcycle .

• We imagine process 4-1 being

achieved by a heat exchanger, as
shown by the dashed line in the
figure.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 13

Air-Standard Joule Cycle

• Cycle 1-2-3-4-1 is called
the Joule cycle.
• The compressor
pressure ratio, p2/p1, is
a key Joule cycle
operating parameter.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 14

Ideal Air-Standard Joule Cycle

• The ideal air-standard Joule cycle provides an especially simple
setting for study of gas turbine power plant performance. The ideal
cycle adheres to additional modeling assumptions:
• Frictional pressure drops are absent during flows through the heat
exchangers. These processes occur at constant pressure. These
processes are isobaric.
• Flows through the turbine and compressor occur adiabatically and without
irreversibility. These processes are isentropic.
• Accordingly, the ideal Joule cycle consists of two isentropic processes
alternated with two isobaric processes. In this respect, the ideal Joule cycle
is in harmony with the ideal Rankine cycle, which also consists of two
isentropic processes alternated with two isobaric processes.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 15

Joule Cycle: Compression

2

Wcomp 2
Comp.
T
Air in 1
1

Isentropic compression s
Key points:
2
q1-2=0 Δs1-2=0;
For air: Δs1-2=cpln(T2/T1)-Rln(p2/p1) = 0 which
leads to relations: p comp

p2 T2  −1 Pressure ratio:
=( ) 1
p1 T1 rp =p2/p1
v
Heat and work interactions:

w1-2 =wcomp=h2–h1 =cp(T2-T1) and q1-2=0

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Joule Cycle: Combustion Heating

2 Combustion 3
Chamber
3

Wcomp 2
Comp.
T
1
Air in 1
s
Heating at constant pressure p3=p2
2 3
Key points:
w2-3 = 0; p2=p3 p comp

Heat interaction by NFEE: 1

q2-3 + w2-3 = h3- h2

v
Then:
q2-3 = qin = h3- h2 =cp(T3-T2)
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 17

Joule Cycle: Turbine

Heating
2 Combustion 3
Heating in
Chamber
3
Wcomp Wnet
Comp. Turb. 2
T 4
1 4
Air in 1
Work interaction by SFEE:
Isentropic expansion q3-4 + w3-4 = h4–h3 Then: s
Key points:
q3-4=0 Δs3-4=0 w3-4 =wtub=h4– h3 =cp(T4–T3)
Δs3-4=cpln(T4/T3)-Rln(p4/p3) =0 which 2 3
leads to relations:
 p3 p2
p3 T3  −1
=( ) = p comp turb
Remember: p p1
p4 T4 4
1 4

v
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 18

Joule Cycle: Exhaust heat Heating

2 Combustion 3
Chamber 3
Wcomp Wnet 2
Comp. Turb.
T 4
1 4 1
Air in Rejecting heat
Air out
s
Heat rejection at constant p4= p1

Key points:
w4-1 = 0;
Work interaction by NFEE:
q4-1 + w4-1 = h1–h4 Then:
2 3
p4=p1
p comp turb
1 4

q4-1 = qout = h1- h4 =cp(T1-T4) v

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Ideal Air-Standard Joule Cycle

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Ideal Air-Standard Joule Cycle

• Process 1 – 2: Isentropic compression of the air
through the compressor to higher pressure.
• Process 2 – 3: Heat transfer from an external to the air
as it flows at constant pressure through the heat
exchanger exiting at a higher pressure.
• Process 3 – 4: Isentropic expansion in the turbine.
• Process 4 – 1: Heat transfer to the surrounding from
the air as it flows at constant pressure through the heat
exchanger to complete the cycle.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 22

Ideal Air-Standard Joule Cycle

• Analysing each component as a control volume at
steady state, assuming the compressor and turbine
operate adiabatically, and neglecting kinetic and
potential energy effects:
Turbine Heat addition

Compressor Heat rejection

S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 23

Joule Cycle: Heat/work interactions

Heating
Heating in
2 Combustion 3 3
Chamber
2
Wcomp Wnet
Comp. Turb. T 4
1 Rejecting heat
1 4
Air in
Air out s

1-2: Work in
2 3
2-3: Heat in
p comp turb .
3-4: Work out
1 4
4-1: Heat out
v
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 24

Air-Standard Joule Cycle

• The thermal efficiency is:

• The work ratio is:

• Since the equations of this and previous slides have been

developed from mass and energy balances, they apply
equally when irreversibilities are present and in the absence
of Irreversibilities.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 25

Efficiency & Work Ratio vs Pressure Ratio

0.6
0.8
Thermal Efficiency

0.5 0.7

Work Ratio
0.6
0.4
0.5
0.3 0.4
0.3
0.2
0.2

0.1 0.1
0
0 1 3 5 7 9 11
1 3 5 7 9 11
Pressure Ratio
Pressure Ratio
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 26

Effects of Compressor Pressure Ratio on Joule

Cycle Performance
Since the average
temperature of heat addition
is greater in cycle 1-2′-3′-4-1,
and both cycles have the
same heat rejection process,
cycle 1-2′-3′-4-1 has the
greater thermal efficiency.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 27

Ideal Air-Standard Joule Cycle with Irreversibilities

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Ideal Air-Standard Joule Cycle with Irreversibilities

• Process 1 – 2: As it increases in pressure through the
adiabatic compressor, the air experiences an increase in
entropy.
• Process 2 – 3: Heat transfer from an external to the air as it
flows at constant pressure through the heat exchanger
exiting at a higher pressure.
• Process 3 – 4: As it expands through adiabatic turbine, the
air experiences an increase in entropy.
• Process 4 – 1: Heat transfer to the surrounding from the air
as it flows at constant pressure through the heat exchanger
to complete the cycle.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 29

Gas Turbine Power Plant Irreversibility

• The most significant irreversibility by far is the
irreversibility of combustion.
• Irreversibilities related to flow through the turbine and
compressor also significantly impact gas turbine
performance. They act to:
• decrease the work developed by the turbine and
• increase the work required by the compressor,
• thereby decreasing the net work of the power plant.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 30

Gas Turbine Power Plant Irreversibility

• Isentropic turbine efficiency, accounts for the effects
of irreversibilities within the turbine in terms of actual
and isentropic turbine work, each per unit of mass
flowing through the turbine.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 31

Gas Turbine Power Plant Irreversibility

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Gas Turbine Power Plant Irreversibility

• Isentropic compressor efficiency, accounts for the
effects of Irreversibilities within the compressor in terms
of actual and isentropic compressor work input, each
per unit of mass flowing through the compressor.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 33

How to assess the gas power cycle?

1. Understanding of characteristics of cycle, devices
and processes
2. Making reasonable assumptions to develop a model
cycle (ideal cycle)
3. Correctly applying of 1st law to process/cycle to
calculate the properties (hi, or ui) of working fluid at
key states
4. Estimating the Heat and work interactions and
efficiency
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 34

Ideal Air-Standard Joule Cycle: Example

An ideal Joule cycle takes in air at 1.0 bar, 25 ˚C.

The pressure of the heat addition (combustion) process is 7.0

bar and the maximum temperature exiting the combustion
chamber is 800˚C.

Determine the net work/(kg air).

S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 35

Solution – Diagrams
Heating Heating in 3
2 Combustion 3 Turbine
Chamber

T 4
Wcomp Wnet 2
Comp. Turb. comp Exhaust

1 4 1 Rejecting heat
Air in
Air out s
Device diagram T – s diagram

Known parameters: 2 3
p1 = 1.0 bar; T1 = 25 oC;
p2 = 7.0 bar; comp turb .
p
T3 = 800 oC
1 4
To be determined:
v
wnet = w12 + w34 p – v diagram
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 36

Solution – Work done by Turbine and Compressor

1-2: Compressor: w12 = cp(T2– T1)
w34 = cp(T4 – T3)
Heating in
3-4: Turbine: 3
Turbine
and :
T1 = 273 + 25 = 298 K; T3 = 273+800
= 1073 K T 4
2
comp Exhaust
1). Calculation of cp: 1 Rejecting heat
For air (perfect gas), we have: s
 = 1.4; R=287 (J/kg/K) and cp =  /( –1) R
Then:
cp =1.4/(1.4 – 1)×287=1.0045 (kJ/kg/K)
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 37

Solution – T2 and T4
2). Calculation of T2 and T4:
Heating in
3
By s1=s2 and s3=s4 for two isentropic Turbine
processes 1-2 and 3-4, again: 4
T
(−1)/ 2
T2 T3 p2 (−1)/ comp Exhaust

T1
= T = p
4 1
( ) = rp 1 Rejecting heat
s
Then:
 −1 1.4 −1
 p2 1.4
T2 = T1  rp = T1  ( ) = 298×(7.0/1.0)0.4/1.4= 519.5 K
p1
 −1 1.4 −1
 p2 1.4
T4 = T3 / rp = T1 /( ) = 1073/(7.0/1.0)0.4/1.4= 615 K
p1
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 38

Solution – Net Work

3). Work interactions: Heating in
3
w12 = cp(T2 – T1) Turbine

= 1.0045(519.5–298) T 2
4
= 1.0045 x 221.5= 222.5 kJ/kg comp Exhaust
1 Rejecting heat
w34 = cp(T4 – T3) s
= 1.0045(615–1073)
= 1.0045× (– 458)= – 460 kJ/kg

Finally the net work is:

wnet= w12+w34= 222.5 – 460 = – 237.5 (kJ/kgair)
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 39

Solution – Cycle efficiency and work ratio

Thermal efficiency of Joule cycle:

ηth=1– 1 =1 – 1 = 0.43
(−1)/ 0.4/1.4
rP 7
Work ratio of Joule cycle:

wR = 1 – T1 (−1)/
rp =1–
298 7 0.4/1.4
T3 1073
= 0.52
Because pressure ratio rP = 7
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 40

Solution – Joule Cycle efficiency and work ratio

Heating in
a) What is the cycle efficiency of the 3
cycle in the previous example if the Turbine
turbine and compressor both have
70% isentropic efficiency? 4
T 4s
w12 = cp(T2 – T1) 2s 2
=cp(T2s – T1) /ηcomp,isen Exhaust
comp
w34 = cp(T4 – T3)
1 Rejecting heat
= ηturb,isen cp(T4,s – T3)
s
b) What is the changes in entropy for
compressor and turbines of question
if ηcomp,isen=0.87 and ηturb,isen =0.91?
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 41

A Gas turbine Engine operating: Devices and Model

Fuel Device diagram and model
injection
1 2 3 4 High pressure air ( Hot air (P3 = P2; T3 at
state 3)
Exhaust P2 ; T2 at Combustion
state 2) Chamber
gas

Compressor

Gas turbine
wcomp

Assumptions: w
• Combustion is substituted by
Turbine

heating Air flows in (p1, T1 at Air flows out (p4 = p1,

• Working Fluid: Air (neglecting the change state 1) T4 at state 4)
from air to combustion exhausts)
•All processes are reversible
processes
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 42

A gas turbine Engine operating: Compression

p2
rp = 1
p1

p1 ; T1 p2 ; T2

 in
m  out
m
air 1 2 4 Exhaust
3 gas (air)

State 1 to 2, Adiabatic
compression:
q1-2=0; w1-2 =wcomp
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 43

A gas turbine Engine operating: Combustion/Heating

p2
rp = 1
p1

p1 ; T1 p2 ; T2 p3=p2 ;T3

 in
m  out
m
1 2 3 4 Exhaust
air gas

State 1 to 2, Adiabatic State 2 to 3, constant

compression: pressure heating:
q1-2=0; w1-2 =wcomp q2-3=qin ; w2-3=0
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 44

A Gas turbine Engine operating: Turbine/Jet

p2
rp = 1
p1 q4-1=qout; w4-1=0

p1 ; T1 p2 ; T2 p3=p2 ;T3 p4=p1;T4

 in
m  out
m
1 2 3 4 Exhaust
air gas

State 2 to 3, constant State 3 to 4, adiabatic

State 1 to 2, Adiabatic pressure heating: expansion:
compression:
q1-2=0; w1-2 =wcomp q2-3=qin ; w2-3=0 q3-4=0; w3-4=wtub
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 45

Cycle Analysis and model Heating

2 Combustion 3
• Each device is an Open System Chamber

Wcomp Wnet
• Assumptions: Comp. Turb.

• All processes are reversible Air in 1 4

Air out
• Working fluid: air
• Potential & kinetic energies: neglected

For air:
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 46

Joule Cycle: Heat/work interactions

Heating
Heating in
2 Combustion 3 3
Chamber
2
Wcomp Wnet
Comp. Turb. T 4
1
4
Rejecting heat
Air in 1
Air out s

1-2: Work in
2 3
2-3: Heat in
p comp turb .
3-4: Work out
1 4
4-1: Heat out
v
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 47

Joule Cycle: Efficiency

Starting from the definition of efficiency: Heating in
– wnet 3
ηth = qin T Turbine

Substituting the Eq.s of work and heat 4

2
interactions:
comp
– (w34 +w12)
Exhaust

ηth =
1 Rejecting heat
q23 s

= –c p(T4–T 3) – c p(T2–T1)
cp(T3–T2)
T4–T1
=1–
T3–T2
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 48

Joule Cycle: Efficiency

T –T ηth = 1 – 4 1
Heating in
3
T3–T2 Turbine

T1(T4/T1–1) T 4
=1– 2
comp Exhaust
T2 (T3/T2–1) 1 Rejecting heat

T1 s
=1– By s1=s2 and s3=s4 for two
T2
isentropic processes 1-2 and 3-4:
(−1)/
T2 T3 p2 (−1)/
Finally we have: T1
= T = p
4 1
( ) = rp
1
ηth = 1 –
(−1)/ rp =(p2/p1): Pressure ratio
rp
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 49

Thermal Efficiency vs pressure ratio

0.6

ηth=1– 1

Thermal Efficiency
0.5
(−1)/
rP 0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
1 3 5 7 9 11
Pressure Ratio
Key conclusion:
Increasing of pressure ratio can dramatically improve the cycle
efficiency of a Joule cycle.
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 50

Joule Cycle: Work Ratio Heating in

(w34 +w12) 3
Starting from the wR = w34
Turbine
definition of work 4
T 2
ratio:
= c p(T4 –T3 ) + c p (T 2 –T1) comp Exhaust

cp(T4–T3) 1 Rejecting heat

T2–T1 s
=1–
T3 –T4
By s1=s2 and s3=s4 for two isentropic
T1(T2/T1–1) processes 1-2 and 3-4, again:
=1– (−1)/
T3(1– T4/T3) T2 T3 p2 (−1)/
T
= T = ( p ) = rp
1 4 1
(−1)/
T1( rp – 1)
=1–
T3( 1 – 1 r(−1)/ )
p
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 51

Joule Cycle: Work Ratio

Starting from the definition of work ratio:
(w34 +w12) Heating in
3
wR = w34 Turbine

T 4
(−1)/ 2
T1( rp – 1) comp Exhaust
=1– 1 Rejecting heat
T3( 1 – 1 r (−1)/) s
p

Finally we have:

wR = 1 – T1 (−1)/
rp
T3
S2: 2020/21 Topic 5: Gas Power Cycles 52

Work Ratio: T1 = 300K, T3=1000K

0.8
0.7

Work Ratio
0.6
wR = 1 – T1 (−1)/
rp 0.5
T3 0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
1 3 5 7 9 11
Pressure Ratio

Key conclusion:
Increasing of pressure ratio leads to the decrease of work ratio of a Joule cycle.