The constant pressure cycles (Joule or Brayton cycle) (sec 5.

4)

 The Brayton cycle is the basis of the conventional gas turbine.

 The cycle involves adiabatic (i.e., insulated) compression of a gas by a compressor turbine,
constant pressure addition of heat, and adiabatic expansion in an expansion turbine (usually
attached to the same shaft as the compressor), followed by constant pressure cooling.
 In a fuel-fired system, the heat addition is carried out in a combustion chamber and gases
are exhausted after expansion, either with or without heat recuperation.
 The turbine is designed to produce a usable torque at the output shaft, while the jet engine
allows most of the hot gases to expand into the atmosphere, producing usable thrust.

 1 – 2 Isentropic compression (in compressor)

 2 – 3 constant pressure heat addi on.
 3 – 4 Isentropic expansion (in turbine)
 4 – 1 Constant pressure heat rejec on

Figure 1 (a) & 1 (b) TS and PV diagrams for ideal Bryton cycle.

 The working substance is air, which flows in steady flow round the cycle.
 Applying steady flow equa on and neglec ng KE and PE,

= (ℎ − ℎ ) = ( − )

ℎ = (ℎ − ℎ ) = ( − )

= (ℎ − ℎ ) = ( − )

= (ℎ − ℎ ) = ( − )

Example 1

In a gas turbine unit, air is drawn at 1.02 bar and 15 °C, and is compresses to 6.12 bar. Calculate
the thermal efficiency and the work ra o of the ideal constant pressure cycle, when the maximum
cycle temperature is limited to 800 °C.

1
 Since process 1 – 2 and 3 – 4 are isentropic, between pressures P2 and P3.
.
6.12 .
= = = 288 = 480
1.02
.
1.02 .
= = = 1073 = 643
6.12
∑ ( − )− ( − )
= =
( − )
( − ) 643 − 288
=1− =1− = 0.401 = 40.1%
( − ) 1073 − 480

( − )− ( − )
= =
( − )
( − ) 480 − 288
=1− =1− = 0.553
( − ) 1073 − 643

Gas turbines

The most basic gas turbine unit is one opera ng on the open cycle in which a rotary compressor and
turbine are mounted on a common sha , as shown in figure below.

Gas turbines are mainly used in aircra s, electric power genera on and in marine.

- Air is drawn into compressor C, a er compression passes

to combus on chamber CC
- In the combus on chamber, fuel is sprayed into the
airstream
- The resul ng hot gases expand into the turbine T,

Compression process is irreversible but approximately adiaba c,

the expansion process is irreversible but adiaba c.

2
The cycle may be represented as follows

- 1 – 2 represents irreversible adiaba c

- 2 - 3 constant pressure heat supplied in the
combus on chamber
- 3 – 4 irreversible adiaba c expansion
- 1 – 2s I deal isentropic between pressures p1 and p2.
- 3 – 4s ideal isentropic expansion between pressures
p2 and p1

Assuming change in KE is negligible between various points, applying steady flow equa on,

Compressor

= ( − )

Combus on chamber

= ( − )

Turbine

= ( − )

Then

= ( − )− ( − )

And

ℎ =
ℎ
( − )− ( − )
( − )

Note

- Specific heat capaci es of gasses vary with temperature

- Specific heat capaci es in the turbine and Combus on chamber are different from
- compressor because addi on of fuel creates a chemical change.
- A fixed mean can be assumed for cp and γ compression and a fixed mean of cp and γ for
compression.

Isentropic efficiency –

Compressor isentropic efficiency

( − ) ( − )
= =
( − ) ( − )

Turbine isentropic efficiency

( − ) ( − )
= =
( − ) ( − )

3
For an isentropic process between 1 and 2 we can write as follows.

Example 2

A gas turbine unit has a pressure ra on of 10/1 and maximum cycle temperature of 700 °C. the
isentropic efficiencies of the compressor and turbine are 0.82 and 0.85 respec vely. Calculate the
power output of an electric generator geared to the turbine when the air enters the compressor at
15°C at the rate of 15 kg/s. Take = 1.005 ⁄ and = 1.4 for the compression process, and
take = 1.11 ⁄ and = 1.33 for the expansion process.

Compression - = 1.005 ⁄ and = 1.4

Expansion - = 1.11 ⁄ and = 1.33

.
= = 288 10 = 556

( − ) 556 − 288
= 0.82 = = 614.8
( − ) − 288

.
1
= = 973 = 547.4
10

( − ) 975 −
= 0.85 = = 611.2
( − ) 975 − 547

= − = ( − )− ( − )

= ( − ) = 1.11(947 − 611.2)

= ( − ) = 1.005(514.8 − 288)

= 74.274 /

4
Example 3

Calculate the cycle efficiency and the work ra o of the plant assuming Cp for the combus on process
is 1.11 kJ/kg K.

Use of power turbine

This arrangement has two turbines, one is a power turbine, which drives the compressor hence
developing network. While another LP turbine drives provides power.

- If and are the specific heat capaci es at constant pressure of the gases in the turbine
and air compressors respec vely.

=
( − )− ( − )

= ( − )

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