THERMAL POWER PLANT

18 MECHANICAL
By
Engr. Ans Ahmed
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Binary Vapor Cycle
 Binary Vapor Cycle
• Generally water is used a working fluid in vapor
power cycle as it is found to be better than any
other fluid, but it is far from being the ideal one.
• The binary cycle is an attempt to overcome some
of the shortcomings of water and to approach the
ideal working fluid by using two fluids.
 Binary Vapor Cycle

The most important characteristics of the working

fluid suitable for vapor cycles are:

1. A high critical temperature and a safe maximum

pressure:
2. Low- triple point temperature
3. Condenser pressure is not too low.
4. High enthalpy of vaporization
5. High thermal conductivity
 Binary Vapor Cycle
6. The saturation dome resembles to inverted ‘U’
7. It must be readily available, inexpensive, inert and
non-toxic.

Therefore it can be concluded that no single working

fluids may have all desirable requirements of ideal
working fluid so different working fluids may have
different attractive feature in them.
 Binary Vapor Cycle
Binary vapor cycle: A cycle in which two working
fluids are used in combination, to utilize the desirable
features of each fluid in order to obtain good results.
 Binary Vapor Cycle
 Some of the working fluids found suitable for high temperature
cycle are:
 Mercury

 Sodium

 Potassium

 Sodium-Potassium Mixture

Some of the working fluids found suitable for low temperature

cycle are:
 Ammonia

 Isobutene

 Fluorocarbons
 Binary Vapor Cycle
 Advantages of Mercury as a vapor cycle fluid

1. It has high density and, therefore, it is easier to

separate vapor from liquid in the boiler.
2. It is an element and hence stable.
3. The efficiency of binary vapor plant using mercury is
more than steam power plant of same capacity.
 Binary Vapor Cycle
 Disadvantages of Mercury as a vapor cycle fluid
1. In mercury vapor plant there is danger due to poisonous fumes if any leakage of
mercury vapor occurs.
2. Cost of mercury is high.
3. Mercury has toxic qualities.
4. The investment cost per kW of binary vapor cycle power plant is more than a
steam power plant
Binary Vapor Cycle