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Vapour Power Cycle

The document summarizes limitations of the Carnot cycle and introduces the Rankine cycle as a more practical alternative for steam power systems. It discusses that while the Carnot cycle has the highest theoretical efficiency, it is difficult to operate in practice due to issues with isentropic compression/expansion processes and tightly controlling temperatures. The Rankine cycle, which underlies steam turbines, is presented as using constant pressure heating and cooling processes instead of constant temperature, making it easier to implement. Variations like reheat cycles are also mentioned as improving the Rankine cycle further.

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357 views12 pages

Vapour Power Cycle

The document summarizes limitations of the Carnot cycle and introduces the Rankine cycle as a more practical alternative for steam power systems. It discusses that while the Carnot cycle has the highest theoretical efficiency, it is difficult to operate in practice due to issues with isentropic compression/expansion processes and tightly controlling temperatures. The Rankine cycle, which underlies steam turbines, is presented as using constant pressure heating and cooling processes instead of constant temperature, making it easier to implement. Variations like reheat cycles are also mentioned as improving the Rankine cycle further.

Uploaded by

mechgokul
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Vapour power cycle

Limitations of Carnot Cycle


Though Carnot cycle is simple (thermodynamically) and has the highest
thermal efficiency for given values of T1 and T2, yet it is extremely difficult to
operate in practice because of the following reasons :
 It is difficult to
 compress a wet vapour isentropically to the saturated state as required by the
process 3-4
 control the quality of the condensate coming out of the condenser so that the
state ‘3’ is exactly obtained.
 The efficiency of the Carnot cycle is greatly affected by the temperature T1
at which heat is transferred to the working fluid. Since the critical
temperature for steam is only 374°C, therefore, if the cycle is to be operated
in the wet region, the maximum possible temperature is severely limited.
 The cycle is still more difficult to operate in practice with superheated
steam due to the necessity of supplying the superheat at constant
temperature instead of constant pressure (as it is customary).

 In a practical cycle, limits of pressure and volume are far more easily realised
than limits of temperature so that at present no practical engine operates on
the Carnot cycle, although all modern cycles aspire to achieve it.
RANKINE CYCLE
• Theoretical cycle on which the steam turbine (or engine) works

Process 1-2 : Reversible adiabatic expansion in the turbine (or steam engine).
Process 2-3 : Constant-pressure transfer of heat in the condenser.
Process 3-4 : Reversible adiabatic pumping process in the feed pump.
Process 4-1 : Constant-pressure transfer of heat in the boiler.
Actual Rankine Cycle
Reheat- Rankine Cycle
Advantages of ‘Reheating’ :
1. There is an increased output of the turbine.
2. Erosion and corrosion problems in the steam turbine
are eliminated/avoided.
3. There is an improvement in the thermal efficiency of
the turbines.
4. Final dryness fraction of steam is improved.
5. There is an increase in the nozzle and blade efficiencies.
Disadvantages :
1. Reheating requires more maintenance.
2. The increase in thermal efficiency is not appreciable in
comparison to the expenditure incurred in reheating.
Regenerative Cycle

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