ME 267: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering, BUET

Gas Power Cycle

Gas power cycles are thermodynamic cycles that utilize working fluids that are always in a gaseous phase. Unlike gas power cycles the vapor power cycle use working fluids that are alternately vaporized (in Boiler) and condensed (in Condenser). Gas power cycles are used in Spark Ignition Type Internal Combustion Engines (Petrol Engine), Compression Ignition type Internal Combustion Engines (Diesel Engine) and Gas Turbines.

Internal Combustion (IC) Engine

The Internal Combustion Engine is an engine in which the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer (typically air) occurs inside a confined space called a combustion chamber. This exothermic reaction creates gases at high temperature and pressure, which are permitted to expand inside that confined chamber. Thrust produced by this expanding gas that drives the engine, creating useful work.

Gas Turbine (GT)

Although Gas Turbines are also Internal Combustion Engines by principal, the name IC Engine is usually applied to reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines i.e. Petrol and Diesel engines.

Main Difference between GT and Petrol or Diesel Engine:

The combustion of fuel-air mixture inside the Petrol or Diesel Engine is intermittent. The combustion inside the combustion chamber of a GT is continuous.

Advantages of GT:
GT is lighter and more compact than Vapor Power Systems or even IC Engines of same power. GT has fewer auxiliary components than Vapor Power System. The favorable power-to-weight ratio of GT compared to others makes it well suited for aviation and maritime applications (commercial and military aircraft propulsion, marine power plants etc.) Short set-up time and less capital cost has made GT to be applicable in stationary power generation too. Starting time of GT is very short (2-3 minutes). It can attain full load within 5 minutes. Moves in one direction only, with far less vibration than a reciprocating engine. Fewer moving parts than reciprocating engines. Low lubricating oil cost and consumption.

Disadvantages of GT:
Higher maintenance cost. Life span is 12 to 15 years on average. Overall efficiency of GT is very low. Cost of a GT is higher than the cost of a similar sized reciprocating engine. Fabrication process of GT parts is also complex.

Reaz Mohiuddin

ME 267: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering, BUET

Basic types of Gas Turbine System:

Gas Turbine power plants may operate on either an open or closed cycle basis. The open cycle mode is more practical & hence commonly found. Both the types are shown in the figure below. The figure (a) is the open cycle type GT and figure (b) is the closed cycle type GT.

Working Principle:
In open-mode GT, atmospheric air is continuously drawn into the compressor, where it is compressed to a high pressure. The air then enters a combustion chamber (also known as combustor), where it is mixed with fuel and combustion occurs, resulting in combustion products at an elevated temperature. The combustion products expand through the turbine and are subsequently discharged to the surroundings. Part of the turbine-work developed is used to drive the compressor, the remainder is available to generate electricity, to propel a vehicle, or for any other purposes. In closed mode GT, the working fluid receives an energy input by a heat exchanger or a combustor. The gas exiting the turbine is passed through another heat exchanger, where it is cooled prior to re-entering the compressor.

Combined Cycle Power Plant:

In open cycle GT, the hot flue gas exiting the turbine is passed through a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) to produce some steam. With that steam a steam turbine is driven. This type of power plant where the gas power cycle and vapor power cycle both work side by side is called the Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP). In a typical CCPP, the power producing capacity of the steam turbine is generally half the capacity of GT. For example, if the capacity of the gas turbine is 240MW then the capacity of the steam turbine will be 120MW.

Reaz Mohiuddin

ME 267: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering, BUET

Aircraft Gas Turbine:

Gas Turbines are very suitable for aircraft propulsion due to their higher power-to-weight ratio. This means they can deliver more power than other propulsion systems yet being lighter. There are mainly three types of aircraft gas turbine: 1. Turbojet GT: The turbojet GT consists of three main sections: the diffuser, the gas generator and the nozzle. The diffuser situated in front of the compressor decelerates the incoming air relative to the engine. A pressure rise known as Ram Effect is associated with this deceleration. The gas generator consists of a compressor, combustor and turbine. The turbine is smaller than those that are used in stationary power plants because in Turbojet, the turbine power output need only be sufficient to drive the compressor and auxiliary equipment. The burnt gases leave the Turbine at significantly higher pressure than atmospheric. The gases then expand through the nozzle to a high velocity before being discharged to the surroundings. The overall change in velocity of the burnt gases relative to the engine gives rise to the propulsive force or thrust. Fig.: A Turbojet Engine Afterburner: Some turbojets are equipped with afterburners. This is actually a kind of reheating device in which additional fuel is injected into the gas exiting the turbine and burned further, producing a higher temperature at nozzle inlet than would be achieved otherwise. As a consequence, greater nozzle exit velocity is attained, resulting in increased thrust. A turbojet with afterburner is shown in the picture below. The nozzle used here is also adjustable for greater control.

Fig.: A Turbojet Engine with Afterburner Uses of Turbojet Engines: Turbojet Engines are mainly used in large civilian aircrafts. But Turbojet Engines with afterburners are solely used in military aircrafts.

Reaz Mohiuddin

ME 267: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering, BUET 2. Turboprop GT: Turboprop engine consists of a GT where the gases are allowed to expand through the turbine into the atmospheric pressure. The net power developed is directed to a propeller which is situated in front of the engine. The propeller provides thrust to the aircraft.

Fig.: A Turboprop Engine Uses of Turboprop Engines: Turbofan engines are efficient propulsion devices for speeds up to 600 km/h (400 miles/h). They are mainly used in light commercial aircrafts or cargo planes. 3. Turbofan GT: In Turbofan engines the construction is very much similar to the turbojet engines. However, a set of large-diameter blades attached to the front of the engine accelerates air around the core. This bypass flow provides additional thrust for takeoff, whereas the core of the engine provides the primary thrust for cruising. Fig.: A Turbofan Engine Uses of Turbofan GT: Turbofan engines are commonly used for commercial aircraft with flight speeds of up to about 1000 km/h (600 miles/h).

Reaz Mohiuddin

ME 267: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering, BUET

Thermodynamic Analysis of Gas Power Cycle:

The gas turbine system operates on a thermodynamic cycle known as Brayton Power Cycle. Some assumptions are made for thermodynamic analysis of the Brayton cycle. The assumptions are: The working fluid is air, which behaves as an ideal gas. The temperature rise that would be brought about by combustion is accomplished by a heat transfer from an external source. The Specific Heats (Cp and Cv) remain same for all the temperatures and their values are taken at atmospheric temperature. All process are internally reversible i.e. there is no loss due to friction and no pressure drop.

Fig.: Schematic Diagram for a Gas Turbine System The Schematic Diagram of a gas turbine system is shown above. In a Brayton Cycle, air is drawn into the compressor at state 1 from the surrounding and later returned to the surroundings at state 4 with temperature greater than the ambient temperature. The heat exchanger ensures the state of air at 1 is same all the time. Air flows at constant pressure through the heat exchangers due to reversibility (no friction assumed in the heat exchanger pipes). There are four processes in the Brayton cycle, each changing the state of the working fluid. These states are identified by number in the above diagram. Thermodynamically these four processes can be defined as Process 1 2: Isentropic Compression in a Compressor Process 2 3: Constant Pressure Heat Addition Process 3 4: Isentropic Expansion in a Turbine Process 4 1: Constant Pressure Heat Rejection Back Work Ratio: It is the ratio between work consumed by compressor and work developed by turbine. Typical back work ratios of GT range from 40-80%. Quite high against 1-2% work input consumption in Boiler Feed Water Pump of Vapor Power Cycle.

Reaz Mohiuddin

ME 267: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering, BUET

P-v and T-s Diagrams for ideal Brayton Power Cycle:

Fig.: P-v diagram (left) and T-s diagram (right) for Brayton Power Cycle

Expression for work:

As the compressor and turbine both have fixed volume inside them, only pressure of working fluid changes while going through them. Hence Work, w = On the P-v diagram: Area 1-2-a-b-1: Area 3-4-b-a-3: Area 1-2-3-4: On the T-s diagram: Area 2-3-a-b-2: Area 1-4-a-b-1: Area 1-2-3-4: heat added per unit mass heat rejected per unit mass net heat added. compressor work input per unit of mass. turbine work output per unit of mass. net work output.

vdP

Expression for Efficiency:

Pressure Ratio (rp) =

Process 1-2 and 3-4 are isentropic and hence,

From the pressure ratio relation it can then be written as,

Reaz Mohiuddin

ME 267: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering, BUET Therefore the equation of thermal efficiency becomes,

Effect of Pressure Ratio on Efficiency:

Thermal efficiency of the GT increases as the pressure ratio increases. From the T-s diagram shown previously, we can see that as the pressure ratio increases, the cycle also changes from 1-2-3-4-1 to 1-2-3-4-1. Since the average temperature of the heat addition is greater in the latter cycle and both the cycles have the same heat rejection process, cycle 1-2-3-4-1 would have the greater thermal efficiency. But the temperature at turbine inlet will also increase. There is a limit of about 1700 K imposed by metallurgical considerations on the maximum allowed temperature at turbine inlet. Fig.: Effect of rp on th

Gas Turbine Irreversibility and Losses:

Because of frictional effects, the work developed by the Turbine decreases and the work input to the compressor increases resulting in a marked decrease in net work output of the GT. After decades of developmental effort, efficiencies of 80 to 90% can now be achieved for the compressors and turbines in GT power plants. Efficiencies can be denoted by following expressions:

Fig.: Effect of irreversibility on T-s diagram Owing to friction between working fluid particles and pipes, there also would be pressure drops as the working fluid passes through the heat exchangers otherwise thought of being constant pressure processes.

Reaz Mohiuddin

ME 267: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering, BUET

Modifications in Brayton Power Cycle Intercooling:

The work required to compress any fluid in steady-flow process can be reduced by compressing in stages. This is because cooling the gas reduces the specific volume (m3/kg) and in turn the work required to compress it. By itself compression with intercooling does not provide a significant increase in the efficiency of a gas turbine because the temperature at the combustor inlet would require additional heat transfer to achieve the desired turbine inlet temperature.

Fig.: Schematic diagram of intercooling (left) and effect of intercooling on T-s diagram (right)

Reheating:
Reheating is done to solve the problem of metallurgical limit of the turbine material to bear high temperature consistently. In the T-s diagram shown below, the T3 is limited due to metallurgical limits. Therefore the hot gas is expanded in more than one turbine with reheating in between them by adding extra combustors. This will increase work output but may decrease overall efficiency because turbine outlet temperature is now higher than before due to reheating i.e. the gas is escaping the turbine with more heat than previously without staging.

Fig.: Schematic diagram of reheating (left) and effect of reheating on T-s diagram (right)

Reaz Mohiuddin

ME 267: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering, BUET Class Problem 01 In a Brayton Cycle, the air enters the Compressor a 0.1 MPa, 15C. The pressure leaving the compressor is 0.5 MPa and the maximum temperature in the cycle is 900C. Determine for the cycle (a) Pressure at each point in the cycle. (b) Temperature at each point in the cycle. (c) Compressor Work, Turbine Work and Net Work Developed. (d) Back Work Ratio, Thermal Efficiency. Class Problem 02 In the above stated problem, find out the parameters assuming a compressor efficiency of 85%, a turbine efficiency of 85% and a pressure drop between the compressor and turbine of 15 kPa.

Reaz Mohiuddin