ME2121

Thermodynamics

Lecture 3
Power Cycles (for Gas Turbines)
Sections 9.8 to 9.11, Cengel & Boles

Air Standard Cycles

These approximate the open cycles of power plants.

Incl. spark ignition engines, compression ignition engines, gas turbines.

Assumptions are made about air standard cycles:

(1)
(2)
(3)

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that the working fluid is air,

a fixed mass is considered in the analysis
that the fluid behaves as an ideal gas,
Pv = RT
that combustion, inlet & exhaust processes may be replaced by
simple equivalent processes,
as simple heat transfer

L3: Power Cycles (for Gas Turbines)

Air Standard Cycles (contd.)

(4)
(5)

that all processes are reversible,

no entropy generated!
and that the specific heat of the fluid is constant.
computations are greatly simplified.

Certain ideal cycles have maximum thermal efficiency.

viz.Carnot efficiency, th,C =1 - TL / TH
(1) the Carnot cycle (2 isentropic, 2 isothermal processes)
(2) the Stirling cycle (2 isothermal, 2 isochoric/isometric processes)
(3) the Ericsson cycle (2 isothermal, 2 isobaric processes)
The latter two cycles use regeneration - heat rejected in one part of the
cycle is used to heat up fluid in another part of the cycle!

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Air Standard Carnot Cycle

th 1
1

TL
TH

T4
T
1 3
T1
T2

The cycle is
impractical
particularly the
isothermal
processes of
heat transfer!

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Brayton Cycle

It is the best air standard power cycle.

- also known as the simple gas turbine cycle
- named after George Brayton (about 1870)

The compression and turbine

expansion processes are the
usual isentropic processes!

The heat addition & rejection

processes are undertaken
at constant pressure!

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Brayton Cycle (contd.)

Applying the First Law to the isentropic processes of expansion

and compression,
Turbine work output, wt = h3 - h4 = CP ( T3 - T4 )
Compressor work input, wc = h2 - h1 = CP ( T2 - T1 )
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Brayton Cycle (contd.)

Energy required, qH = h3 h2 = CP ( T3 - T2 )
Thermal efficiency may be computed:

th

T4 T1
wt wc T3 T4 T2 T1

1
qH
T3 T2
T3 T2
CP is assumed to be constant!

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Brayton Cycle (contd.)

Effect of pressure ratio on thermal efficiency
The pressure ratio, rp is defined as:
rP = P3 / P4 = P2 / P1

Then, for isentropic processes, 1 2 ; 3 4

Pv = C; Pv = RT; = CP / Cv
1

P v
P P
T2 T1 2 2 T1 2 1
P1v1
P1 P2
P
T1 2
P1
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T1 rP

L3: Power Cycles (for Gas Turbines)

P
T3 T4 3
P4
T4 rP

Brayton Cycle (contd.)

th 1

1
1
T4 T1
1 1 1 rP
T3 T2
rP

As rp increases, so does th!

In practice, rP is limited by
max T3 and min T1.
material limitations
ambient conditions

< 1500K

th is also limited!
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Actual Gas Turbine Cycle

Closed system

Open system

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Actual Gas Turbine Cycle (contd.)

Irreversibilities are due to friction,
leakages, etc. and result in:
entropy increase 1 2, 3 4
and pressure loss 2 3, 4 1

T T
h h
c 2 s 1 2 s 1
T2 T1
h2 h1
t

th
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T T4
h3 h4
3
h3 h4 s T3 T4 s

h3 h4 h2 h1 T3 T4 T2 T1

T3 T2
h3 h2
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CP assumed
constant!
11

Improved Gas Turbine Cycle

Involves multi-stage compression with intercooling, multi-stage expansion

with reheating, and regeneration!
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Improved Gas Turbine Cycle (contd.)

Processes in real cycle:
multi-stage compression

12, 3 4
with intercooling 23

multi-stage expansion
67, 8 9
with reheat 78

10

regeneration
preheating 45
recovered from 910

th = wnet / q
where wnet = (h6-h7)+ (h8-h9)- (h2-h1)- (h4-h3)
and q = (h8-h7)+ (h6-h5)

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Improved Gas Turbine Cycle (contd.)

The Ericsson cycle has Carnot cycle efficiency, C = 1 TL / TH !

Ericsson cycle comprises

constant P heat addition
& rejection
isothermal compression
& expansion
regeneration

By increasing the no. of

stages of compression and
expansion, the Ericsson
cycle is approached!

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P=c

However, systems with more than 3

stages are seldom cost effective!!

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Aircraft Gas Turbine

products
air

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Aircraft Gas Turbine (Contd.)

Applying the 1st Law:
The turbine work drives the
compressor.

closed cycle

wt = wc
w c = h3 h2
w t = h4 h5

Velocity of air leaving

nozzle, V6 may then be
obtained:
h5=h6+V62/2
(s5=s6 )

ram effect
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Assignment 2
Please attempt:
Problem Set 1:
Q 3 (tutorial class discussion - Weeks 11 & 12)
Q 4 (Imparo online tutorial)
(Please attempt problems before referring to the Outline Solutions
for maximum benefit in learning)
Enjoy!!

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