THE IDEAL REHEAT RANKINE CYCLE

Ideal reheat Rankine cycle

In a reheat cycle, steam expands in two stages and reheating in between, which increases the cycle
thermal efficiency. The total heat input and the total turbine work output for a reheat cycle can be
expressed as follows:

q in=q primary +qreheat =( h3 −h2 ) + ( h5 −h 4 )

(1)
w turbine=wturbine ,1 +wturbine , 2=( h3 −h 4 ) + ( h5 −h 6 )
(2)

Using more than two reheats has limits: each added stage gives smaller efficiency gains. Double reheat is
only suitable at very high (supercritical) pressure (P > 22.09MPa), otherwise it causes superheated
exhaust and lowers efficiency. A third reheat gives minimal improvement and is usually not worth the
cost and complexity.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 5.3:

A steam turbine operates on the ideal reheat Rankine cycle. Steam enters the high pressure turbine at
15MPa and 6000C and is condensed in a condenser at a pressure of 10 kPa. If the moisture content of the
steam at the exit of the low-pressure turbine is not to exceed 10.4%, determine (i) the pressure at which
the steam should be reheated; (ii) the thermal efficiency of the cycle. Assume that the steam is reheated to
the inlet temperature of the high-pressure turbine.

Solution:

Point 6: P6 = 10 kPa;

Moisture content = 10.4%=0.104

Dryness fraction is:

x6=1−moisture=1 - 0.104 =0.896 x6 = 0.896

s6 = sf + x6 x sfg

From saturated steam tables at 10 kPa PG 4

At 10 kPa, sf = 0.6493kJ/ kg.K; sfg = 7.5009 kJ/kg.K;

s6 = 0.6493 + (0.896 x 7.5009) = 7.370 kJ /kg.K

h6 = hf + x6hfg

hf = 191.83kJ/kg; hfg = 2392.8kJ/kg

superheated tables at 600°C PG 11

Point 5: s5 = S6 = 7.370 kJ/kg.K

T5 = 6000C; P5 = 4.0 MPa; h5 = 3674.4 kJ/kg

Therefore, the steam should be reheated at a pressure of P5 = 4.0 MPa or lower to prevent moisture
content above 10.4%.

(ii) To find enthalpies at all points

 From saturated steam tables at 10 kPa PG 4

Point 1: P1 = 10 kPa, h1 = hf = 191.83 kJ/kg, v1 = 0.001010m3/kg

Point 2: From wpump = h2 – h1 = v1 (P2 – P1)

h2 = h1 + v1 (P2 – P1) = 191.83+ 0.001010 (15000 – 10) = 206.94kJ/kg

superheated tables at 600°C PG 13

Point 3: P3 = 15 MPa, T3 = 600oC, h3 = 3582.3 kJ/kg, sS3 = 6.6776 kg.K

SUPERHEATED STEAM TABLE AT 4 MPA and s4 = 6.6776 kJ/kg.K; PG 11

Point 4: P4 = 4.0 MPa

6.6776 is between 6.5821 and 6.7690 So the state lies between 300°C and 350°C. Now We interpolate
between the two rows.

6.6776−6.5821
-Fraction in netropy ¿ = 0.511
6.7690−6.5821

-Applying to enthalpy

h4= h350+0.511(h400-h350)=3092.5+0.511(3213.6-3092.5)=3154.38 kJ/kg

-Applying to temperature

T4=350+0.511(400-350)=375.55 oC

h4 = 3154.3 kJ/kg; s4 = 6.6776 kJ/kg.K; T4 = 375.5oC

Heat supply, qin = (h3 – h2) + (h5 – h4) = (3582.3 – 206.94) + (3674 – 3154.3) = 3895.46 kJ /kg

Heat rejected, qout = h6 – h1 = 2335.8 – 191.83 = 2143.97 kJ/kg

Thermal efficiency of the cycle is obtained thus,

q out 2143 . 97
ηth =1− =1− =0 . 450
qin 3895 . 46 (or 45%).
 Entropy Change of a System During an Irreversible Process
Consider a system which undergoes the cycle made up of two reversible processes (A and B) as
shown below.

Fig. 4.7: Entropy change of a system

δQ 2A δQ 1B δQ
∮ T =∫1 A T
+ ∫2B =0
T
For this cycle, …(1)
Now consider the same system undergoes the cycle through process A (reversible) and C (irreversible).
δQ 2A δQ 1C δQ
∮ T =∫1 A T
+ ∫2C <0
T
For this cycle, …(2)

Subtracting equation (2) from equation (1), we obtain

(∫1 A δQT +∫2 B δQT )−(∫1 A δQT + ∫2C δQT )>0

2A 1B 2A 1C

1B δQ 1C δQ
∫2 B T >¿∫2C T ¿

Since path B is reversible and entropy is a property, therefore, it follows that

1B δQ 1 B 1c
∫2 B T
= ∫2 B ds=∫2c ds

1c 1C δQ
∴∫2c ds>∫2 C
T
For the general case, we can write
 δQ
ds≥
T
2 δQ
s2 −s1 ≥∫1
i.e. T …(3)
where, the equality applies to reversible case and the inequality for irreversible case.
The above equation states the influence of irreversibility on the entropy of a system. It simply means that
the change in entropy of a system where there are transfer losses due to inefficiency (irreversibility) will
be greater than that in a reversible process.

PRINCIPLE OF ENTROPY INCREASE

Consider a process in which a quantity of heat δQ is transferred from the surrounding at temperature
T o to the system at temperature T. Let the work done by the system during this process be δW .

Entropy change for a system and surroundings.

For the system

δQ
ds syst ≥
T

and for the surroundings, δQ <0

δQ
ds urr=−
To
The total change of entropy for the system and the surroundings

ds syst +ds surr ≥ −

T To (
δQ δQ ¿ δQ 1 − 1
T To )
Since To >T, the quantity
( 1 1
−
T To )
>0
and it can be concluded that
dS syst +dS surr ≥0

Now, if
T ≻T o , the transfer of heat would be from the system to the surroundings. Therefore, δQ >0

and the quantity

( 1 1
−
T To
<o
) or
( 1 1
− >0
To T ) . Thus
ds syst +ds surr ≥o
∴ For all possible processes that a system in a given surrounding can undergo, the following expression
holds:

ds syst +ds surr ≥0 …(4.14)

The equality holds for reversible process and the inequality for irreversible process.

Equation (4.14) is referred to as the principle of the increase of entropy. The significance of the principle
is that the only processes that can take place are those in which the net change in entropy of the system
plus its surroundings increases (or in the limit remains constant). The reverse process, in which both the
system and surroundings are brought back to their original states is never made to occur. The equation
dictates the single direction in which any process can proceed. The principle of entropy increase is a
quantitative general statement of the second law from the macroscopic point of view, and finds
application in combustion of fuel in automobile engines cooling of hot liquid, and reactions in human
body.

Given

 Mass: m=30 kgm=30kg

 Condensation at 100°C (saturated)

 Surrounding temperatures:

 25°C → 298 K

 38°C → 311 K

 90°C → 363 K

Properties at 100°C

From saturated steam tables at 100°C:

hfg=2257 kJ/kg

sfg=6.05 kJ/kgK

Change in entopy: ΔSsystem=−msfg ΔSsystem=−30×6.05=−181.5kJ/K

Heat Transfer: Q=mhfg=30×2257=67710kJ

 Q
Entropy change of surroundings: Δ S sur=
T sur
67710
Case 1: 25 oC (298k) ΔSsur= =227.2 ΔStotal=227.2−181.5=45.7 kJ/K
298
67710
Case 2: 38 oC (311k) ΔSsur= =217.7
311
ΔStotal=217.7−181.5=36.2 kJ/K

67710
Case 3: 90 oC (363k) ΔSsur= =186.5
363
ΔStotal=186.5−181.5=5.0 kJ/K

Surrounding ΔS_total
Temp (kJ/K)

25 oC 45.7 kJ/K

38 oC 36.2 kJ/K

90 oC 5.0 kJ/K

All values are positive → process is irreversible but [Link] surrounding temperature increases:
ΔStotal decreases. At 90°C, value is very small → process is nearly [Link] closer the surroundings
temperature is to the system temperature, the less entropy is generated, and the process
becomes more reversible.
B

1. Safety Properties

 Should be non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-explosive

 Chemically stable and non-corrosive

 Should not react with oil, moisture, or system materials

2. Toxicity

 Should be safe at normal concentrations

 Should not form highly toxic products when exposed to heat or flame

3. Flammability and Explosiveness

 Preferably non-flammable and non-explosive

 Should have a noticeable odor for leak detection

4. Economic and Other Considerations

 High latent heat and low vapor specific volume

 Should be economical, available, and require low maintenance

Refrigerant R134a enters the compressor of a refrigerator as superheated vapor at 0.14 MPa and -10 oC
at a rate of 0.05 kg/s and leaves at 0.8 MPa and 50 oC. The refrigerant is cooled in the condenser to 26 oC
and 0.72 MPa and is throttled to 0.15 MPa. Disregarding heat transfer and pressure drops in the
connecting lines between the components, determine: a) the rate of heat removal from the refrigerated
space; b) the power input to the compressor; c) the adiabatic efficiency of the compressor; and d) the
coefficient of performance of the refrigerator.
Solution
The T – s diagram of the cycle is shown below:

Refrigerant R134a enters the compressor of a refrigerator as superheated vapor at 0.14 MPa and -
10oC at a rate of 0.05 kg/s and leaves at 0.8 MPa and 50oC. The refrigerant is cooled in the
condenser to 26oC and 0.72 MPa and is throttled to 0.15 MPa. Disregarding heat transfer and
pressure drops in the connecting lines between the components, determine: a) the rate of heat
removal from the refrigerated space; b) the power input to the compressor; c) the adiabatic
efficiency of the compressor; and d) the coefficient of performance of the refrigerator.

Solution
The enthalpies of R134a at various states are determined from the refrigerant tables as follows:

If T > saturation temperature at given P → use superheated tables

If T = saturation temperature → use saturated tables

At
P1=0.14 MPa
T 1=−10 ℃ }
⇒ h 1 = 243.40 kJ/kg

P2=0.8 MPa
T 2=50 ℃ }
⇒ h2 = 284.39 kJ/kg

P3=0.72 MPa
T 3 =26 ℃ }
⇒ h3 = 85.75 kJ/kg
 h 4 ≈ h3 (throttling) ⇒ h 4 = 85.75 kJ/kg

a) Rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space

Q L= ṁ ( h1 −h4 ) =0.05 ( 243.4−85.75 ) =7.88 kW

b) Power input to the compressor

W ¿ =ṁ ( h2−h1 )=0.05 ( 284.39−243.40 )=2.05 kW

c) The adiabatic efficiency of the compressor

h 2 s−h1
η c=
h2−h 1

At P2 s=0.8 MPa , S2 s =S 1=0.9606 kJ/kg.K

S2 s =S f + x 2 s S fg

0.9606−0.3459
x 2 s= =1.096
(0.9066−0.3459)
h2 s=h f + x 2 s h fg
¿ 93.42+ ( 1.096 × 170.73 )=280.54 kJ/kg
280.54−243.4
η c= =0.906 or 91 %
284.39−243.4
d) The coefficient of performance

Q L 7.88
COP R= = =3.84
W ¿ 2.05