Lesson 2.3 - Improving Rankine Performance

THERMODYNAMICS – II
MEng-123n
IMPROVING RANKINE PERFORMANCE
The representations of the vapor power cycle considered

thus far do not depict actual vapor power plants faithfully,
for various modifications are usually incorporated to
improve overall performance. In this section we consider
cycle modifications known as superheat and reheat. Both
features are normally incorporated into vapor power plants.
We also consider supercritical steam generation.
MEng – 123n |Thermodynamics 2| Lesson 2.3: Improving Rankine Performance
Lesson 2.3: Introduction

The representations of the vapor power cycle considered thus far do not depict actual vapor power plants faithfully, for
various modifications are usually incorporated to improve overall performance. In this section we consider cycle
modifications known as superheat and reheat. Both features are normally incorporated into vapor power plants. We also
consider supercritical steam generation..
Learning Outcomes
1. sketch the T– s diagram of the ideal Rankine cycle with reheat.
2. fix each of the principal states and retrieve necessary property data.
3. apply mass and energy balances.
4. calculate performance parameters for the cycle.
SUPERHEAT
SUPERHEAT
First, let us consider superheat. As we are not limited to
having saturated vapor at the turbine inlet, further energy
can be added by heat transfer to the steam, bringing it to a
superheated vapor condition at the turbine inlet. This is
accomplished in a separate heat exchanger called a
superheater.
The combination of boiler and superheater is referred to as a

steam generator. The figure shows an ideal Rankine cycle
with superheated vapor at the turbine inlet: cycle
1’–2’–3–4–1’.
SUPERHEAT
The cycle with superheat has a higher average temperature of
heat addition than the cycle without superheating (cycle
1–2–3–4–1), so the thermal efficiency is higher.
Moreover, the quality at turbine exhaust state 2’ is greater
than at state 2, which would be the turbine exhaust state
without superheating.
Accordingly, superheating also tends to alleviate the problem

of low steam quality at the turbine exhaust. With sufficient
superheating, the turbine exhaust state may even fall in the
superheated vapor region.
REHEAT
REHEAT
A further modification normally employed in vapor power
plants is reheat. With reheat, a power plant can take
advantage of the increased efficiency that results with higher
boiler pressures and yet avoid low-quality steam at the
turbine exhaust. In the ideal reheat cycle shown in the figure,
steam does not expand to the condenser pressure in a single
stage. Instead, steam expands through a first-stage turbine
(Process 1–2) to some pressure between the steam
generator and condenser pressures.
REHEAT
Steam is then reheated in the steam generator (Process 2–3)
. Ideally, there would be no pressure drop as the steam is
reheated. After reheating, the steam expands in a second
stage turbine to the condenser pressure (Process 3–4).
Observe that with reheat the quality of the steam at the
turbine exhaust is increased. This can be seen from the T–s
diagram of the figure by comparing state 4 with state 4’, the
turbine exhaust state without reheating.
SUPERCRITICAL
SUPERCRITICAL
The temperature of the steam entering the turbine is
restricted by metallurgical limitations imposed by materials
used to fabricate the superheater, reheater, and turbine. High
pressure in the steam generator also requires piping that can
withstand great stresses at elevated temperatures. Still,
improved materials and fabrication methods have gradually
permitted significant increases in maximum allowed cycle
temperature and steam generator pressure with
corresponding increases in thermal efficiency that save fuel
and reduce environmental impact.
SUPERCRITICAL
This progress now allows vapor power plants to operate with steam
generator pressures exceeding the critical pressure of water (22.1
MPa, 3203.6 lbf/in2). These plants are known as supercritical vapor
power plants.
The figure shows a supercritical ideal reheat cycle. As indicated by

Process 6–1, steam generation occurs at a pressure above the
critical pressure. No pronounced phase change occurs during this
process, and a conventional boiler is not used. Instead, water
flowing through tubes is gradually heated from liquid to vapor
without the bubbling associated with boiling. In such cycles, heating
is provided by combustion of pulverized coal with air.
SUPERCRITICAL
Today’s supercritical vapor power plants produce steam at
pressures and temperatures near 30 MPa (4350 lbf/in2) and 600C
(1110F), respectively, permitting thermal efficiencies up to 47%. As
superalloys with improved high-temperature limit and corrosion
resistance become commercially available, ultra-supercritical plants
may produce steam at 35 MPa (5075 lbf/in2) and 700C (1290F)
with thermal efficiencies exceeding 50%. Subcritical plants have
efficiencies only up to about 40%.
SUPERCRITICAL
While installation costs of supercritical plants are somewhat higher
per unit of power generated than subcritical plants, fuel costs of
supercritical plants are considerably lower owing to increased
thermal efficiency. Since less fuel is used for a given power output,
supercritical plants produce less carbon dioxide, other combustion
gases, and solid waste than subcritical plants. The evolution of
supercritical power plants from subcritical counterparts provides a
case study on how advances in technology enable increases in
thermodynamic efficiency with accompanying fuel savings and
reduced environmental impact, and all cost-effectively.
EVALUATING PERFORMANCE
OF REHEAT CYCLE
EXAMPLE
Steam is the working fluid in an ideal Rankine cycle with superheat
and reheat. Steam enters the first-stage turbine at 8.0 MPa, 480C,
and expands to 0.7 MPa. It is then reheated to 440C before entering
the second-stage turbine, where it expands to the condenser pressure
of 0.008 MPa. The net power output is 100 MW. Determine
(a) the thermal efficiency of the cycle,
(b) the mass flow rate of steam, in kg/h,
(c) the rate of heat transfer Qout from the condensing steam as it
passes through the condenser, in MW. Discuss the effects of
reheat on the vapor power cycle.
EXAMPLE
SOLUTION
Known: An ideal reheat cycle operates with steam as the working fluid. Operating pressures and temperatures are specified, and the net power output
is given.
Find: Determine the thermal efficiency, the mass flow rate of the steam, in kg/h, and the heat transfer rate from the condensing steam as it passes
through the condenser, in MW. Discuss.
EXAMPLE
Engineering Model:
1. Each component in the cycle is analyzed as a control volume at steady state.

The control volumes are shown on the accompanying sketch by dashed lines.
2. All processes of the working fluid are internally reversible.
3. The turbine and pump operate adiabatically.
4. Condensate exits the condenser as saturated liquid.
5. Kinetic and potential energy effects are negligible.

EXAMPLE
Analysis: To begin, we fix each of the principal states. Starting at the inlet to the first turbine stage, the pressure is 8.0 MPa and the
temperature is 480C, so the steam is a superheated vapor. From Table A-4, h1 = 3348.4 kJ/kg and s1 = 6.6586 kJ/kg - K.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
To see the effects of reheat, we compare the present values with their counterparts in the previous example for ideal
rankine. With superheat and reheat, the thermal efficiency is increased over that of the cycle of previous example for
ideal rankine. For a specified net power output (100 MW), a larger thermal efficiency means that a smaller mass flow
rate of steam is required. Moreover, with a greater thermal efficiency the rate of heat transfer to the cooling water is
also less, resulting in a reduced demand for cooling water. With reheating, the steam quality at the turbine exhaust is
substantially increased over the value for the cycle of previous example for ideal rankine.
EXAMPLE
To see the effects of reheat, we compare the present values with their counterparts in the previous example for ideal rankine. With superheat and
reheat, the thermal efficiency is increased over that of the cycle of previous example for ideal rankine. For a specified net power output (100 MW), a
larger thermal efficiency means that a smaller mass flow rate of steam is required. Moreover, with a greater thermal efficiency the rate of heat
transfer to the cooling water is also less, resulting in a reduced demand for cooling water. With reheating, the steam quality at the turbine exhaust is
substantially increased over the value for the cycle of previous example for ideal rankine.
END

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THERMODYNAMICS – II

The representations of the vapor power cycle considered

Lesson 2.3: Introduction

The combination of boiler and superheater is referred to as a

Accordingly, superheating also tends to alleviate the problem

The figure shows a supercritical ideal reheat cycle. As indicated by

(a) the thermal efficiency of the cycle,

(b) the mass flow rate of steam, in kg/h,

1. Each component in the cycle is analyzed as a control volume at steady state.

2. All processes of the working fluid are internally reversible.

3. The turbine and pump operate adiabatically.

4. Condensate exits the condenser as saturated liquid.

5. Kinetic and potential energy effects are negligible.

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