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Rankine Cycle

The Rankine cycle is a modified form of the Carnot cycle used for steam power plants. It consists of four processes: 1) isothermal expansion of water into steam, 2) adiabatic expansion of the steam, 3) isothermal compression of the steam back into water, and 4) warming of the water before repeating the cycle. The efficiency of the Rankine cycle depends on the temperatures and heats in the different stages of the cycle.

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Rankine Cycle

The Rankine cycle is a modified form of the Carnot cycle used for steam power plants. It consists of four processes: 1) isothermal expansion of water into steam, 2) adiabatic expansion of the steam, 3) isothermal compression of the steam back into water, and 4) warming of the water before repeating the cycle. The efficiency of the Rankine cycle depends on the temperatures and heats in the different stages of the cycle.

Uploaded by

Manish Moroliya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Rankine Cycle

Rankine Cycle
The Rankine cycle is a modified form of Carnot cycle, in which the isothermal
compression (3-4) is continued unit the steam is condensed into water. A Carnot cycle,
using steam as a working substance, is represented or p-v and t-s diagram as shown in
the figure.

Consider 1kg of water at pressure P1 and absolute temperature T1 as represented by


point 1 in the figure. The cycle is completed by the following four processes.

Read also:

 Carnot Cycle: Principle Processes, Efficiency with [P-v and T-s Diagram]
 Four Stroke Diesel Cycle Engine and Its Working [Explained with P-v and T-s
Diagram]

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Rankine Cycle

Stages of Rankine Cycle


The following are the four stages of an ideal Rankine cycle:

1. Isothermal expansion
2. Adiabatic expansion
3. Isothermal compression
4. Warming operation

1. Isothermal Expansion

The water is isothermally converted into dry saturated steam at a constant temperature
(T1) and pressure (P1). The dry state of steam is expressed in point 2. It means that the
temperature T2 (i. e. at point 2) and pressure P2 (i. e. at point 2) is equal to temperature
T1 and pressure P1 respectively.

This isothermal expansion is represented by curve 1-2 in p-v and t-s diagrams in Fig.
We know that the heat absorbed during isothermal expansion by water dring its
conversion into dry steam is its latent heat (i.e. H1 = L).

2. Adiabatic Expansion

The dry saturated steam now expands adiabatically. The pressure and temperature fall
from P2 and T2 to T3 respectively with a dryness fraction x2. As no heat is supplied or
rejected during this process, there is no change of entropy. The adiabatic expansion is
represented by the curve 2-3 as shown in Fig.

3. Isothermal Compression

The wet steam is now isothermally compressed at constant temperature (T3) and
pressure (p3) unit the whole steam is condensed into water. IT means that the
temperature T4 (i.e. at point 4) and pressure P4 is equal to the temperature T3 and
pressure P3 respectively.

The isothermal compression is represented by curve 3-4 on p-v and T-s diagram in Fig.
The heat rejected by steam is its latent heat ( equal to x3 L3).

4. Warming Operation

The water is now warmed at constant volume from temperature T4 to T1. Its pressure
also rises from P4 to P1. The heat absorbed by water dring this operation is equal to the
sensible heat or liquid heat corresponding to the pressure P1 i. e. equal to sensible heat
at point 1 minus sensible heat at point 4 (i.e. equal to h1- h4).

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Rankine Cycle
But sensible heat at point 4 is equal to sensible heat at point3. Thus heat absorbed
during warming operation is equal to (h1-h3).

= Heat absorbed during isothermal expansion+ Heat absorbed during the warming
operation

And heat rejected during the cycle

= Heat absorbed - Heat rejected

And efficiency (also called Rankine efficiency),

Note on Rankine Cycle


If the equation of steam (2-3) is not adiabatic and follows the general law pvn =
constant, then work done during the process will not be (H1 - H3). The work done in
this case will be given by the relation:

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Rankine Cycle

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Read Next:

 Carnot Vapour Cycle: Processes With P-v and T-s Diagram


 Dual Combustion Cycle Processes with [P-v and T-s Diagram]
 Stirling Cycle: Efficiency with P-v and T-s Diagram

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