Thermodynamic processes constituting Carnot cycle are: (i)Reversible isothermal(a process or change taking place at constant temperature) heat

t addition process, (12, Qadd) (ii)Reversible adiabatic expansion process (2 3, Wexpn +ve) (iii)Reversible isothermal heat release process (34, Qrejected) (iv)Reversible adiabatic compression process (41, Wcompr ve)

Gas turbine plant: Carnot heat engine

Vapour cycle
Types according to utility based (i)Power cycles, (ii)Refrigeration and heat pump cycles (i) Power cycles: Thermodynamic cycles which are used in devices producing power are called power cycles. -Power production can be had by using working fluid either in vapour form or in gaseous form. -When vapour is the working fluid then they are called vapour power cycles, -working fluid being gas these are called gas power cycles. Thus, power cycles are of two types,

(a)Vapour power cycle, (b)Gas power cycle. Vapour power cycles can be further classified as, 1.Carnot vapour power cycle 2.Rankine cycle 3.Reheat cycle 4.Regenerative cycle. Gas power cycles can be classified as, 1.Carnot gas power cycle 2.Otto cycle 3.Diesel cycle 4.Dual cycle 5.Stirling cycle 6.Ericsson cycle 7.Brayton cycle

Carnot vapour cycle

Rankine Cycle
Rankine cycle is a thermodynamic cycle derived from Carnot vapour power cycle for overcoming its limitations. In earlier discussion it has been explained that Carnot cycle cannot be used in practice due to certain limitations. Rankine cycle has the following thermodynamic processes. 1 2 = Isobaric(equal pressure) heat addition (in boiler) 2 3 = Adiabatic expansion (in turbine) 3 4 = Isobaric heat release (in condenser) 4 1 = Adiabatic pumping (in pump) T S, h S and P V representations are as shown below.

T S, h S and P V representations are as shown below.

 Practical arrangement in a simple steam power plant working on Rankine cycle In Rankine cycle, isothermal heat addition and heat rejection processes have been replaced by isobaric (equal pressure) processes

Irreversibilities and losses in Rankine cycle

there exist various irreversibilities and losses in processes In Rankine cycle the major irreversibility is encountered during the expansion through turbine Irreversibilities in turbine significantly reduce the expansion work Heat loss from turbine to surroundings, friction inside turbine leakage losses contribute to irreversibilities

 During pumping some additional work is required to overcome frictional effects Ideally pumping is assumed to take place with no heat transfer during pumping whereas actually it may not be so. Increase in entropy across the pump There also occurs the steam pressure drop due to friction between pipe surface and working fluid