A steam power plant operates on a simple ideal Rankine cycle between the pressure limits of 3000 kPa and 25 kPa. The temperature of the steam at the turbine inlet is 400 oC, and the mass flow rate of steam through the cycle is 37 kg/s. Determine: a) the thermal efficiency of the cycle (%) and b) the net power output of the power plant (kW).

A rankine cycle is a generation cycle using water as a working fluid, when heat enters the boiler the water undergoes a series of changes in state and energy until generating power through the turbine.

This cycle is composed of four main components, the boiler, the pump, the turbine and the condenser as shown in the attached image

To solve any problem regarding the rankine cycle, enthalpies in all states must be calculated using the thermodynamic tables and taking into account the following.

• The pressure of state 1 and 4 are equal

• The pressure of state 2 and 3 are equal

• State 1 is superheated steam

• State 2 is in saturation state

• State 3 is saturated liquid at the lowest pressure

• State 4 is equal to state 3 because the work of the pump is negligible.

Once all enthalpies are found, the following equations are used using the first law of thermodynamics

Wout = m (h1-h2)

Qin = m (h1-h4)

Win = m (h4-h3)

Qout = m (h2-h1)

The efficiency is calculated as the power obtained on the heat that enters

Efficiency = Wout / Qin

Efficiency = (h1-h2) / (h1-h4)

For this problem, we will first find the enthalpies in all states

h1=3231kJ/Kg

h2=2310kJ/Kg

h3=h4=272kJ/Kg

A) using the eficiency ecuation

Efficiency = (h1-h2) / (h1-h4)

Efficiency =(3231-2310)/(3231-272)=0.31=31%

b)using ecuation for Wout

Wout = m (h1-h2)

Wout=37(3231-2310)=34077KW=34.077MW