Thermodynamics

598 | ThermodynamicsCombined Gas–Vapor Power Cycles10–74C In combined gas–steam cycles, what is the energysource for the steam?10–75C Why is the combined gas–steam cycle more efficientthan either of the cycles operated alone?10–76 The gas-turbine portion of a combined gas–steampower plant has a pressure ratio of 16. Air enters the compressorat 300 K at a rate of 14 kg/s and is heated to 1500 Kin the combustion chamber. The combustion gases leavingthe gas turbine are used to heat the steam to 400°C at 10MPa in a heat exchanger. The combustion gases leave theheat exchanger at 420 K. The steam leaving the turbine iscondensed at 15 kPa. Assuming all the compression andexpansion processes to be isentropic, determine (a) the massflow rate of the steam, (b) the net power output, and (c) thethermal efficiency of the combined cycle. For air, assumeconstant specific heats at room temperature. Answers:(a) 1.275 kg/s, (b) 7819 kW, (c) 66.4 percent10–77 Consider a combined gas–steam power plantthat has a net power output of 450 MW. Thepressure ratio of the gas-turbine cycle is 14. Air enters thecompressor at 300 K and the turbine at 1400 K. The combustiongases leaving the gas turbine are used to heat the steamat 8 MPa to 400°C in a heat exchanger. The combustiongases leave the heat exchanger at 460 K. An open feedwaterheater incorporated with the steam cycle operates at a pressureof 0.6 MPa. The condenser pressure is 20 kPa. Assumingall the compression and expansion processes to be isentropic,determine (a) the mass flow rate ratio of air to steam, (b) therequired rate of heat input in the combustion chamber, and(c) the thermal efficiency of the combined cycle.10–78 Reconsider Prob. 10–77. Using EES (or other)software, study the effects of the gas cyclepressure ratio as it is varied from 10 to 20 on the ratio of gasflow rate to steam flow rate and cycle thermal efficiency. Plotyour results as functions of gas cycle pressure ratio, and discussthe results.10–79 Repeat Prob. 10–77 assuming isentropic efficienciesof 100 percent for the pump, 82 percent for the compressor,and 86 percent for the gas and steam turbines.10–80 Reconsider Prob. 10–79. Using EES (or other)software, study the effects of the gas cyclepressure ratio as it is varied from 10 to 20 on the ratio of gasflow rate to steam flow rate and cycle thermal efficiency. Plotyour results as functions of gas cycle pressure ratio, and discussthe results.10–81 Consider a combined gas–steam power cycle. Thetopping cycle is a simple Brayton cycle that has a pressureratio of 7. Air enters the compressor at 15°C at a rate of 10kg/s and the gas turbine at 950°C. The bottoming cycle is areheat Rankine cycle between the pressure limits of 6 MPaand 10 kPa. Steam is heated in a heat exchanger at a rate of1.15 kg/s by the exhaust gases leaving the gas turbine and theexhaust gases leave the heat exchanger at 200°C. Steamleaves the high-pressure turbine at 1.0 MPa and is reheated to400°C in the heat exchanger before it expands in the lowpressureturbine. Assuming 80 percent isentropic efficiencyfor all pumps and turbine, determine (a) the moisture contentat the exit of the low-pressure turbine, (b) the steam temperatureat the inlet of the high-pressure turbine, (c) the net poweroutput and the thermal efficiency of the combined plant.Compressor28711CombustionchamberHeatexchanger5Pump3FIGURE P10–8149Gasturbine110Steamturbine6CondenserSpecial Topic: Binary Vapor Cycles10–82C What is a binary power cycle? What is its purpose?10–83C By writing an energy balance on the heat exchangerof a binary vapor power cycle, obtain a relation for the ratioof mass flow rates of two fluids in terms of their enthalpies.10–84C Why is steam not an ideal working fluid for vaporpower cycles?10–85C Why is mercury a suitable working fluid for thetopping portion of a binary vapor cycle but not for the bottomingcycle?10–86C What is the difference between the binary vaporpower cycle and the combined gas–steam power cycle?