City and Guilds 9210 Level 6 Module - Unit 128 Applied Thermodynamics
City and Guilds 9210 Level 6 Module - Unit 128 Applied Thermodynamics
Level 6
Module - Unit 128 Applied thermodynamics
OUTCOME 1 - TUTORIAL 2
GAS TURBINE POWER CYCLES
This module has 5 Learning Outcomes. This is the second tutorial for outcome 1
Outcome 1 Apply the working relationships involved in the behaviour and performance of
power and refrigeration cycles to solve practical problems
The learner can:
In order to study this module you should already have a good knowledge of thermodynamics. If not you
should study the tutorials at www.freestudy.co.uk/thermodynamics2.htm before commencing this
module
We need to start by revising the process of gas expansion and compression.
When a gas is expanded from pressure p1 to pressure p2 adiabatically, the temperature ratio is given by the
1
1
T2 p 2
formula
T1 p1
The same formula may be applied to a compression process. Always remember that when a gas is expanded
it gets colder and when it is compressed it gets hotter. The temperature change is T 2 - T1
A gas turbine expands 4 kg/s of air from 12 bar and 900oC to 1 bar adiabatically with an isentropic
efficiency of 87%.
Calculate the exhaust temperature and the power output. = 1.4 cp = 1005 J/kg K
SOLUTION
P(out) = 2.135 MW
1. A gas turbine expands 6 kg/s of air from 8 bar and 700oC to 1 bar isentropically.
Calculate the exhaust temperature and the power output. = 1.4 cp = 1005 J/kg K
(Answers 537.1 K and 2.628 MW)
2. A gas turbine expands 3 kg/s of air from 10 bar and 920oC to 1 bar adiabatically with an isentropic
efficiency of 92%.
Calculate the exhaust temperature and the power output. = 1.41 cp = 1010 J/kg K
(Answers 657.3 K and 1.62 MW)
3. A gas turbine expands 7 kg/s of air from 9 bar and 850oC to 1 bar adiabatically with an isentropic
efficiency of 87%.
Calculate the exhaust temperature and the power output.
= 1.4 cp = 1005 J/kg K
(Answers 667.5 K and 3.204 MW)
The ideal and basic cycle is called the JOULE cycle and is also known as the constant pressure cycle
because the heating and cooling processes are conducted at constant pressure. A simple layout is shown on
fig. 1.
4-1 Constant pressure cooling back to the original state requiring heat removal.
out = H/s = m cp (T4-T1)
2.1 EFFICIENCY
nett Pnett
in - out Pout - Pin
Pnett mc p (T4 - T1 ) (T - T )
th 1 out 1 1 4 1
in in mc p (T3 - T2 ) (T3 - T2 )
It assumed that the mass and the specific heats are the same for the heater and cooler.
It is easy to show that the temperature ratio for the turbine and compressor are the same.
1 1
1 1
T2 p 2 T3 p3
1 1
1 1 T3 T2
rp
rp
T1 p1 T4 p 4 T4 T1
This shows that the efficiency depends only on the pressure ratio which in turn affects the hottest
temperature in the cycle.
A gas turbine uses the Joule cycle. The pressure ratio is 6/1. The inlet temperature to the compressor is
10oC. The flow rate of air is 0.2 kg/s. The temperature at inlet to the turbine is 950 oC. Calculate the
following.
SOLUTION
th 1 rp -0.286 1 6 -0.286
0.4 or 40%
T2 T1 rp0.286 283 x 6 0.286 472.4 K
in mc p (T3 - T2 ) 0.2 x 1.005 x (1223 - 472.4) 150.8 kW
Pnett
th
in
Pnett 0.4 x 150.8 60.3 kW
A gas turbine uses the Joule cycle. The inlet pressure and temperature to the compressor are
respectively 1 bar and -10oC. After constant pressure heating, the pressure and temperature are 7 bar
and 700oC respectively. The flow rate of air is 0.4 kg/s. Calculate the following.
3.1 TURBINE
3.2 COMPRESSOR
Remember that friction always produces a smaller change in temperature than for the ideal case. This is
shown on the T-s diagrams (fig.4a and 4b).
The power output from the turbine is hence P(out) = m cp (T3 – T4’) i
The power input to the compressor is hence P(in) = m cp (T2’ – T1)/i
It can be seen that the effect of friction on the gas turbine cycle is reduced power output and increased
power input with an overall reduction in nett power and thermal efficiency. Figs. 5a and 5b show the effect
of friction on T-s and p-h diagrams for the Joule cycle.
P(in) + (in) = P(out) + (out) P(nett) = P(out) - P(in) = (nett) = (in) - (out)
A Joule Cycle uses a pressure ratio of 8. Calculate the air standard efficiency. The isentropic efficiency
of the turbine and compressor are both 90%. The low pressure in the cycle is 120 kPa. The coldest and
hottest temperatures in the cycle are 20 oC and 1200oC respectively. Calculate the cycle efficiency with
friction and deduce the change. Calculate the net power output. = 1.4 and cp = 1.005 kJ/kg K. Take the
mass flow as 3 kg/s.
SOLUTION
A gas turbine uses a standard Joule cycle but there is friction in the compressor and turbine. The air is
drawn into the compressor at 1 bar 15oC and is compressed with an isentropic efficiency of 94% to a
pressure of 9 bar. After heating, the gas temperature is 1000 oC. The isentropic efficiency of the turbine
is also 94%. The mass flow rate is 2.1 kg/s. Determine the following.
In this section we will examine how practical gas turbine engine sets vary from the basic Joule cycle.
The first point is that in reality, although air is used in the compressor, the gas going through the turbine
contains products of combustion so the adiabatic index and specific heat capacity is different in the turbine
and compressor.
Most designs used for gas turbine sets use two turbines, one to drive the compressor and a free turbine. The
free turbine drives the load and it is not connected directly to the compressor. It may also run at a different
speed to the compressor.
Fig.6a. shows such a layout with turbines in parallel configuration. Fig.6b shows the layout with series
configuration.
This is not part of the syllabus for the power cycles but we will come across it later when we study
compressors in detail. Basically, if the air is compressed in stages and cooled between each stage, then the
work of compression is reduced and the efficiency increased. The layout is shown on fig. 7a.
4.4 REHEATING
The reverse theory of intercooling applies. If several stages of expansion are used and the gas reheated
between stages, the power output and efficiency is increased. The layout is shown on fig. 7b.
A gas turbine draws in air from atmosphere at 1 bar and 10 oC and compresses it to 5 bar with an
isentropic efficiency of 80%. The air is heated to 1200 K at constant pressure and then expanded
through two stages in series back to 1 bar. The high pressure turbine is connected to the compressor and
produces just enough power to drive it. The low pressure stage is connected to an external load and
produces 80 kW of power. The isentropic efficiency is 85% for both stages.
Calculate the mass flow of air, the inter-stage pressure of the turbines and the thermal efficiency of the
cycle.
Neglect the increase in mass due to the addition of fuel for burning.
SOLUTION
cp R
and R c p cv hence c p
cv 1
1
Hence cp= 1.005 kJ/kg K for the compressor and 1.149 kJ/kg K for the turbines.
COMPRESSOR
1
1
T2 T1rp 283 x 50.286 448.4 K
T1 2.29
T T
i 0.85 4 5 hence T5 854.5 K
T4 T5
NETT POWER
The nett power is 80 kW hence
80 = m cp(T4-T5) = m x 1.149(1019.1 - 854.5) m = 0.423 kg/s
HEAT INPUT
(in) = m cp (T3-T2) = 0.423 x 1.149 (1200 - 489.8) = 345.2 kW
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
th = P(nett)/(in) = 80/345.2 = 0.232 or 23.2%
A gas turbine draws in air from atmosphere at 1 bar and 15 oC and compresses it to 4.5 bar with an
isentropic efficiency of 82%. The air is heated to 1100 K at constant pressure and then expanded
through two stages in series back to 1 bar. The high pressure turbine is connected to the compressor and
produces just enough power to drive it. The low pressure stage is connected to an external load and
produces 100 kW of power. The isentropic efficiency is 85% for both stages.
For the compressor = 1.4 and for the turbines = 1.3. The gas constant R is 0.287 kJ/kg K for both.
Neglect the increase in mass due to the addition of fuel for burning.
Calculate the mass flow of air, the inter-stage pressure of the turbines and the thermal efficiency of the
cycle.
Because the gas leaving the turbine is hotter than the gas leaving the compressor, it is possible to heat up the
air before it enters the combustion chamber by use of an exhaust gas heat exchanger. This results in less fuel
being burned in order to produce the same temperature prior to the turbine and so makes the cycle more
efficient. The layout of such a plant is shown on fig.8.
In order to solve problems associated with this cycle, it is necessary to determine the temperature prior to
the combustion chamber (T3).
A perfect heat exchanger would heat up the air so that T 3 is the same as T5. It would also cool down the
exhaust gas so that T6 becomes T2. In reality this is not possible so the concept of THERMAL RATIO is
used. This is defined as the ratio of the enthalpy given to the air to the maximum possible enthalpy lost by
the exhaust gas. The enthalpy lost by the exhaust gas is
H = mgcpg(T5-T6)
This would be a maximum if the gas is cooled down such that T 6 = T2. Of course in reality this does not
occur and the maximum is not achieved and the gas turbine does not perform as well as predicted by this
idealisation.
H(maximum) = H = mgcpg(T5-T6)
The enthalpy gained by the air is
H(air) = macpa(T3-T2)
Hence the thermal ratio is
T.R. = macpa(T3-T2)/ mgcpg(T5-T2)
The suffix ‘a’ refers to the air and g to the exhaust gas. Since the mass of fuel added in the combustion
chamber is small compared to the air flow we often neglect the difference in mass and the equation becomes
c pa T3 T2
T .R.
c pg T5 T2
A gas turbine uses a pressure ratio of 7.5/1. The inlet temperature and pressure are respectively 10 oC
and 105 kPa. The temperature after heating in the combustion chamber is 1300 oC. The specific heat
capacity cp for the exhaust gas is 1.15 kJ/kg K. The adiabatic index is 1.4 for air and 1.33 for the gas.
Assume isentropic compression and expansion. The mass flow rate is 1kg/s. Use the chart below to
determine cp for air.
Calculate the air standard efficiency if no heat exchanger is used and compare it to the thermal
efficiency when an exhaust heat exchanger with a thermal ratio of 0.88 is used.
SOLUTION
The chart below shows the effect of pressure and temperature on C p. Post compressor pressure is about
7.5 bar and the mean temperature of air in the heat exchanger is about 728 K. From the chart c p will be
around 1.08 kJ/kg K
In order find the thermal efficiency, it is best to solve the energy transfers.
1. A gas turbine uses a pressure ratio of 7/1. The inlet temperature and pressure are respectively 10 oC and
100 kPa. The temperature after heating in the combustion chamber is 1000 oC. The specific heat
capacity cp is 1.005 kJ/kg K and the adiabatic index is 1.4 for air and gas. Assume isentropic
compression and expansion. The mass flow rate is 0.7 kg/s.
Calculate the net power output and the thermal efficiency when an exhaust heat exchanger with a
thermal ratio of 0.8 is used.
(Answers 234 kW and 57%)
2. A gas turbine uses a pressure ratio of 6.5/1. The inlet temperature and pressure are respectively 15 oC
and 1 bar. The temperature after heating in the combustion chamber is 1200 oC. The specific heat
capacity cp for air is 1.005 kJ/kg K and for the exhaust gas is 1.15 kJ/kg K. The adiabatic index is 1.4
for air and 1.333 for the gas. The isentropic efficiency is 85% for both the compression and expansion
process. The mass flow rate is 1kg/s.
Calculate the thermal efficiency when an exhaust heat exchanger with a thermal ratio of 0.75 is used.
(Answer 48.3%)
A gas turbine has a free turbine in parallel with the turbine which drives the compressor. An exhaust
heat exchanger is used with a thermal ratio of 0.8. The isentropic efficiency of the compressor is 80%
and for both turbines is 0.85.
The heat transfer rate to the combustion chamber is 1.48 MW. The gas leaves the combustion chamber
at 1100oC. The air is drawn into the compressor at 1 bar and 25 oC. The pressure after compression is
7.2 bar.
The adiabatic index is 1.4 for air and 1.333 for the gas produced by combustion. The specific heat cp is
1.005 kJ/kg K for air and 1.15 kJ/kg K for the gas. Determine the following.
SOLUTION
T1 = 298 K
(1-1/1.4)
T2= 298(7.2) = 524 K
T4 = 1373 K
(1-1/1.333)
T5 = 1373(1/7.2) = 838.5 K
COMPRESSOR
i = 0.8 = (524-298)/(T2-298) hence T2= 580.5 K
TURBINES
Treat as one expansion with gas taking parallel paths.
i = 0.85 = (1373-T5)/(1373-838.5) hence T5 = 918.7 K
HEAT EXCHANGER
Thermal ratio = 0.8 = 1.005(T3-580.5)/1.15(918.7-580.5)
hence T3= 890.1 K
COMBUSTION CHAMBER
(in)= mcp(T4-T3) = 1480 kW
1480 = m(1.15)(1373-890.1) hence m = 2.665 kg/s
COMPRESSOR
P(in) = mcp (T2-T1) = 2.665(1.005)(580.5-298) = 756.64 kW
THERMODYNAMIC EFFICIENCY
1. List the relative advantages of open and closed cycle gas turbine engines.
Sketch the simple gas turbine cycle on a T-s diagram. Explain how the efficiency can be improved by
the inclusion of a heat exchanger.
In an open cycle gas turbine plant, air is compressed from 1 bar and 15 oC to 4 bar. The combustion
gases enter the turbine at 800oC and after expansion pass through a heat exchanger in which the
compressor delivery temperature is raised by 75% of the maximum possible rise. The exhaust gases
leave the exchanger at 1 bar. Neglecting transmission losses in the combustion chamber and heat
exchanger, and differences in compressor and turbine mass flow rates, find the following.
(i) The specific work output. (135 kW per unit mass flow rate)
(ii) The work ratio (0.44)
(iii) The cycle efficiency (37.1%)
The compressor and turbine polytropic efficiencies are both 0.84.
2. A gas turbine for aircraft propulsion is mounted on a test bed. Air at 1 bar and 293K enters the
compressor at low velocity and is compressed through a pressure ratio of 4 with an isentropic efficiency
of 85%. The air then passes to a combustion chamber where it is heated to 1175 K. The hot gas then
expands through a turbine which drives the compressor and has an isentropic efficiency of 87%. The
gas is then further expanded isentropically through a nozzle leaving at the speed of sound. The exit
area of the nozzle is 0.1 m2. Determine the following.
(i) The pressures at the turbine and nozzle outlets. (2.138 bar and 1.13 bar)
(ii) The mass flow rate. (27.23 kg/s)
(iii) The thrust on the engine mountings. (17 kN)
Assume the properties of air throughout.
The sonic velocity of air is given by a= (RT)½. The temperature ratio before and after the nozzle is
given by
T(in)/T(out) = 2/(+1)
(B). If a heat exchanger is incorporated in the plant, calculate the maximum possible efficiency which
could be achieved assuming no other conditions are changed. (44.8%)