define some units

Brayton Cycle Summary

3
kJ := 10 ⋅J

QH_dot
2 3 Gas Turbine represented by air standard
Brayton cycle
ma_dot air

compressor turbine
W_dotnet=
1 4 Wt_dot+Wc_dot

QL_dot

Brayton cycle consists of:

1-2 adiabatic compression
2-3 heat addition ~ constant pressure
3-4 adiabatic expansion in turbine
4-1 heat rejection ~ constant pressure

p-v and T - s plots for Brayton cycle shown below for reversible cycle. in

irreversible cycle, p 2 > p3 and p4 > p1 , s2 > s1 , s4 > s3

starting conditions p 1_plot := 1 T1_plot := 25 + 273.15 s1_plot := 1

after compression p 2_plot := 10

max temperature after heat addition T3_plot := 1000 + 273.15

calculations

11/14/2005 1
 p-v plot of Brayton cycle

adiabatic compression
10 {3}
{2} heat addition
adiabatic expansion in turbine
heat rejection
pressure

{1} {4}
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8

volume

T-s plot of Brayton cycle (reversible)

1400
adiabatic compression
heat addition {3}
1200 adiabatic expansion in turbine
heat rejection
1000
temperature

800

{4}
600 {2}

400
{1}

200
0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9

entropy

11/14/2005 2
 Ideal (reversible) basic Brayton cycle

compressor work (
wc = − h 2 − h 1 ) heat addition q H = h 3 − h 2

turbine work wt = h 3 − h 4
heat rejection (
qL = − h4 − h1 )

qH + qL qL wt + wc

η th = =1+ =

qH qH q H

(
h 4s := Cp ⋅ T4s − T1 + h 1 ) assuming perfect gas, constant specific heat.
(2) h only a function of temperature; (5.23) VW &S, Joule's

(
h 3 := Cp ⋅ T3 − T2s + h 2s) experiment shows u is f(T) only, pv = RT => h=f(T).

factor out T1 / T2s T4s

h 4s − h 1 −1
(1) η th := 1 − T4s − T1 T1 T1
h 3 − h 2s η th → 1 − η th := 1 − ⋅
T3 − T2s T2s T3
−1
T2s
γ−1
γ this is reversible adiabatic
isentropic compression (and expansion) ... T2s  p 2s  process with ideal gas and
=
T1 constant specific heat
 p1 
γ−1 γ−1
γ γ
p 2s p3 T2s  p 2s   p3  T3 T4s T3
since = = = = => =

p1 p 4s T1
 p1   p 4s  T4s T1 T2s

γ−1

γ
T1 p1  1 1
η th = 1 − =1− =1− =1− r = pressure_ratio
T2s γ−1 γ−1
 p2s 
γ γ
 p 2s  r

 p1 
example; for 50 % efficiency, and some typical gas constants ...
1 1 −γ
η th = 1 − = 1 − η th
 1.29  CO2 γ −1 γ −1
γ :=  1.4 γ γ ( ) γ −1
r = 1 − η th
 air r r
 1.67 
monotonic gasses, He, Ar, Ne, He

η th := 0.5 i := 0 .. 2 − γi
 21.83  so for air as the working fluid,
γ i−1
( ) r =  11.31
a pressure ratio of 11.3 will
r := 1 − η th
i  provide 0.5 isentropic
 5.63  efficiency

11/14/2005 3
 1
effect of pressure ratio on isentropic efficiency η th( r, γ ) := 1 −  1.29 
γ =  1.4
γ −1 r := 0 .. 25
γ 
r  1.67 

efficiency vs pressure ratio

0.8

0.6
efficiency

0.5
0.4

CO2 - gamma = 1.29

0.2
air - gamma = 1.4
monotonic - gamma = 1.67
0
0 5 10 15 20 25

pressure ratio

11/14/2005 4
 regeneration ... T-s plot of Brayton cycle (reversible)
1400
QH_dot
2 3
1200
ma_dot air

1000

temperature
compressor turbine
W_dotnet=
1 Wt_dot+Wc_dot 800
QL_dot 4
regenerator
600

400

wnet wt + wc

η th = =
qH q H

200

1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8

(
q H = c p ⋅ T3 − Tx ) entropy
adiabatic compression
(
wt = cp ⋅ T3 − T4 ) heat addition

adiabatic expansion in turbine

Tx = temperature into regenerator heat rejection

out of regenerator = T2
T2
max when Tx = T4 then wt = q H T4

 γ−1 
 γ 
 T2   p2  
T1 ⋅  −1 T1 ⋅  − 1

wc c p ⋅ ( T2 − T1 )
η th = 1 + =1− =1−
 T1  =  p1  

wt c p ⋅ ( T3 − T4 )  T4   γ− 1 as ... p1/p2 = p4/p3

T3 ⋅  1 −  γ 
T3   p1  
 
T3 ⋅ 1 −  
  p2  

b b γ−1
a −1 a −1 b
= =a γ
form is ... 1 b  p2 
T1
1− a −1
η th = 1 − ⋅ Q.E.D.
b b T3 p 1
a a  
for example, plot ηth vs pr for γ = 1.4 (air) with regeneration and T1/T3 = 0.25 figure 9.27

γ−1

η th_reg( r, γ , T1_over_T3) := 1 − T1_over_T3⋅ r

γ
γ := 1.4 r := 1 .. 14 T1_over_T3 := 0.25

11/14/2005 5
 r := 2
solve for pressure ratio
efficiency vs pressure ratio
at intersection
1 Given
η th_reg( r, γ , T1_over_T3) = η th( r, γ )
efficiency

r_intersect := Find( r) r_intersect = 11.314

0.5
say ... T1 := 300 T3 := 1200
at this pressure ratio
0
0 5 10 15 γ−1
γ
pressure ratio T2_intersect := T1 ⋅r_intersect
air - gamma = 1.4

air - gamma = 1.4 with regen. T3/T1=4 T2_intersect = 600

γ−1
γ
T4_intersect := T3 ⋅  
1
 r_intersect  T4_intersect = 600

at the r_intersect the temperature out of the turbine matches the temperature out of the compressor,
hence regeneration is infeasible
air-standard cycles ...
these are our
1. air as ideal gas is working fluid throughout cycle -no inlet or exhaust process
assumptions for this
2. combustion process replaced by heat transfer process
analysis
3. cycle is completed by heat transfer to surroundings
4. all processes internally reversible
5. usually constant specific heat (page 311)
reset variables

Intercooled Brayton cycle

QH_dot
figure later
T3 = low temperature from first 4
intercooler, T4 second 5
compressor. additional stages
replicated at T3 and T4 which = ma_dot air
QL_dot
T1 and T2 respectively. T5 is
turbine inlet
3
compressor compressor turbine
2
W_dotnet=
1 Wt_dot+Wc_dot
6

QL_dot

example plot of intercooled Brayton cycle

parameters for plot. to retain states 2, 3 & 4 as previously defined two points 1a and 1b are inserted rather than
renumbering. for intercooling, T 1 => T1a => T1b =>T2

11/14/2005 6
 p1 => p1a => p1b =>p2
s 1 => s1a => s1b =>s2
starting conditions p 1_plot := 1 T1_plot := 25 + 273.15 s1_plot := 1

p 1a_plot := 10
after first stage compression
intercooler final temperature T1b_plot := T1_plot

after second stage compression p 2_plot := 10

max temperature after heat addition T3_plot := 1000 + 273.15

calculations

p-v Brayton cycle (rev.) 1 stg interclg

10 adiabatic compression 1st stage

intercooling
adiabatic compression 2nd stage
heat addition
adiabatic expansion in turbine
pressure

heat rejection
5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8

volume

T-s Brayton cycle (rev.) 1 stg interclg

1400
adiabatic compression
intercooling heat rejection
1200
adiabatic compression second stage
heat addition
1000 adiabatic expansion in turbine
temperature

heat rejection
800

600

400

200
0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8

entropy

11/14/2005 7
 γ := 1.667 for these calculations T1 := 300 T5 := 1200 maximum

QL assume ... T4 := T2

η th_ic = 1 + 2
QH
as ...
observe .. T3 := T1

taking advantage of constant c po

for all intercooled stages pr := 1 .. 5

(
T6 − T1 + N⋅ T2 − T1 ) N := 1

η th_ic = 1 −
T5 − T2

power 1

γ−1
T6 ( pr) := T5 ⋅  
1
power := N+ 1
γ  pr  rc(pr , N)
:= pr

power
T2 (pr , N) := rc(pr , N) ⋅ T1 (
T6 ( pr) − T1 + N⋅ T2 (pr , N) −
T1 )

η th_ic( pr , N) := 1 −

T5 − T2 (pr
)

N= 1 stages of intercooling γ = 1.667 1 and 4 stages of intercooling γ = 1.667

intercooled and basic Brayton cycle

efficiency with intercooling
0.6
0.6
thermal efficiency (ideal)

0.4
efficiency

0.4

0.2 1 stage intercooling

0.2 basic Brayton cycle
4 stages intercooling
0
1 2 3 4 5
0
1 2 3 4 5
pressure ratio (overall)
pressure ratio

as we observed in class both T H and TL are lowered by intercooling. Intercooling (by itself) slightly reduces
ideal efficiency. Increased number of stages doesn't reduce efficiency significantly further.

reset variables

11/14/2005 8
 Intercooled Regenerative Brayton cycle
QH_dot

5 6
T3 = low temperature from first

intercooler, T4 second
ma_dot air
QL_dot
compressor. additional stages

replicated at T3 and T4 which =

compressor
3
compressor turbine
4
T1 and T2 respectively. T5 is
2
W_dotnet=
1
turbine inlet Wt_dot+Wc_dot
8 7
QL_dot
regenerator

γ := 1.667 for these calculations T1 := 300 T5 := 1200 maximum

QL
η th_ic = 1 + as ... assume ... T4 := T2 observe .. T3 := T1
QH
start with 1+ as
taking advantage of constant c po pr := 1.01 .. 5.01 η = 1
for all intercooled stages
mathematically
intercooled only from above
T6 − T1 + N⋅ T2 − T1 ( )
η th_ic = 1 −
T5 − T2
with (
QH = T5 − T6 ) and ...initial T2 − T1
regeneration stage of qL is ...

so thermal efficiency becomes η th_ic_reg = 1 −

T2 − T1 + N⋅ T2 − T1 ( ) = 1 −

(
(N + 1)⋅ T2 − T1 )
T5 − T6 T5 − T6

1
power
γ−1
T6 ( pr) := T5 ⋅  
1 N+ 1
power := N := 2 rc(pr , N)
:= pr
γ
 
pr
power
T2 (pr , N) := rc( pr , N) ⋅ T1
η th_ic_reg( pr , N) := 1 −

(
( N + 1)⋅ T2 ( pr , ) −
T1 )
T5 − T6 ( pr)

ideal efficiency Brayton cycles

0.8
thermal efficiency (ideal)

0.6
regeration was derived
above leaving T1/T3 now
renumbered to T1/T5
0.4
explicit. so variable T1/T5
inserted in arguments
intercooled with regeneration
0.2 regeration only
basic Brauton cycle
intercooling only
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5

pressure ratio

11/14/2005 9
 reset variables

intercooling, reheating and regenerative

QH_dot QH_dot

5 6
reheater

ma_dot air
QL_dot 7 W_dotnet=
8 Wt_dot+Wc_dot
3
compressor compressor turbine turbine
2 4
1

9
QL_dot 10
regenerator

example plot of intercooled Brayton cycle with reheat (and regeneration)

parameters for plot. to retain states 2, 3 & 4 as previously defined two points 1a and 1b are inserted rather than
renumbering. for intercooling, T 1 => T1a => T1b =>T2
p1 => p1a => p1b =>p2
s 1 => s1a => s1b =>s2
for reheat return to T 3; T3 => T3a => T3b =>T4
p3 => p3a => p3b =>p4
s 3 => s3a => s3b =>s4

starting conditions p 1_plot := 1 T1_plot := 25 + 273.15 s1_plot := 1

p 1a_plot := 10
after first stage compression

intercooler final temperature T1b_plot := T1_plot

after second stage compression p 2_plot := 10

max temperature after heat addition T3_plot := 1000 + 273.15

after first turbine expansion p 3a_plot := 10

max temperature after reheat addition T3b_plot := 1000 + 273.15

calculations

11/14/2005 10
 p-v Brayton cycle (rev.) interclg & rht

adiabatic compression 1st stage

10
intercooling
adiabatic compression 2nd stage
heat addition
8
adiabatic expansion in 1st turbine
reheat
adiabatic expansion in 2nd turbine
pressure

6
heat rejection

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

volume

T-s Brayton cycle (rev.) interclg & rht

1400
adiabatic compression 1st stage
intercooling heat rejection
1200 adiabatic compression 2nd stage
heat addition
adiabatic expansion in 1st turbine
1000 reheat
temperature

adiabatic expansion in 2nd turbine

heat rejection
800

600

400

200
0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2

entropy

11/14/2005 11
 QL figure later
γ := 1.667 for these calculations
η th_ic_reh_reg = 1 + T5 inlet to turbine, stages of
QH T1 := 300 T5 := 1200 maximum turbine are at T5 - T6 for all,
for ease of calculations
assume ... T4 := T2
number of reheat and
as ...
taking advantage of constant c po intercooling are the same so
observe .. T3 := T1 pressure ratios are identical
for all intercooled stages
and upper and lower temperature for reheat are at T5 and T6

η th_ic_reh_reg = 1 −
(
(N + 1)⋅ T2 − T1 ) N := 2
(N + 1)⋅ ( T5 − T6 ) pr := 1.01 .. 5.01

1
power
T6 (pr , N) := T5 ⋅  
γ−1 N+ 1 power 1
power := rc(pr , N) := pr T2 (pr , N) := rc(pr , N ) ⋅ T1
γ rc(pr , )
 

η th_ic_reh_reg( pr , N) := 1 −

(
(N + 1)⋅ T2 (pr , N) − T1 )
(N + 1 )⋅ ( T5 − T6 (pr , N) )

Brayton cycle efficiency

0.8
thermal efficiency (ideal)

0.6

0.4

intercld - reheat - regen

intercld - regen
0.2
regen
basic Brayton cycle
intercld
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5

pressure ratio overall

11/14/2005 12
 example plot of multiple intercooled Brayton cycle with multiple reheat (and regeneration

parameters for plot. to retain states 2, 3 & 4 as previously defined two points 1a and 1b are inserted rather than
renumbering. for intercooling, T 1 => T1a => T1b =>T2
p1 => p1a => p1b =>p2
s 1 => s1a => s1b =>s2
for reheat return to T 3; T3 => T3a => T3b =>T4
p3 => p3a => p3b =>p4
s 3 => s3a => s3b =>s4

starting conditions p 1_plot := 1 T1_plot := 25 + 273.15 s1_plot := 1

pressure ratio pr_plot := 20

n_comp := 4
number of compression stages ...

intercooler final temperature T1_plot

max temperature after heat addition T3_plot := 1000 + 273.15

number of expansion stages ...

n_exp := 4

max temperature after reheat addition T3_plot

calculations

11/14/2005 13
 p-v Brayton cycle (rev.) interclg & rht

20 adiabatic compression 1st stage

intercooling and compression stages
heat addition first stage
adiabatic expansion and reheat
15 adiabatic expansion in last turbine
heat rejection
pressure

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

volume

T-s Brayton cycle (rev.) interclg & rht

adiabatic compression 1st stage

1200 intercooling and compression stages
heat addition first stage
adiabatic expansion and reheat
1000 adiabatic expansion in last turbine
heat rejection
temperature

800

600

400

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2

entropy

11/14/2005 14
 as number of reheat and intercooled stages increases, ideal efficiency should approach Carnot

T1
η th_carnot := 1 − N := 1 .. 20 pr := 5
this calculation fixes pressure ratio overall = 5 and
T5
looks at variation with number of stages of
intercooling and reheat (same)

Intercooled, Reheat, Regen Brayton cycle

0.85
thermal efficiency (ideal)

0.8

0.75 η th_carnot

0.7

0.65
0 5 10 15 20

number of intercool and reheat stages

11/14/2005 15