QUESTIONS
1. EXPLAIN RANKIN CYCLE WITH ITS EFFICIENCY
IN GENERAL, THE RANKINE CYCLE IS AN IDEALIZED THERMODYNAMIC CYCLE OF
A CONSTANT PRESSURE HEAT ENGINE THAT CONVERTS PART OF HEAT INTO
MECHANICAL WORK. IN THIS CYCLE THE HEAT IS SUPPLIED EXTERNALLY TO A
CLOSED LOOP, WHICH USUALLY USES WATER IN A LIQUID AND VAPOR PHASE.
SEVERAL SUBSTANCES COULD BE USED AS THE WORKING FLUID IN THE RANKINE
CYCLE, WATER IS USUALLY THE FLUID OF CHOICE DUE TO ITS FAVORABLE PRO PERTIES,
SUCH AS ITS NON-TOXIC AND UNREACTIVE CHEMISTRY, ABUNDANCE, AND LOW COST,
AS WELL AS ITS THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES. FOR EXAMPLE, WATER HAS THE
HIGHEST SPECIFIC HEAT OF ANY COMMON SUBSTANCE – 4.19 KJ/KG K. IT HAS VERY HIGH
HEAT OF VAPORIZATION, WHICH MAKES IT AN EFFECTIVE COOLANT AND MEDIUM IN
THERMAL POWER PLANTS AND OTHER ENERGY INDUSTRY. IN CASE OF THE RANKINE
CYCLE, THE IDEAL GAS LAW ALMOST CANNOT BE USED, THEREFORE ALL IMPORTANT
PARAMETERS OF WATER AND STEAM ARE TABULATED IN A “ STEAM TABLES“.
ONE OF THE MAJOR ADVANTAGES
OF THE RANKINE CYCLE IS THAT TEMPERATURE
THE COMPRESSION PROCESS IN THE PUMP
TAKES PLACE ON A LIQUID. BY
CONDENSING THE WORKING STEAM TO A
LIQUID. THE PRESSURE AT THE TURBINE
OUTLET IS LOWERED AND THE ENERGY
REQUIRED BY THE FEED PUMP CONSUMES
ONLY 1% TO 3% OF THE TURBINE OUTPUT
POWER AND THESE FACTORS CONTRIBUTE
TO A HIGHER EFFICIENCY FOR THE CYCLE.
IN AN IDEAL RANKINE CYCLE, THE SYSTEM
EXECUTING THE CYCLE UNDERGOES A SERIES
OF FOUR PROCESSES: TWO ISENTROPIC
SPECIFIC ENTROPY
PROCESSES ALTERNATED WITH TWO ISOBARIC
PROCESSES: RANKINE CYCLE – TS DIAGRAM
▪ ISENTROPIC COMPRESSION – THE COMPRESSION IN CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS, WHEREIN
THE LIQUID CONDENSATE IS COMPRESSED ADIABATICALLY FROM STATE 1 TO STATE 2
BY CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS. THE LIQUID CONDENSATEI S PUMPED FROM THE
CONDENSER INTO THE HI GHER-PRESSURE BOILER. IN THIS PROCESS, THE
SURROUNDINGS DO WORK ON THE FLUID, INCREASING ITS ENTHALPY (H = U+PV) AND
INCREASING ITS PRESSURE, WHILE THE ENTROPY REMAINS UNCHANGED. THE WORK
REQUIRED FOR THE COMPRESSOR IS GIVEN BY WPUMPS = H2 – H1.
▪ ISOBARIC HEAT ADDITION – WHICH IS IN A HEAT EXCHANGER – BOILER WHEREIN
THIS PHASE INBETWEEN STATE 2 AND 3 THERE IS A CONSTANT -PRESSURE HEAT
TRANSFER TO THE LIQUID CONDENSATE FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE, SINCE THE
CHAMBER IS OPEN TO FLOW IN AND OUT. THE FEEDWATER IS HEATED FROM TO
THE BOILING POINT OF THAT FLUID AND THEN EVAPORATED IN THE BOILER. THE
NET HEAT ADDED IS GIVEN BY QADD = H3 – H2
▪ ISENTROPIC EXPANSION – THE EXPANSION IN A STEAM TURBINE WHEREIN THE
STEAM FROM THE BOILER EXPANDS ADIABATICALLY FROM STATE 3 TO STATE 4
IN A STEAM TURBINE TO PRODUCE WORK AND THEN IS DISCHARGED TO THE
CONDENSER WHILE PARTIALLY CONDENSED. THE STEAM DOES WORK ON THE
BLADES OF THE TURBINE AND LOSES AN AMOUNT OF ENTHALPY EQUAL TO THE
WORK THAT LEAVES THE SYSTEM, WHILE THE ENTROPY REMAINS UN CHANGED.
THE WORK DONE BY TURBINE IS GIVEN BY WT = H4 – H3.
▪ ISOBARIC HEAT REJECTION– WHICH IS IN A HEAT EXCHANGER WHEREIN THIS
PHASE THE CYCLE COMPLETES BY A CONSTANT-PRESSURE PROCESS IN WHICH
HEAT IS REJECTED FROM THE PARTIALLY CONDENSED STEAM. THERE IS H EAT
TRANSFER FROM THE VAPOR TO COOLING WATER FLOWING IN A COOLING
CIRCUIT. THE VAPOR CONDENSES AND THE TEMPERATURE OF THE COOLING
WATER INCREASES. THE NET HEAT REJECTED IS GIVEN BY QRE = H4 – H1
DURING A RANKINE CYCLE, WORK IS DONE ON THE FLUID BY THE PUMPS
BETWEEN STATES 1 AND 2 OR ISENTROPIC COMPRESSION. WORK IS DONE BY THE
FLUID IN THE TURBINE BETWEEN STAGES 3 AND 4 OR ISENTROPIC EXPANSION. THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORK DONE BY THE FLUID AND THE WORK DONE ON THE
FLUID IS THE NET WORK PRODUCED BY THE CYCLE AND IT CORRESPONDS TO THE
AREA ENCLOSED BY THE CYCLE CURVE IN THE PV DIAGRAM. THE WORKING FLUID IN A
RANKINE CYCLE FOLLOWS A CLOSED LOOP AND IS REUSED CONSTANTLY.
THE FIRST LAW IN TERMS OF ENTHALPY IN ANALYSIS OF THIS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLE. THIS FORM OF THE LAW SIMPLIFIES THE DESCRIPTION OF
ENERGY TRANSFER. AT CONSTANT PRESSURE, THE ENTHALPY CHANGE EQUALS
THE ENERGY TRANSFERRED FROM THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH HEATING:
ISOBARIC PROCESS (VDP = 0): DH = DQ → Q = H2 – H1
AT CONSTANT ENTROPY, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE IN ISENTROPIC PROCESS, THE ENTHALPY
CHANGE EQUALS THE FLOW PROCESS WORK DONE ON OR BY THE SYSTEM:
ISENTROPIC PROCESS (DQ = 0): DH = VDP → W = H2 – H1
THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF RANKINE CYCLE
IN GENERAL THE THERMAL EFFICIENCY, ΗTH, OF ANY HEAT ENGINE IS DEFINED AS THE
RATIO OF THE WORK IT DOES, W, TO THE HEAT INPUT AT THE HIGH TEMPERATURE, Q H.
W
QH
THE THERMAL EFFICIENCY, ηt h , REPRESENTS THE FRACTION OF HEAT, QH , THAT IS CONVERTED
TO WORK. SINCE ENERGY IS CONSERVED ACCORDING TO THE FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
AND ENERGY CANNOT BE CONVERTED TO WORK COMPLETELY, THE HEAT INPUT, Q H, MUST
EQUAL THE WORK DONE, W, PLUS THE HEAT THAT MUST BE DISSIPATED
AS WASTE HEAT QC INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. THEREFORE, WE CAN REWRITE THE
FORMULA FOR THERMAL EFFICIENCY AS:
W QH- QC QC
1
QH QH QH
TEMPERATURE
SPECIFIC ENTROPY
RANKINE CYCLE – TS DIAGRAM
2. EXPLAIN DIFFERENT CIRCUITS OF MODERN STEAM POWER PLANT.
A. COAL AND ASH CIRCUIT
COAL DELIVERY COAL UNLOADING COAL PRECIPITATION COAL TRASNFER
COAL STORAGE
IN PLANT HANDLING
ASH STORAGE ASH HADNLING BOILER FURNACE
THE COAL IS TRANSPORTED TO THE STEAM POWER STATION BY ROAD OR RAI L AND IS
STORED IN THE COAL STORAGE PLANT.STORAGE OF COAL IS PRIMARILY A MATTER OF PROTECTION
AGAINST COAL STRIKES, FAILURE OF THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND GENERAL
COAL SHORTAGES.FROM THE COAL STORAGE PLANT, COAL IS DELIVERED TO THE COAL
HANDLING PLANT WHERE IT IS PULVERISED IN ORDER TO INCREASE ITS SURFACE EXPOSURE,
THUS PROMOTING RAPID COMBUSTION WITHOUT USING LARGE QUANTITY OF EXCESS AIR.
THE PULVERISED COAL IS FED TO THE BOILER BY BELT CONVEYORS.THE
COAL IS BURNT IN THE BOILER AND THE ASH PRODUCED AFTER THE COMPLETE
COMBUSTION OF COAL IS REMOVED TO THE ASH HANDLING PLANT AND THEN
DELIVERED TO THE ASH STORAGE PLANT FOR DISPOSAL.THE REMOVAL OF THE ASH
FROM THE BOILER FURNACE IS NECESSARY FOR PROPER BURNING OF COAL.
B. AIR AND FLUE GAS CIRCUIT
AIR IS TAKEN FROM THE ATMOSPHERE BY THE ACTION OF FD FAN. IT IS THEN
PASSED THROUGH AN AIR PRE-HEATER. AN AIR PRE-HEATER INCREASES THE
TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR SUPPLIED FOR COAL BURNING BY DERIVING HEAT FROM
FLUE GASES. AIR IS DRAWN FROM THE ATMOSPHERE BY A FORCED DRAUGHT FAN AND
IS PASSED THROUGH AIR PRE -HEATER BEFORE SUPPLYING TO THE BOILER FURNACE.
THE AIR PRE-HEATER EXTRACTS HEAT FROM FLUE GASES AND INCREASES THE
TEMPERATURE OF AIR USED FOR COAL COMBUSTION, BUT DUE TO THE COMBUSTION OF
FUEL THE FLUE GASES ARE FORMED. THE FLUE GASES FROM THE FURNACE PASS OVER
THE BOILER TUBES AND SUPER HEATER TUBES. THEN THE FLUE GASES PASS THROUGH
ECONOMISER TO HEAT THE FEED WATER. AFTER THAT IT PASSES THROUGH A DUST
COLLECTOR. IT IS THEN EXHAUSTED TO ATMOSPHERE THROUGH A CHIMNEY
C. FEED WATER AND STEAM FLOW CIRCUIT
SUPER HEATER
CONDENSER
ECONOMIZER
CONDENSATE PUMP
FEED PUMP HOT WELL
THE STEAM GENERATING PLANT CONSISTS OF A BOILER FOR THE PRODUCTION
OF STEAM AND OTHER AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE UTILIZATION OF FLUE GASES.
FEED WATER: THE CONDENSATE FROM THE CONDENSER IS USED AS FEED WA TER TO THE BOILER.
THE FEED WATER ON ITS WAY TO THE BOILER IS HEATED BY WATER HEATERS AND ECONOMIZER.
THIS HELPS IN RAISING THE OVERALL EFFICIENCY OF THE PLANT.
A) BOILER: THE HEAT OF COMBUSTION OF COAL IN THE BOILER IS UTILIZED TO CONVERT
WATER INTO STEAM AT HIGH TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE. THE FLUE GASES FROM THE
BOILER MAKE THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH SUPER HEATER ECONOMIZER, AIR PRE-HEATER
AND ARE FINALLY EXHAUSTED TO ATMOSPHERE THROUGH THE CHIMNEY.
B) SUPER HEATER: THE STEAM PRODUCED IN THE BOILER IS WET AND IS
PASSED THROUGH A SUPER HEATER WHERE IT IS DRIED AND SUPERHEATED
BY THE FLUE GASES ON THEIR WAY TO THE CHIMNEY. SUPER HEATING
PROVIDES TWO PRINCIPAL BENEFITS. FIRSTLY, THE OVERALL EFFICIENCY IS
INCREASED. SECONDLY, TOO MUCH CONDENSATION IN THE LAST STAGES OF
THE TURBINE IS AVOIDED. THE SUPERHEATED STEAM FROM THE SUPER
HEATER IS FED TO THE STEAM TURBINE THROUGH THE MAIN VALVE.
C) ECONOMIZER: AN ECONOMIZER IS ESSENTIALLY A FEED WATER HEATER AND
DERIVES HEAT FROM THE FLUE GASES FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE FEED WATER IS FED TO
THE ECONOMIZER BEFORE SUPPLYING TO THE BOILER. THE ECONOMIZER EXTRACTS A
PART OF THE HEAT OF FLUE GASES TO INCREASE THE FEED WATER TEMPERATURE.
D. STEAM TURBINE AND ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT
THE DRY AND SUPERHEATED STEAM FROM THE SUPER HEATER IS FED TO THE STEAM
TURBINE THROUGH THE MAIN VALVE. THE HEAT ENERGY OF STEAM WHEN PASSING OVER THE
BLADES OF THE TURBINE IS CONVERTED INTO MECHANICAL ENERGY. AFTER GIVING HEAT
ENERGY TO THE TURBINE, THE STEAM IS EXHAUSTED TO THE CONDENSER WHICH CONDENSES
THE EXHAUSTED STEAM BY MEANS OF COLD-WATER CIRCULATION. WHILE THE STEAM TURBINE
IS COUPLED TO AN ALTERNATOR. THE ALTERNATOR CONVERTS MECHANICAL ENERGY OF
TURBINE INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY. THE ELECTRICAL OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATOR IS
DELIVERED TO THE BUS BARS THROUGH TRANSFORMER, CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND ISOLATORS.
F. COOLING WATER FLOW CIRCUIT.
IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE STEAM POWER PLANT, THE
STEAM EXHAUSTED FROM THE TURBINE IS CONDENSED BY MEANS OF A
CONDENSER. WATER IS DRAWN FROM A NATURAL SOURCE OF SUPPLY SUCH AS A
RIVER, CANAL OR LAKE AND IS CIRCULATED THROUGH THE CONDENSER.
THIS HOT WATER COMING OUT FROM THE CONDENSER IS DISCHARGED AT A
SUITABLE LOCATION DOWN THE RIVER.IN CASE THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER FROM THE
SOURCE OF SUPPLY IS NOT ASSURED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, COOLING TOWERS ARE
USED.DURING THE SCARCITY OF WATER IN THE RIVER, HOT WATER FROM THE
CONDENSER IS PASSED ON TO THE COOLING TOWERS WHERE IT IS COOLED.THE COLD
WATER FROM THE COOLING TOWER IS REUSED IN THE CONDENSER.
3. DRAW LAYOUT OF MODERN THERMAL POWER PLANT.
CHIMNEY
BUS-BAR R
INDUCED
Y
DRAUGHT FAN B
ISOLATORS
HOT AIR AIR PRE-
CB
HEART
ISOLATORS
FORCED
FLUE GASES DRAUGHT FAN
ECONOMIZER
TRANSFORMER
FLUE GASES TURBINE
EXCITER
COAL COAL HANDLING
SUPER HEATER
STORAGE PLANT BOILER
VALVE ALTERNATOR
ASH ASH HANDLING
FLUE GASES
STORAGE PLANT EXHAUST
FEED-WATER STEAM
HEATER CONDENSATE
FEED-WATER EXTRACTION
PUMP PUMP
CONDENSER
CIRCULATING
WATER PUMP
WATER COOLING TOWER
TREATMENT
CHAMBER
RIVER
4. EXPLAIN VARIOUS SITE SELECTION CRITERIA REQUIRED TO CONSIDER
FOR STEAM POWER PLANT.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE CRITERIA REQUIRED TO CONSIDER IN ORDER TO CONSTANTLY PROVIDE
AND BE ABLE TO MEET THE SPECIFIC DEMANAD IT IS TASKED TO DO. THE FOLLOWING POINTS
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHILE SITE SELECTION OF STEAM POWER STATION:
A) SUPPLY OF FUEL: THE STEAM POWER PLANT SHOULD BE LOCATED NEAR THE COAL
MINES SO THAT TRANSPORTATION COST OF FUEL IS MINIMUM.HOWEVER, IF SUCH A PLANT
IS TO BE INSTALLED AT A PLACE WHERE COAL IS NOT AVAILABLE, THEN CARE SHOULD BE
TAKEN THAT ADEQUATE FACILITIES EXIST FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF COAL.
B) AVAILABILITY OF WATER: AS HUGE AMOUNT OF WATER IS REQUIRED FOR THE
CONDENSER; THEREFORE, SUCH A PLANT SHOULD BE LOCATED ON THE BANK OF A
RIVER OR NEAR A CANAL TO ENSURE THE CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF WATER.
C) TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES: A MODERN STEAM POWER PLANT OFTEN
REQUIRES THE TRANSPORTATION OF MATERIAL AND MACHINERY.THEREFORE,
ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES MUST EXIST I.E., THE PLANT SHOULD BE
WELL CONNECTED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY BY RAIL, ROAD. ETC.
D) COST AND TYPE OF LAND: THE STEAM POWER STATION SHOULD BE LOCATED
AT A PLACE WHERE LAND IS CHEAP AND FURTHER EXTENSION, IF NECESSARY, IS
POSSIBLE. MOREOVER, THE BEARING CAPACITY OF THE GROUND SHOULD BE
ADEQUATE SO THAT HEAVY EQUIPMENT COULD BE INSTALLED.
E) NEARNESS TO LOAD CENTRES: IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION COST, THE
PLANT SHOULD BE LOCATED NEAR THE CENTRE OF THE LOAD.THIS IS PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT IF DC SUPPLY SYSTEM IS ADOPTED.HOWEVER, IF AC THE SUPPLY SYSTEM IS
ADOPTED, THIS FACTOR BECOMES RELATIVELY LESS IMPORTANT.IT IS BECAUSE AC POWER
CAN BE TRANSMITTED AT HIGH VOLTAGES WITH CONSEQUENTLY REDUCED TRANSMISSION
COST. THEREFORE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO INSTALL THE PLANT AWAY FROM THE LOAD CENTRES,
PROVIDED OTHER CONDITIONS ARE FAVOURABLE.
F) DISTANCE FROM POPULATED AREA: AS HUGE AMOUNT OF COAL IS BURNT IN A
STEAM POWER STATION, THEREFORE, SMOKE AND FUMES POLLUTE THE
SURROUNDING AREA. THIS NECESSITATES THAT THE PLANT SHOULD BE LOCATED
AT A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE FROM THE POPULATED AREAS.
