SUMMARY: This experiment demonstrates a Rankine cycle by use of a model steam

power plant. The results gathered are current and voltage of the electrical energy
generated across a load. This allows the calculation of the efficiency by power. Pressure
and temperature are also recorded at strategic locations along the actual model so as to
allow the calculation of thermodynamic efficiency by using these values along with the
Mollier diagram supplied and steam tables.
DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS:
The Rankine Cycle Steam Turbine Power System consists of four main
components (figure 1). These are:
1. Boiler
2. Steam Turbine
3. Condenser
4. Feed Pump

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of the Rankine Cycler Steam Turbine Power System.

BOILER
The boiler converts saturated liquid into superheated steam at a very high
pressure. It is gas powered (LPG), made from stainless steel and insulated to minimize
heat loss to the surroundings.

STEAM TURBINE
The steam turbine is the device that converts the thermal energy from the
saturated vapour into mechanical energy. The steam turbine contains a fan which is
propelled by the high pressure steam entering. The rotation of the fan produces the
mechanical energy.

CONDENSER
The condenser or cooling tower is a stainless steel tower that converts the wet
vapour back into saturated liquid. The saturated liquid that is regenerated is then feed to
the pump.

FEED PUMP
The feed pump is used to pump the saturated liquid back into the boiler where the
cycle starts again.
Qin
Boiler

dry steam (h1)

Win

Wout
water (h3) Turbine Generator Electricity

wet steam (h2)

Qout Condenser

Fig. 1: Schematic Diagram of A Rankine Cycler

THEORY: The Steam Power Plant set up using the Rankine Cycler is essentially a
Rankine Cycle. A Rankine cycle has four typifying stages illustrated by Fig. 2 below.
- From point 1-2 the pressure of the fluid is increased.
- From point 2-3 the fluid is heated by to produce a dry saturated vapour.
- From point 3-4 expansion takes place by means of a turbine to generate power.
- From point 4-1 the fluid is condensed and the cycle starts over.

Fig. 2: T-S Diagram for a Rankine Cycle

The values recorded in this experiment are those that allow the calculation of efficiency
by power and thermodynamic efficiency. That is, volumetric rate of fuel, which is used to
calculate heat generated, current and voltage
RESULTS: Observations:
Pressure at Turbine inlet (psi g) 6.130 0.4236 bar a
Temperature at Turbine inlet (°C) 122.00 395 K
Pressure at Turbine outlet (psi g) 2.459 0.1697 bar a
Temperature at Turbine outlet (°C) 115.17 388.17 K
Volumetric Flow Rate of fuel [Vf] (litres/min) 5.486 9.16*10-5 m3 s-1
DC Generator Voltage (V) 7.234
DC Generator Current (A) 0.124
Ambient Laboratory Temperature (°C) 28.0 301 K
Boiler Pressure (psi g) 100.441 6.9283 bar a
Table 1: Recorded Results converted into units to be used in Calculations

Specimen Calculation
Boiler Pressure = 100.441psig
= 100.441 psig x 0.069 = 6.93 bar
Temperature at Turbine inlet = 122.00oC + 273
= 395K
Volume Flow Rate = 5.486 L/min x 0.0000167 m3/s
= 9.162 x 10-5 m3/s

Electrical power output

a) Overall Plant Efficiency = Fuel power

Electrical Power Output = generator V x I

= 7.234 V x 0.124 A
= 0.897 W
Fuel Power = mass flow rate x Calorific Value
= volume flow rate x density x CV
= 9.162 x 10-5 m3/s x 2.2 kg/ m3 x 50 x 106 J/kg
= 10078.2 W

0 .897
Overall Plant Efficiency, η = 10078.2 = 0.000089
Calculated Results
Overall Plant Efficiency 0.000089

DISCUSSION:
The steam turbine power plant uses water as the working fluid which is converted to
steam and used to drive a turbine and generate electricity. The input power to the power
plant is generated from the combustion of a fuel in this case LNG and the output power is
the rate of generation of energy. The experiment was based on a realistic power plant
rather than an idealistic power plant. The water pump to the boiler was neglected in this
experiment.
The overall plant efficiency of the steam turbine engine was calculated to be 8.90 x 10 -
5
. This value is very small since a very small electrical output was obtained 0.897 W
compared to the large power input 10078.2 W.
In a realistic Rankine cycle, the pump and turbine would not be isentropic, that is, it
would generate entropy during its process and minimize the net work output. Water
droplet formation due to condensation in the turbine would reduce the turbine efficiency
thus causing erosion and reduction of the turbine blades. This would increase the power
required by the pump and decrease the output power of the turbine thus reducing the
overall efficiency of the plant. Also, the vapour ending up in the superheat region after
expansion in the turbine is prevented which reduces the energy removed by the
condensers. The pressure at the turbine inlet is somewhat lower than that at the boiler
exit due to pressure drop in the connecting pipes. It was assumed that during the
experiment the rate of supply of water by the cooling tower was constant. Friction in the
pipe may have caused the flow rate of the water and steam to be different from the actual
values.

CONCLUSION:
It was concluded that the electrical power output and fuel power were found to be 0.897
W and 10078.2 W respectively. The overall plant efficiency was found to be 0.0089%
REFERENCES:
CyclePad Design Library, “Setting up a Rankine Cycle using CyclePad” CyclePad
Design Library, 02 Feb. 2008
 <http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/thermo/design-library/rankine/rankine.html>

eFunda: Saturated Steam Tables, “Saturated Steam Table” Specific Materials, 02 Feb.
2008
<http://www.efunda.com/materials/water/steamtable_sat.cfm>

Wikipedia, “Rankine cycle” Thermodynamic Cycles, 02 Feb. 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rankine_cycle

Moran & Shapiro 'Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics' (ISBN 0471274712)

Edventures, “Thermodynamic Efficiency” Term Browser, 02 Feb. 2008

<http://discover.edventures.com/functions/termlib.php?
action=&termid=368&alpha=t&searchString=>

Wikipedia, “Thermal efficiency” Thermodynamics, 02 Feb. 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamic_efficiency

www.physicsforums.com - Mechanical Engineering

www.turbinetechnologies.com/steam.html