South Valley University

Faculty Of Engineering
Power Mechanical Engineering Department
4th Academic Year
Power Plants Technology (MPEP412)

Sheet (3) Regenerative Rankine Cycle

1. During a regeneration process, some steam is extracted from the turbine and is used to heat
the liquid water leaving the pump. This does not seem like a smart thing to do since the
extracted steam could produce some more work in the turbine. How do you justify this
action?

2. Consider a simple ideal Rankine cycle and an ideal regenerative Rankine cycle with one open
feedwater heater. The two cycles are very much alike, except the feedwater in the
regenerative cycle is heated by extracting some steam just before it enters the turbine. How
would you compare the efficiencies of these two cycles?

3. How do open feedwater heaters differ from closed feedwater heaters?

4. How do the following quantities change when the simple ideal Rankine cycle is modified
with regeneration? Assume the mass flow rate through the boiler is the same.

Turbine work output: (a) increases, (b) decreases, (c) remains the same
Heat supplied: (a) increases, (b) decreases, (c) remains the same
Heat rejected: (a) increases, (b) decreases, (c) remains the same
Moisture content at
(a) increases, (b) decreases, (c) remains the same
turbine exit:

B. Discussion Problems

1. An ideal reheat Rankine cycle with water as the working fluid operates the inlet of the high-
pressure turbine at 8000 kPa and 450°C; the inlet of the low-pressure turbine at 500 kPa and
500°C; and the condenser at 10 kPa. Which component of the cycle offers the greatest
opportunity to regain lost power potential? The sink is at 10°C and the source is at 600°C.

2. A steam power plant operates on an ideal regenerative Rankine cycle. Steam enters the turbine
at 6 MPa and 450°C and is condensed in the condenser at 20 kPa. Steam is extracted from the
turbine at 0.4 MPa to heat the feedwater in an open feedwater heater. Water leaves the feedwater
heater as a saturated liquid. Determine the exergy destruction associated with the cycle. Assume
a source temperature of 1350 K and a sink temperature of 290 K.

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 South Valley University
Faculty Of Engineering
Power Mechanical Engineering Department
4th Academic Year
Power Plants Technology (MPEP412)

3. Consider a steam power plant that operates on a reheat Rankine cycle. Steam enters the high-
pressure turbine at 10 MPa and 500°C and the low-pressure turbine at 1 MPa and 500°C. Steam
leaves the condenser as a saturated liquid at a pressure of 10 kPa. The isentropic efficiency of
the turbine is 80 percent, and that of the pump is 95 percent. Determine the exergy destruction
associated with the heat addition process and the expansion process. Assume a source
temperature of 1600 K and a sink temperature of 285 K. Also, determine the exergy of the steam
at the boiler exit. Take P0 = 100 kPa.

4. A steam power plant operates on an ideal regenerative Rankine cycle. Steam enters the turbine
at 6 MPa and 450°C and is condensed in the condenser at 20 kPa. Steam is extracted from the
turbine at 0.4 MPa to heat the feedwater in an open feedwater heater. Water leaves the feedwater
heater as a saturated liquid. Show the cycle on a T-s diagram and determine (a) the network
output per kilogram of steam flowing through the boiler and (b) the thermal efficiency of the
cycle.

5. A steam power plant operates on an ideal regenerative Rankine cycle with two open feedwater
heaters. Steam enters the turbine at 8 MPa and 550°C and exhausts to the condenser at 15 kPa.
Steam is extracted from the turbine at 0.6 and 0.2 MPa. Water leaves both feedwater heaters as
a saturated liquid. The mass flow rate of steam through the boiler is 24 kg/s. Show the cycle on
a T-s diagram and determine (a) the net power output of the power plant and (b) the thermal
efficiency of the cycle.

6. A power plant operates on a regenerative vapor power cycle with one open feedwater heater.
Steam enters the first turbine stage at 12 MPa, 560°C and expands to 1 MPa, where some of the
steam is extracted and diverted to the open feedwater heater operating at 1 MPa. The remaining
steam expands through the second turbine stage to the condenser pressure of 6 kPa. Saturated
liquid exits the open feedwater heater at 1 MPa. The net power output for the cycle is 330 MW.
For isentropic processes in the turbines and pumps, determine (a) the cycle thermal efficiency.
(b) the mass flow rate into the first turbine stage, in kg/s. (c) the rate of entropy production in the
open feedwater heater, in kW/K.

7. A steam power plant has expansion occurring stages in three stages with steam entering first
stage at 30 bar, 400°C and leaving first stage at 6 bar for being sent to second stage with some
steam being bled out for feed heating in closed feed water heater. Steam leaves second stage at
1 bar and enters third stage with some more steam being bled out for feed heating in closed feed
water heater. Steam finally leaves third stage at 0.075 bar after complete expansion and enters
condenser. Condensate temperature is 38ºC at inlet to second heater, temperature of feed water
after first heater and second heater is 150ºC and 95ºC respectively. Bled steam is condensed to
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 South Valley University
Faculty Of Engineering
Power Mechanical Engineering Department
4th Academic Year
Power Plants Technology (MPEP412)

saturated liquid with no undercooling in each of feed heater. Drain from first heater is passed
through steam trap into second feed heater and combined drain from second heater is pumped by
drain pump into feed line after second heater. Considering efficiency ratio of turbine as 0.8 and
turbine output of 15 MW determine the capacity of drain pump. Neglect drain pump work.

8. A steam power plant has steam entering at 70 bar, 450ºC into HP turbine. Steam is extracted at
30 bar and reheated up to 400ºC before being expanded in LP turbine up to 0.075 bar. Some
portion of steam is bled out during expansion in LP turbine to yield saturated liquid at 140ºC at
the exit of open feed water heater. Considering HP and LP turbine efficiencies of 80% and 85%
determine the cycle efficiency. Also give layout and T-s diagram.

9. A steam power plant works on regenerative cycle with steam entering first turbine stage at 150
bar, 500ºC and getting expanded in three subsequent stages up to the condenser pressure of 0.05
bar. Some steam is bled out between first and second stage for feed heating in closed feed water
heater at 10 bar with the saturated liquid condensate being pumped ahead into the boiler feed
water line. Feed water leaves closed feed water heater at 150 bar, 150ºC. Steam is also taken out
between second and third stages at 1.5 bar for being fed into an open feed water heater working
at that pressure. Saturated liquid at 1.5 bar leaves open feed water heater for being sent to closed
feed water heater. Considering mass flow rate of 300 kg/s into the first stage of turbine determine
cycle thermal efficiency and net power developed in kW. Also give lay out and T-s
representation.

10. A steam power plant has expansion of steam leaving boiler at 100 bar, 500ºC occurring in three
stages i.e., HPT, IPT and LPT up to condenser pressure of 0.075 bar. At exit of HPT some steam
is extracted for feed heating in closed feed water heater at 20 bar and remaining is sent to IPT
for subsequent expansion up to 4 bar. Some more quantity of steam is extracted at 4 bar for feed
heating in open feed water heater and remaining steam is allowed to expand in low pressure
turbine up to condenser pressure. Feed water leaves closed feed water heater at 100 bar and
200ºC. The condensate leaving as saturated liquid at 20 bar is trapped into open feed water heater.
The state of liquid leaving open feed water heater may be considered saturated liquid at 4 bar.
For a net power output of 100 MW determine thermal efficiency and steam generation rate in
boiler. (a) Modify the above arrangement by introducing reheating of steam entering IPT at 20
bar up to 400ºC. Obtain thermal efficiency of modified cycle and compare it with non-reheat
type.

11. The following data refers to a steam turbine power plant employing one stage of regenerative
feed heating: State of steam entering HP stage : 10 MPa, 600ºC State of steam entering LP stage:
2 MPa, 400ºC Condenser pressure: 10 KPa The correct amount of steam is bled for feed heating
at exit from the HP stage. Calculate the mass of steam bled per kg of steam passing through the
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 South Valley University
Faculty Of Engineering
Power Mechanical Engineering Department
4th Academic Year
Power Plants Technology (MPEP412)

HP stage and the amount of heat supplied in the boiler per second for an output of 10 MW.
Neglect pump work.

12. Steam enters the first stage of a turbine at 100 bar, 500ºC and expands isentropically to 10 bar.
It is then reheated to 500ºC and expanded in the second stage to the condenser pressure of 0.1
bar. Steam is bled from the first stage at 20 bar and fed to a closed feed water heater. Feed water
leaves the closed heater at 100 bar, 200ºC, while the condensate is supplied to the open heater
into which steam is bled at 4 bar pressure. Saturated liquid at 4 bar exits from the open heater
and enters the closed heater. The net output of the turbine is 50 MW. Assuming the turbine and
pump processes to be isentropic, determine the mass of steam bled at each feed water heater per
kg of steam entering the first stage, the mass of steam entering the first stage per second, and the
thermal efficiency.

13. Water is the working fluid in an ideal regenerative Rankine cycle with one closed feedwater
heater. Superheated vapor enters the turbine at 10 MPa, 480°C, and the condenser pressure is 6
kPa. Steam expands through the first-stage turbine where some is extracted and diverted to a
closed feedwater heater at 0.7 MPa. Condensate drains from the feedwater heater as saturated
liquid at 0.7 MPa and is trapped into the condenser. The feedwater leaves the heater at 10 MPa
and a temperature equal to the saturation temperature at 0.7 MPa. Determine for the cycle (a) the
heat transfer to the working fluid passing through the steam generator, in kJ per kg of steam
entering the first stage turbine. (b) the thermal efficiency. (c) the heat transfer from the working
fluid passing through the condenser to the cooling water, in kJ per kg of steam entering the first-
stage turbine.

14. Consider a regenerative vapor power cycle with two feedwater heaters, a closed one and an open
one. Steam enters the first turbine stage at 12 MPa, 480°C, and expands to 2 MPa. Some steam
is extracted at 2 MPa and fed to the closed feedwater heater. The remainder expands through the
second-stage turbine to 0.3 MPa, where an additional amount is extracted and fed into the open
feedwater heater operating at 0.3 MPa. The steam expanding through the third-stage turbine exits
at the condenser pressure of 6 kPa. Feedwater leaves the closed heater at 210°C, 12 MPa, and
condensate exiting as saturated liquid at 2 MPa is trapped into the open feedwater heater.
Saturated liquid at 0.3 MPa leaves the open feedwater heater. Assume all pumps and turbine
stages operate isentropically. Determine for the cycle (a) the heat transfer to the working fluid
passing through the steam generator, in kJ per kg of steam entering the first stage turbine. (b) the
thermal efficiency. (c) the heat transfer from the working fluid passing through the condenser to
the cooling water, in kJ per kg of steam entering the first-stage turbine.

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 South Valley University
Faculty Of Engineering
Power Mechanical Engineering Department
4th Academic Year
Power Plants Technology (MPEP412)

15. Water is the working fluid in a Rankine cycle modified to include one closed feedwater heater
and one open feedwater heater. Superheated vapor enters the turbine at 16 MPa, 560°C, and the
condenser pressure is 8 kPa. The mass flow rate of steam entering the first-stage turbine is 120
kg/s. The closed feedwater heater uses extracted steam at 4 MPa, and the open feedwater heater
uses extracted steam at 0.3 MPa. Saturated liquid condensate drains from the closed feedwater
heater at 4 MPa and is trapped into the open feedwater heater. The feedwater leaves the closed
heater at 16 MPa and a temperature equal to the saturation temperature at 4 MPa. Saturated liquid
leaves the open heater at 0.3 MPa. Assume all turbine stages and pumps operate isentropically.
Determine (a) the net power developed, in kW. (b) the rate of heat transfer to the steam passing
through the steam generator, in kW. (c) the thermal efficiency. (d) the mass flow rate of
condenser cooling water, in kg/s, if the cooling water undergoes a temperature increase of 18°C
with negligible pressure change in passing through the condenser. but include in the analysis that
the isentropic efficiencies of the turbine stages and pumps are 85%.

16. Consider a regenerative vapor power cycle with two feedwater heaters, a closed one and an open
one, and reheat. Steam enters the first turbine stage at 12 MPa, 480°C, and expands to 2 MPa.
Some steam is extracted at 2 MPa and fed to the closed feedwater heater. The remainder is
reheated at 2 MPa to 440°C and then expands through the second-stage turbine to 0.3 MPa, where
an additional amount is extracted and fed into the open feedwater heater operating at 0.3 MPa.
The steam expanding through the third-stage turbine exits at the condenser pressure of 6 kPa.
Feedwater leaves the closed heater at 210°C, 12 MPa, and condensate exiting as saturated liquid
at 2 MPa is trapped into the open feedwater heater. Saturated liquid at 0.3 MPa leaves the open
feedwater heater. Assume all pumps and turbine stages operate isentropically. Determine for the
cycle (a) the heat transfer to the working fluid passing through the steam generator, in kJ per kg
of steam entering the first stage turbine. (b) the thermal efficiency. (c) the heat transfer from the
working fluid passing through the condenser to the cooling water, in kJ per kg of steam entering
the first-stage turbine. The analysis include that the turbine stage and pumps all have isentropic
efficiencies of 80%.

17. A steam power plant installation has reheating and regenerative feed water heating employing a
surface type feed heater and other contact type feed heater on high pressure side and low-pressure
side respectively. Steam enters HP turbine at 100 bar, 803 K and leaves high pressure turbine at
25 bar from where some steam is bled for feed heating in high pressure surface type heater and
remaining is reheated up to 823 K and then expanded in low pressure turbine up to 0.05 bar
pressure. The contact type feed heater is supplied with steam bled at 6 bar from LP steam turbine.
There occurs throttling pressure loss of 3 bar in reheater. Surface type feed heater sends the drain
to contact type feed heater from where the total feed is sent to surface type feed heater employing
a boiler feed water pump as saturated water at pressure of 100 bar. Determine the amounts of
steam bled off, overall thermal efficiency and specific steam consumption in kg/kwh.
Considering turbine efficiency pump efficiency, generator efficiency, and mechanical efficiency
as 0.85, 0.90 & 0.95 respectively and plant output as 120 MW. Consider discharges of drains at
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 South Valley University
Faculty Of Engineering
Power Mechanical Engineering Department
4th Academic Year
Power Plants Technology (MPEP412)

saturated liquid state at respective pressures in feed heaters. Also show how the processes on
T-s and h-s diagrams along with line sketch of arrangement.

18. A steam power plant operates on an ideal reheat–regenerative Rankine cycle and has a net power
output of 80 MW. Steam enters the high-pressure turbine at 10 MPa and 550°C and leaves at 0.8
MPa. Some steam is extracted at this pressure to heat the feedwater in an open feedwater heater.
The rest of the steam is reheated to 500°C and is expanded in the low-pressure turbine to the
condenser pressure of 10 kPa. Show the cycle on a T-s diagram with respect to saturation lines,
and determine (a) the mass flow rate of steam through the boiler and (b) the thermal efficiency
of the cycle.

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