1.1 Introduction To Thermodynamic Cycles

1
Thermodynamic Cycles
1.1 Introduction to Thermodynamic Cycles

The concept of a thermodynamic cycle is based on depicting thermodynamic
processes which involve the transfer heat and work. This is achieved by altering
temperature, pressure, as well as other state variables; the cycle ultimately return-
ing to its initial state. The fundamental basis of these cycles is the first law of
thermodynamics which states that ‘energy cannot be created nor destroyed but only
converted from one form to another’.
As shown in Figure 1.1, thermodynamic cycles are split into two primary
classes – refrigeration cycles (also known as heat pump cycles) and power cycles
such as the combustion engine cycle.
Cycles which transfer heat from low temperature to high temperature are classi-
fied as heat pump cycles, whereas cycles that convert heat input into mechanical
work are designated as power cycles. And so, not inappropriately, thermodynamic
power cycles provide the foundation for the operation of a heat engine. Power cycles
are then further divided into groups depending on the type of heat engine. For cycles
modelling internal combustion engines the groups are the Otto, Diesel, and Brayton
cycles and for external combustion engines, they are the Rankine, Organic Rankine,
and Kalina cycles.
1.2 Rankine Cycle

1.2.1 Introduction
The Rankine cycle is a closed thermodynamic cycle that converts thermal energy
into mechanical energy and is based on the fundamentals of the Carnot cycle pro-
posed by the French physicist Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot in 1824. The Rankine
cycle was proposed by the Scottish physicist William John Macquorn Rankine in
1865, and contrary to Carnot cycle – which is only a theoretical cycle – the Rankine
cycle has many applications, several of which will be discussed further within this
section.
The main application of the Rankine cycle is to convert thermal energy into
electrical energy and this thermodynamic cycle is based on the rotation of a turbine
Waste Heat Recovery in Process Industries, First Edition. Hussam Jouhara.
© 2022 WILEY-VCH GmbH. Published 2022 by WILEY-VCH GmbH.
2 1 Thermodynamic Cycles
Thermodynamic cycles
Refrigeration cycles Power cycles
Idealised models of real Ideal cycles

cycles • Carnot cycles
Gas power cycles Vapour power cycles
Internal combustion External combustion

engines engines
• Otto cycle External combustion
• Ericsson cycle
• Diesel cycle engines
• Stirling cycle
• Gas turbine engines
(Brayton cycle) • Rankine cycle
• Organic rankine cycle
• Kalina cycle
Figure 1.1 Map of all thermodynamic cycles.
fixed to a shaft and on to which an electrical generator is also located. In this

way the mechanical energy of the turbine is converted into electrical energy, a
more versatile and widely used form of energy. Rankine cycles and their different
configurations are extensively used in thermal power plants such as nuclear, gas,
oil, coal, geothermal, biomass, and concentrated solar power plants [1].
This section aims to present and explore in depth the Rankine thermodynamic
cycle and following a general description of the cycle and a reminder of the Carnot
cycle, different configurations will be presented and illustrated by means of diagrams
and schematics. The driver for these various enhanced configurations always being
to improve either the energetic or the exergetic efficiency of the cycle (or both). In
this respect energy is a quantitative parameter and exergy a qualitative parameter,
and we need to measure both of these in order to determine the total useful work
we can extract from a thermodynamic system. The equations used to model such
systems will be highlighted and explained as these formulas help us to understand
the different parameters that influence the overall performance of a system. Real-life
examples will also be used to clarify these explanations, and relevantly, a section of
this document also explores the link between Rankine cycles and thermal power
plants.
1.2.2 Thermodynamic Diagrams

In order to clearly understand the following sections of this document, it is important
to be familiar with the basics of thermodynamics – the first and second laws as well as
thermodynamic diagrams. Indeed, these diagrams are key aids in helping to develop
a deeper understanding about how thermodynamic cycles function. The three main
1.2 Rankine Cycle 3
physical parameters used to describe a thermodynamic system are the temperature

(∘ C or K), the pressure (bar or Pa), and volume (m3 ) and these give rise to three sig-
nificant diagrams which can then be created to visualise the state of a fluid under
specific conditions: the P–V diagram, the T–V diagram, and the P–T diagram. P–V
diagrams plot pressure with respect to specific volume, T–V diagrams plot tempera-
ture with respect to specific volume, and P–T diagrams plot pressure with respect to
temperature. Now as most thermodynamic cycles operate by making use of a phase
change of the working fluid, such diagrams are also useful in that they graphically
display values (of pressure, volume, and temperature) at which these phase changes
occur, i.e. for a given material, the points when changes of state from say a solid to
a liquid (the point of melting), or from a liquid to a gas (the point of vapourisation)
occur – or their reverse processes – freezing and condensing. In fact, we can display
the three parameters of pressure, volume, and temperature as a ‘surface’, Figure 1.2.
Firstly, you will note that we say ‘surface’ not ‘solid’, and that’s because at any
particular temperature and pressure the condition of a material would only lie on
the surface and not above nor below it. For example, take a point for say water in
Figure 1.2, diagram (i), on the vapour section of the diagram. We might try to imagine
a point above this – i.e. one with an increased pressure – but water vapour cannot
exist at this higher pressure at that temperature and volume. Nor will it exist at a
lower pressure. It can only exist at the values of pressure, temperature, and volume
that are shown on the given surface [2].
So, what are the three single-phase regions we can see on the diagrams? They are
the gas/vapour region, the liquid region, and the solid region, and between these we
have the transition or two-state phase change regions where the solids are melting
or freezing, and the liquids are evaporating or condensing.
Now when considering a vapour and a gas, because the two terms are often
confused – and to some extent are synonymous in that they both refer to a physical
state that is not solid or liquid – we perhaps explain the need to differentiate
them. Technically, below the critical temperature, a vapour and its liquid are in
P–V–T Surfaces
Liquid and
solid
Liquid and
solid Critical state
Critical
Constant temperature line state
Constant pressure line Gas

Cr
itic
Liquid Cr
Liquid
al
it
Te
ica
Pressure (P)
m
lt
pe
Solid em
Liquid
ra
Pressure (P)
pe
tu
ra
re
+ Liq tur
Ga e
vapour s + uid Vapour
Vapour va
po
Tri ur
Triple state Solid ple
So sta
lid te
Solid + vapour +v
T) ap
e( Vo ou (T)
tur lu r
era me ure
mp rat
Te ( V) m pe
Te
(a) Volume (V) (b)
Figure 1.2 P–V–T diagrams. (a) A material heat contract on freezing. (b) A material that
expands on freezing – water being the most well-known example.
‘equilibrium’ and a vapour can condense back to a liquid with a small change
of pressure or temperature. Whereas a gas cannot condense to a liquid without
changes in both pressure and temperature, and above the critical temperature line
the liquid state does not exist at all! But what do we mean by being ‘in equilibrium’?
Well, evaporation from the surface of a liquid or fluid takes place when the liquid
molecules have enough momentum to overcome the cohesive forces within the fluid
and escape into the space above it. To all intents and purposes, it becomes a gas, but
because both the liquid and gas are present together it is more accurately known
(in this state) as a vapour. If we now add heat to the liquid the momentum of the
molecules increases, and more liquid evaporates. Similarly, a reduction in pressure
above the liquid also reduces the momentum necessary for molecules to escape and
so again evaporation is increased. But if the container which holds the liquid is sealed
so that the evaporated vapour cannot escape, then the amount of liquid that can
evaporate is finite. That is at any fixed value of temperature and pressure the amount
of vapour will rise to a steady fixed amount and then no more can be added and the
vapour is said to be ‘fully saturated’. If any more molecules reach sufficient momen-
tum to escape the surface then their number is exactly matched by those condensing
back into the liquid, so an equilibrium or balance occurs between the two processes
to limit the amount of vapour – or more correctly – the vapour pressure. Raise the
temperature and the amount of vapour that can be maintained increases, and the
‘fully saturated’ line – the dome or bell-shaped line (in the earlier diagrams) illus-
trates the limit of this. So, to the right-hand side of the curve is where all the liquid
will have evaporated and the liquid state cannot exist, whilst the left-hand side shows
where all the solid has melted to liquid and the solid state can now longer exist. But
under the curve is the region where both liquid and vapour exist together. Until that
is, we reach the peak or ‘critical point’ or critical state where the distinction between
the liquid and the gas no longer exists. Here the molecules are evaporating so rapidly
that the density of the liquid and the vapour are equal and produce a ‘supercritical
fluid’; the point being that condensation of the gas will never occur above the critical
point no matter how much pressure we apply.
But what else does the P–V–T diagram show us? For example, if we look at the
liquid and solid regions, we will notice just how steep these surfaces are, and that’s
because, compared to gases, liquids and certainly solids are much harder to com-
press. So, at a particular temperature, if we increase the pressure it does not really
change the volume or, conversely, the pressure will rise dramatically for a small
change in volume. We can also note the transition phase between a solid and a
vapour where ‘sublimation’ can occur. Dry ice is an example of such a material and
is used where it is necessary to keep items cold but where any packaging will not
get wet with liquid as the ‘dry’ ice warms up. We can also notice the triple state line
where all three phases can coexist.
However, as useful as the P–V–T surface plot is to indicate the various states and
transition phases of a substance they are a bit difficult to read-off from on to value
scales. So, it is more usual to present thermodynamic information by means of
two-axis diagrams that we briefly noted earlier. For example, the P–V diagram is the
1.2 Rankine Cycle 5
Solid and liquid
c Gas
Liquid
Pressure
Solid
Vapour
Liquid
and
vapour
re
tu
e ra
Solid and vapour p
m
Te
Volume
Solid and liquid
Pressure
Vapour
Solid
Liquid and
vapour
Solid and vapour
Volume
Figure 1.3 P–V perspective of a P–V–T diagram.
view we would obtain by looking at the surface from a pressure–volume perspective

to see how a thermodynamic process changes with pressure and volume, Figure 1.3.
Usually we are only interested in the saturated liquid and saturated vapour areas,
so our P–V diagrams are often ‘truncated’. But in addition, our volume axis is more
usually scaled in terms of specific volume, i.e. the cubic volume per kilogram of mass
rather than just volume, because then, as an intensive property, the value does not
depend on the size of the thermodynamic system. Hence, as we can see in Figure 1.4,
the P–V diagram (also called a Clapeyron diagram) presents pressure as a function
of the specific volume (m3 /kg), and on this diagram the left-hand side of the vapour
dome shows the limit between the liquid region whilst the right-hand side shows
the limit between the liquid/vapour region and the superheated vapour region. The
diagram also denotes the plot of two isothermal lines or lines of constant temperature
demonstrating that, inside the dome, the phase transition between liquid and vapour
is a constant-pressure, constant-temperature process.
The other two diagrams that we can better visualise as two-dimensional graphs
are the temperature–volume and the pressure–temperature diagrams as shown in
Figure 1.5.
P
Critical
point
Sa
Superheated
Line
tur
at
vapour
ed
region
Compressed
Va
Liquid
p
liquid region
ou
r
T2 =
Con
st .>T
Saturation
Lin
1
liquid–vapour
e
d
T1 =
te
region
Con
Satura
st
Figure 1.4 P–V diagram of a pure substance.

re
c
tu
ra
pe
m
id
Te
qu
Liquid and Vapour

Li
vapour
Volume
Liquid
c Gas
Liquid
Solid
Pressure
Pressure
Gas
Solid
Vapour
Liquid
and ur
e po
vapour ur Va e
at ur
p e r
rat
m p e
Solid and vapour Te m
Te
Volume
Figure 1.5 T–V and P–T perspectives of a P–V–T diagram.

1.2 Rankine Cycle 7
T, °C
pa
M
25 pa
= M
Critical point p 06
pa
.
22
M
15
=
p
pa
373.95
M
8
=
p
pa
M
1
=
p
pa
M
1
0.
=
pa
p
M
01
0.
=
p
Saturated Saturated
liquid vapour
0.003106 v (m3/kg)
Figure 1.6 T–V diagram of a pure substance.
The vapour dome can also be seen on the T–V diagram in Figure 1.6, however,
it is not directly visible on the P–T diagram in Figure 1.7 – which is also known
as a phase diagram – in that for a given pressure and temperature the state of the
substance is fully defined. As phase transitions occur under constant pressure and
temperature for pure substances, alteration of the pressure or temperature will result
in a phase change for the substance, the outcome being either a pure liquid or a pure
vapour. For that reason, the liquid–vapour region is just a line on the P–T diagram
and the vapour dome is not visible because, as we have already seen, a third dimen-
sion (the P–V–T diagram) is required to fully visualise the state of the fluid.
Two other thermodynamic variables are also very useful in describing a thermo-
dynamic system from energetic and exergetic viewpoints, and these are the specific
enthalpy h (kJ/kg) and the specific entropy s (kJ/kg K). Enthalpy (h) measures the
total heat content of a system and is equal to the internal energy (i.e. the energy
related to the molecular structure or state of the material and the degree of molecular
activity) which is then added to the product of pressure and volume. In the analy-
sis of systems that involve fluid flow, we often meet the combination of these two
properties, defined from h = u + PV, where u represents the macroscopic energy of
the non-flowing fluid and PV represents the energy needed to push and maintain the
fluid flow around the system. But the second term, entropy, is defined as a measure of
randomness of molecules, so what, we may ask, is its relevance to thermodynamics?
Critical
point
Liquid
Vaporisation
Melting
Condensation
Pressure
Freezing
Solid
Triple point
Sublimination
Gas
Deposition
Temperature
Figure 1.7 P–T diagram of a pure substance.
In fact, entropy is very relevant to thermodynamics and is the function of the

quantity of heat that can be converted into work – and yes, it still does indicate
the randomness of molecules. For example, suppose we put 100 J of energy into
a system trying to convert this all into work can we then get 100 J back out? The
answer of course is No! Some of that energy will be used in making more molecules
move at random or increasing the momentum of those already in motion – that’s
why the entropy of a solid is less than that of a gas because gases have more
molecules moving at random. Temperature increases the entropy of a material
because as the temperature rises, the molecules spread out and take up more
room – that is, they become more disordered. Pressure, on the other hand, has the
opposite effect, it forces molecules closer together, so they become more ordered
and entropy decreases. However, we should note that solids and liquids are nearly
incompressible, so any entropy decrease is minimal.
So, in addition to those already mentioned, many other two- and three-
dimensional diagrams can be plotted. For example, the T–s diagram (temperature as
a function of specific entropy) and the P–h diagram (pressure as a function of spe-
cific enthalpy) are both very useful diagrams. An example of a temperature-specific
entropy (T–s) diagram can be seen in Figure 1.8, and is often used to describe
thermodynamic power cycles since the area drawn by the cycle on this form of
diagram is equal to the work provided by it. Alternatively, a pressure–enthalpy
(P–h) diagram, also called a Mollier diagram, might be used, as shown in Figure 1.9,
to help describe receptor cycles such as refrigeration cycles.
These diagrams are also essential tools to aid understanding and for describing
thermodynamic cycles, but in most cases when working with Rankine cycles the
1.2 Rankine Cycle 9
180
R245fa 600
800 400
160 1000 200
1200 100
140
ρ = 1400 kg/m3 50
20
120
Temperature (°C)
100
80
60
40
20
0
0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0
Entropy (kJ/(kg K))
Figure 1.8 Example T–s diagram. Source: Based on Janie et al. [3].
10 000 10 000
Pressure (kPa)
Pressure (kPa)
Te = 40 °C
1000 1000
E)
f34v
4ze(
R12
R134a
R123
Te = –7 °C
100 100
100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450
Enthalpy (kJ/kg1)
Figure 1.9 P–h diagram of refrigerants. Source: Sethi et al. [4].

T–s diagram is the most suitable. It will therefore be used extensively in the sections
that follow.
1.2.3 The Carnot Cycle

Before we discuss the Rankine cycle and its application, we first need to consider its
inspiration – the Carnot cycle [5].
Nicholas Léonard Sadi Carnot, the French mechanical engineer and physicist, is
often described as the ‘father of thermodynamics’. He published only one book, but
in it he expressed the first successful theory of maximum heat engine efficiency and
so laid the foundations, for what was then, an entirely new discipline. The Carnot
cycle is therefore used as the common reference for every thermodynamic power
cycle because even though the Carnot cycle is only a theoretical model, it does pro-
vide the standard as the most efficient engine possible. In other words, because the
thermal efficiency of the Carnot cycle only depends on the absolute temperatures
of the two heat reservoirs that drive the process, it gives us the upper limit of both
energetic and exergetic thermodynamic cycle efficiency [6].
Most commonly, the working fluid used to explain the Carnot cycle is water and
the cycle is divided into four phases as shown in Figure 1.10:
1. Isothermal expansion, (AB)
2. Isentropic (constant entropy) expansion, (BC)
3. Isothermal (constant temperature) compression, (CD)
4. Isentropic (constant entropy) compression, (DA)
Theoretically, these four processes are reversible, but in reality, reversible transfor-
mations do not exist because of, e.g. heat losses due to friction. The figure indicates
a clockwise cycle and so is known as a Carnot ‘power’ cycle (power cycles are those
which convert heat into mechanical work output whilst a ‘heat pump’ cycle transfers
heat from lower to higher temperatures using mechanical work input).
Thermodynamic power cycles are the operating basis of heat engines, which cur-
rently supply much of the world’s electric power and run almost all motor vehicles.
T Figure 1.10 T–s diagram

of the Carnot cycle.
Q1 = T1(SB – SA)
A B
T1
w = Q1 + Q2
T2
D C
Q2 = –T2(SB – SA)
SA SB S
1.2 Rankine Cycle 11
Power cycles are classified according to the type of heat engine they model, e.g. we
have the Otto cycle and the Diesel cycle for modelling internal combustion engines,
the Brayton cycle for modelling gas turbines, and the Rankine cycle for modelling
steam turbines.
Consider for a moment, the above T–s diagram as representing the Carnot cycle
for an ideal or perfect gas turbine, i.e. one with no friction and the necessary heat
transfers occurring without loss. What do the four stages of our cycle represent?
Essentially, we start with two ‘heat reservoirs’ with temperatures T 1 and T 2 ,
respectively, and these have such a large thermal capacity that their temperatures
are stable and unaffected by the cycle, which takes place as follows:
● Stage 1 (AB): Heat is transferred from the high-temperature reservoir (T 1 ) at con-

stant temperature. During this phase, the entropy of the gas is increased by allow-
ing it to expand and reduce its pressure and in doing so producing work on the
surroundings – e.g. moving a piston or rotating a shaft within a turbine.
● Stage 2 (BC): During this stage of the cycle, it is assumed that the gas is thermally
insulated from both the hot and cold reservoirs, so that they neither gain nor lose
heat from the gas – i.e. the conditions are adiabatic (Greek ≡ without loss). Instead,
the gas continues to expand (and do more work) further reducing the pressure
and losing internal energy in an amount equal to the work done. Since this gas
expansion occurs without any heat input, it cools to the ‘cold’ temperature T 2 but
with the entropy unchanged.
● Stage 3 (CD): At this point the gas in now in thermal contact with the cold reservoir
at temperature T 2 , and work is then done on the gas to compress it – e.g. the piston
is forced down or the gas passes into a compressor. In doing so, heat energy is
transferred to the cold reservoir and the entropy of the system decreases by the
same amount that it gained at Stage 1.
● Stage 4 (DA): It is assumed that the gas is thermally isolated from the hot and cold
reservoirs (and any mechanical processes are frictionless) and further compres-
sion takes place, increasing the internal energy and so causing the temperature to
rise back to T 1 . This assumes that this temperature rise is solely due to the work
added to the system and so the entropy remains unchanged. The gas is now back
at the same state as the start of Stage 1.
As such, the work (kJ) provided by the thermodynamic cycle is given by:
W= PdV = TdS (1.1)

∮ ∮
In other words, the total work is given by integrating and thereby accumulating
all the infinitesimally small changes in volume and pressure or entropy and temper-
ature the gas makes on its journey around the cycle. Of course, the path taken by a
real process differs somewhat from the ideal processes shown, but the idea here is
to produce a perfect standard against which all other heat engines can be judged.
In a T–s diagram, the area under the upper portion of the figure represents the
thermal energy absorbed during the cycle, whilst the area under the lower portion
represents the thermal energy removed during the cycle – hence the area inside
the cycle will represent the difference between these two. However, since the inter-
nal energy of the system must return to its initial value, this difference must also
represent the total amount of work performed by the system over one cycle. So, in
definitive terms on the diagram, the absolute value of all this work (|W|) corresponds
to the area of the rectangle. Or:
|W| = (T1 − T2 ) ⋅ (SB − SA ) (1.2)
If QH represents the total amount of thermal energy transferred from the hot reser-
voir to the system (kJ), and QC represents the total amount of thermal energy trans-
ferred from the system to the cold reservoir (kJ), both as given by Eqs. (1.3)–(1.5):
QH = T1 ⋅ (SB − SA ) and QC = T2 ⋅ (SB − SA ) (1.3)
Then the efficiency of the Carnot cycle can be defined as:

|W| QH − QC (T − T2 ) ⋅ (SB − SA )
𝜂= = = 1 (1.4)
QH QH T1 ⋅ (SB − SA )
where, T 1 is the hot source temperature and T 2 is the cold source temperature (both
are expressed in [K] Kelvin), and SB and SA correspond, respectively, to the entropy
(kJ/K) at points B and A. From which, the overall efficiency will be given by the
following equation:
T1 − T2 T
𝜂= =1− 2 (1.5)
T1 T1
1.2.4 Ideal and Actual Rankine Cycles

The Carnot cycle is just a theoretical cycle. It is not possible to build a real engine
working under such conditions because of real component irreversibility. For
example, the transformations result in heat dissipation through friction. So, these
transformations are defined as irreversible because once they have occurred, it is
impossible to return them to their initial state. A reversible transformation is a
succession of infinitesimal changes, each occurring without any energy loss, and in
practice, this kind of transformation does not exist in the real world even though
each component is designed in order to approach an irreversible behaviour.
The Rankine cycle is very similar to the Carnot cycle, the difference being that the
reversible isothermal transformations are now replaced by isobaric (constant pres-
sure) ones. In most cases, the working fluid is water too.
The ideal Rankine cycle is composed of two isobaric transformations and two
adiabatic and reversible isentropic (constant entropy) transformations as shown in
Figure 1.11. The four main components required for the Rankine cycle are a pump,
a boiler, a turbine, and a condenser as shown in Figure 1.12.
The four transformations involved in the cycle are:
● 1–2: Isentropic compression (pump). The fluid (in liquid state) is compressed
while the specific entropy remains constant.
Temperature (°C)
3
Liquid
Vapour
2
4
1
Liquid + Vapour
Entropy (kJ/kg K)
Figure 1.11 T–s diagram of the Rankine cycle.
ωturb
HP LP
Turbine
3 4
qin Condenser
Boiler
qout
2 1
Pump
ωpump
Figure 1.12 Schematic of the Rankine cycle.
● 2–3: Isobaric heat addition inducing vapourisation of the fluid (boiler), i.e. the
fluid is heated under constant pressure and this results in a phase transition – the
fluid changing from liquid to a mixture of liquid and vapour.
● 3–4: Isentropic expansion (turbine). The fluid is expanded through a turbine while
the specific entropy again remains constant.
● 4–1: Isobaric heat rejection inducing liquefaction of the fluid (condenser), i.e. the
fluid is cooled down under constant pressure and the vapour condenses.
1.2.4.1 Ideal Cycle

To describe the Rankine thermodynamic cycle, five physical variables are required:
1. The pressure P (Pa)

2. The temperature T (K)
3. The steam quality x, which represents the proportion of saturated vapour in a

liquid/vapour mixture.
mvapour
x= (1.6)
mvapour + mliquid
where, mvapour and mliquid correspond, respectively, to the masses (kg) of the
vapour and liquid contained in the mixture. (For example, at point number 1 on
the T-s diagram, x(1) = 0, i.e. the fluid is a fully saturated liquid.)
4. The specific enthalpy of the fluid h (kJ/kg)
5. The specific entropy of the fluid s (kJ/kg K)
Knowing the values of each of these variables at every point of the diagram is very
useful, and helpfully the five variables are linked to each other through physical
relationships.
Looking at the diagram it may not be obvious, but the cycle is divided in two
pressure areas: high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) – these pressures being
expressed in Pascal (Pa). Points 2 and 3 are in the HP section and points 4 and 1 are
in the LP section, and as the transformation between 2 and 3 is isobaric: P2 = P3 .
(And similarly, for the same reason, P1 = P4 .) Then the work provided to the system
corresponds to the area of the quadrilateral shape drawn by the four points, but to
calculate this work, the specific enthalpy of the fluid must be used. From which we
can then determine the specific work (𝜔) – which corresponds to the amount of work
delivered per unit of mass (kJ/kg).
The thermodynamic system is exchanging energy (work or heat) with its environ-
ment, and we should note here the convention that: heat transferred to a fluid is a
positive quantity; heat transferred from a fluid is a negative quantity. It is necessary
to note this because a Rankine cycle uses part of its work to compress the water,
so will need to deduct the power put into the pump from the power output of the
turbine in order to obtain the net work. Accordingly, the required work and heat
parameters are determined from:
𝜔turb , the work given by the fluid to the turbine (kJ/kg). It is negative as the fluid is
giving work:
𝜔turb = h4 − h3 (1.7)
𝜔pump , the work given by the pump to the fluid (kJ/kg). It is positive as the pump
gives work to the fluid:
𝜔pump = h2 − h1 (1.8)
qin , the heat given by the boiler to the fluid (kJ/kg). It is positive as the boiler gives
heat to the fluid:
qin = h3 − h2 (1.9)
qout , the heat given by the fluid to the condenser (kJ/kg). It is negative as the fluid
rejects heat:
qout = h1 − h4 (1.10)
So, as the net work (𝜔net ) (kJ/kg) provided by the cycle is governed by:
𝜔net = 𝜔turb + 𝜔pump (1.11)
Then the thermal efficiency (𝜂 th ) of the ideal Rankine cycle can be defined by:
|𝜔turb |
𝜂th = (1.12)
qin
And hence the overall efficiency (𝜂) of the ideal Rankine cycle can be defined by:
|𝜔net | |𝜔turb | − 𝜔pump
𝜂= = (1.13)
qin qin
Substituting Eqs. (1.4)–(1.6) then leads to:
|h4 − h3 | − (h2 − h1 ) h3 − h4 − (h2 − h1 )
𝜂= = (1.14)
h3 − h2 h3 − h2
In practice however, compared to the output of the turbine, the work input to the
pump is very small. In which case, if 𝜔pump can be neglected compared to the other
coefficients, we arrive at the useful approximation of:
h3 − h4
𝜂≈ (1.15)
h3 − h2
So to estimate the efficiency of the system, we can also use the first law of thermo-
dynamics which states that the net energy of a system is equal to 0, i.e.
𝜔turb + 𝜔pump + qin + qout = 0 (1.16)
And further assuming 𝜔pump is neglectable compared to the other coefficients
gives:
|𝜔turb | ≈ qin − |qout | (1.17)
From which the efficiency of the ideal Rankine cycle can now be estimated from
the following formula:
|𝜔turb | qin − |qout | |q |
𝜂≈ ≈ = 1 − out (1.18)
qin qin qin
Practically the efficiency of the ideal Rankine cycle is necessarily lower than the
efficiency of the theoretical Carnot cycle even using the same hot and cold sources.
In addition, the cycle presented in this section is still an ideal cycle, and the actual
cycle used, for instance, for power plant analysis is slightly different.
1.2.4.2 Superheated Rankine Cycle

In the conventional Rankine cycle, the isentropic expansion occurs in the wet steam
domain (transformation 3–4 in Figure 1.11). To explain, when a boiler heats water,
bubbles breaking through the water surface pull tiny droplets of water into the steam
which then becomes partially wet (‘wet steam’) from the added liquid. As water is
the working fluid, it can cause damage to the turbine due to corrosion. Therefore,
to mitigate this in power plants, the vapour is superheated to remove any moisture
that it contains. Steam dryness is important because it has a direct effect on the total
3′
Temperature (°C)
1
4
Entropy (kJ/kg K)
Figure 1.13 T–s diagram of the superheated Rankine cycle.
HP LP ωturb
Turbine 4
3′
Superheater 3
Condenser
qin Boiler
qout
2 1
Pump
ωpump
Figure 1.14 Schematic of the superheated Rankine cycle.
amount of transferable energy contained within the steam. For example, saturated
steam (100% dry) contains 100% of the latent heat available at that pressure.
The result of this can be seen in the shape variation for the T–s diagram of the
cycle as shown in Figure 1.13. In this case, the cycle is still a Rankine cycle and is
sometimes called Hirn (or Rankine with superheating) cycle, so one extra compo-
nent is required: the superheater as shown in Figure 1.14. However, in most cases,
the boiler and the superheater are the same component.
Overheating is also interesting because it increases the amount of work given to
the turbine. As we can see on the T–s diagram, the area of the superheated cycle
is bigger than the area of the classical Rankine cycle. And in this way, for a same
power output, the water flow rate can be lower for the Rankine–Hirn cycle than for
a classical Rankine cycle, so improving the energetic efficiency of the system. Unfor-
tunately, superheating also increases the irreversibility of the cycle and therefore,
correspondingly, the exergetic efficiency of the system is regrettably reduced.
The main difference between the two cycles is that the heat given to the fluid by
the boiler/superheater enhances the superheated cycle. On the T–s diagram, this
extra heat addition corresponds to the transformation 3–3′ . This way, the expansion
of the fluid then occurs within a superheated steam domain and corresponds to the
transformation 3′ –4 on the diagram. Furthermore, this transformation is assumed
to display a greater degree of isentropic change and so is shown as a vertical line on
the diagram, contrary to the transformation we now see between 1 and 2.
The efficiency of the superheated cycle is given by the same equation as the
classical Rankine cycle (Eqs. (1.13) and (1.14)) – the difference being in the position
of point 3′ (instead of 3), i.e.
h′3 − h4 − (h2 − h1 )
𝜂= (1.19)
h′3 − h2
1.2.4.3 Actual Rankine Cycle

The actual Rankine cycle is the best cycle with which to model the transformations
occurring within a power plant as it is the one which takes both system irreversibility
and system imperfections into consideration.
In this cycle, friction caused by the moving fluid induces pressure losses or heat
loss, and as a result the isobaric transformations described in the ideal Rankine cycle
are not exactly isobaric in the actual cycle. Pressure drops in the condenser and in
the turbine reduce the area of the cycle, as shown on the T–s diagram in Figure 1.15.
Hence, the specific work of the cycle is lower for the actual cycle than for the ideal
cycle. Furthermore, the isentropic transformations described in the ideal cycle are
not reversible, as they are in the actual cycle: irreversibility deteriorates the perfor-
mances of the pump and of the turbine. Hence, the exergetic efficiency is reduced.
3′
Temperature (°C)
1 4
Entropy (kJ/kg K)
Ideal Rankine cycle

Actual Rankine cycle
Figure 1.15 Ideal Rankine cycle vs. actual Rankine cycle on a T–s diagram.
In thermodynamics, reversibility defines the best theoretical work process, i.e. as

the name suggests, one which can proceed in both the forward and the reverse direc-
tions – but with the key point that the system and its parameters are returned to their
initial states at the end of the reverse process. Irreversibility is a concept that recog-
nises that processes are not perfect, losses occur, and in thermodynamics these are
quantified by:
● The difference between the work output (or input) of a reversible process and the
actual work process
● The entropy a system generates during a process.
Fortunately, the efficiency of the cycle can be given by the same expression as the
ideal Rankine cycle (Eq. (1.14)). However, the values of the specific enthalpy are not
the same as those in the ideal Rankine cycle.
To make comparisons between the compression and expansion transformations of
an actual cycle to the isentropic transformations of the ideal cycle, an isentropic effi-
ciency needs to be introduced and this comes within the term the adiabatic efficiency,
and a series exists to define isentropic efficiencies for turbines, compressors, and
nozzles. For instance, the isentropic efficiency of the expansion transformation in
the turbine is defined as follows:
Energy given to the turbine with the actual transformation
𝜂i,turb =
Energy given to the turbine with the isentropic transformation
(1.20)
As an example, Figure 1.16 compares the actual and the isentropic expansion of
the vapour in a turbine on a h–s diagram, and to accommodate the difference, an
adaption is made to Eq. (1.20) in order to express this adiabatic efficiency using spe-
cific enthalpy as follows: If we start by assuming that vapour is an ideal gas, then it
is possible to calculate the pressure, temperature, enthalpy, and entropy of the fluid
using the Laplace’s equation:
P1−𝛾 ⋅ T 𝛾 = Constant (1.21)
In this equation, 𝛾 is the heat capacity ratio, a dimensionless coefficient.
Knowing the temperature and pressure values at the inlet and the pressure at the
outlet of the turbine, it is then possible to calculate the temperature value that would
be reached if the transformation was truly isentropic. Then once T 2s is calculated,
and h1 , h2a , and h2s deduced from thermodynamic tables, the adiabatic efficiency
of the turbine can be calculated. The isentropic efficiency of the pump is often also
used to take the irreversibilities of the pump into consideration.
It is given by the following equation:
Isentropic pump work
𝜂i,pump = (1.22)
Actual pump work
And the process starts by assuming the water is incompressible, which then
leads to:
Isentropic pump work = Δh = V ⋅ ΔP (1.23)
Adiabatic turbine (neglect, Δke, Δpe)

lsentropic
p1 Enthalpy (h) p1
expansion
3
1
Real expansion p2
Wa
enthalpy
Specific
p2 2a
2s
4r
Adiabatic turbine
4s
Wreal h – h4r Entropy (s)

η = = 3 =
T Ws h3 – h4s Actual work W (h1 – h2a)
ηT = Isentropic work
= Wa = (h1 – h2s)
s
(a) Specific entropy (b)
Figure 1.16 Adiabatic efficiency of a turbine.
In this equation, V is the specific volume of water (m3 /kg). It is constant along the
transformation if the fluid is supposed incompressible. The pressure difference,ΔP,
is expressed in Pascal (Pa). Again, knowing the actual inlet and outlet tempera-
tures/pressures of the pump, it is possible to calculate the actual pump work, and
this corresponds to the variation of enthalpy. All from which the isentropic efficiency
of the pump can be deduced.
So, when using equations for the ideal cycle, it is important to be aware of the real
efficiencies for all the components. For example, the turbine and the pump both also
have a mechanical efficiency. All these imperfections will be described in depth in
the power plant section so that we can better express the real link between the heat
input and the electricity output produced by a plant.
1.2.4.4 Improvements to the Rankine Cycle

The Hirn cycle has a greater efficiency than the Rankine cycle and this is expected
since the expression for Carnot’s efficiency (Eq. (1.5)) illustrates that the higher the
hot source temperature, the greater the efficiency. It is also true for the Rankine cycle
(Eq. (1.18)).
Therefore, increasing the temperature of the hot source is a way of improving the
efficiency of the Rankine cycle, but it also results in an increase in the boiler pressure.
In the past, the boiler pressures were limited because of the materials used [7]. Over
time however, the upper limit on boiler pressure rose and currently, with advances in
metallurgy, it is possible to go over the critical pressure of water (220.6 bar) and some
coal-fired power plants today are operating with boiler pressures around 300 bar.
Moreover, other improvements can also be made to improve the efficiency of the
cycle, and these main improvements are presented within this section.
3′
Temperature (°C)
1
4
Entropy (kJ/kg K)
Figure 1.17 Effects of decreasing the LP on the Rankine cycle.
Decreasing the LP As we have noted, on our diagrams the lines drawn between the
different points of the cycle represent thermodynamic processes and furthermore,
the area enclosed by these lines corresponds to work provided by the system. This
means that trying to increase the amount of work given by the system is the graphical
equivalent to expanding this area, and one way to achieve this is to decrease the pres-
sure of the system. As we can see, the lower the pressure, the lower the bottom line
(condensation phase) of the cycle, i.e. the area of the cycle is increased (Figure 1.17).
In addition, if the pressure decreases, it leads to an increase in net work compared
to the increase in heat input (𝛥𝜔net > 𝛥qin ), then the efficiency of the system will also
increase. However, as we see in Figure 1.17, decreasing the pressure of the system
can result in introducing lower quality steam into the turbine, i.e. we run the risk or
moving back into the wet steam domain – the further the point is from the saturated
vapour curve, the lower the steam quality. Low steam quality can result in turbine
deterioration due to corrosion and a subsequent decrease in mechanical efficiency.
Hence, the pressure of the Rankine cycle must be set as low as possible in order to
improve the energetic efficiency of the system – but not too low to still ensure a high
steam quality.
Increasing the HP We might therefore conclude that increasing the pressure will also
have a beneficial effect, but increasing the pressure actually keeps the work of the
cycle roughly steady. Figure 1.18 shows the effect of this increase on a T–s diagram.
Helpfully, the area of the cycle increases on the top part of the cycle (area shaded
on the diagram) but unfortunately, it then also decreases on the right part of it (area
shaded on the diagram) so the net gain is very small. Nonetheless, as the average
temperature of the hot source increases, so increasing the pressure of the cycle has a
positive effect on the cycle’s efficiency. However, this increase then leads to a lower
steam quality at the end of the expansion phase (point 4) which, as we have seen,
can affect turbine operation.
3′
Temperature (°C)
1
4
Entropy (kJ/kg K)
Figure 1.18 Effects of increasing the HP on the Rankine cycle.
To sum up, both the HP and the LP values must be carefully chosen so as to ensure
that we achieve the highest possible energetic efficiency whilst still ensuring that we
maintain high steam quality at the end of the expansion phase. Of course, it does not
help that with modern plants, the LP and HP can vary as functions of time. But by
using controllers which adjust these values (LP; HP) by taking into account exter-
nal condition – such as outside temperature and pressure – we can ensure optimal
performance.
Rankine Cycles with Reheat As we have seen, steam quality is a very important factor
in the Rankine cycle. So, in order to avoid low steam quality at the end of the expan-
sion phase, reheat cycles were introduced in the first part of the twentieth century.
This category of cycle also involves having two turbines positioned on the same shaft
as shown in Figure 1.19. The first turbine allows the expansion of the steam com-
ing from the superheater from HP to a medium pressure (MP) (Figure 1.20), and
this steam is then reheated and expanded in the second turbine from MP to LP. The
main advantage of the reheat is to increase the steam quality to ensure a steadier
thermodynamic efficiency.
Rankine cycles with reheat also ensure a higher overall mechanical efficiency by
using two turbines for the cycle compared to only using one. In this configuration,
the overall efficiency of the cycle is given by:
|𝜔turb1 | + |𝜔turb2 | − 𝜔pump |h4 − h′3 | + |h6 − h5 | − (h2 − h1 )
𝜂= =
qinB + qinR h′3 − h2 + h5 − h4
h′3 − h4 + h5 − h6 − (h2 − h1 )
= (1.24)
h′3 − h2 + h5 − h4
where, qinB corresponds to the heat (kJ/kg) provided by the boiler to the fluid and
qinR corresponds to the heat (kJ/kg) provided by the reheater to the fluid (In real-life
power plant, the boiler and the superheater use the same heat source.)
Turbine 1 Turbine 2
ωturb1 ωturb2
HP MP MP LP
3′ 4 6
qinR 3 Condenser
5
qinB Boiler
HP LP
qout
2 1
Pump
ωpump
Figure 1.19 Schematic of the Rankine cycle with reheat.
Figure 1.20 T–s diagram of a

HP
Rankine cycle with reheat.

MP
LP
3ʹ 5
Temperature (°C)
3
4
2
6
HP
Entropy (kJ/kg K)
1.2.4.5 Regenerative Rankine Cycles

To improve energetic and exergetic efficiency of the thermodynamic cycle, the regen-
erative Rankine cycles extracts a portion of the steam from the turbine to heat the
fluid before it is sent to the boiler. This results in a small reduction in the work pro-
vided to the turbine but a substantial reduction in the heat input, because the heating
phase creates entropy and thus irreversibility if this is all provided by the boiler. The
portion of steam used therefore helps the boiler heat the fluid, reducing the fuel
required by the boiler and hence both energetic and exergetic efficiencies improve.
Furthermore, the average temperature of the heat input by the boiler is increased
and this also results in a higher energetic efficiency [8].
Regenerative cycles require a new component. A feed water heater (FWH) also
called a regenerator is required, its role being to heat the feed water before it enters
the boiler. There are two different kinds of regenerative cycle: the open FWH cycle
and the closed FWH cycle.
Open FWH cycles use an Open FWH. As seen in Figure 1.21, this component
mixes the liquid delivered from pump 1 with the extracted steam arriving from
turbine. It corresponds to point 6 on the T–s diagram shown in Figure 1.22.
HP MP LP
Wturb
1 2 3
1-y
Condenser
Qin Boiler
y Qout
HP MP MP LP
6
7 5 4
Open
Wpump2 Wpump1
FWH
Figure 1.21 Schematic of a Rankine cycle with reheat and one open FWH.
Figure 1.22 T–s diagram 1

of a Rankine cycle with
reheat and one open FWH.
Temperature (°C)
2
7
6
5
4 3
Entropy (kJ/kg K)
As the mixing takes place at MP, pump 1 is only required to compress the fluid
from LP to MP. Hence, after this mixing phase, a second pump is then required
to increase the pressure to HP. This second compression phase corresponds to the
transformation 6–7 on the T–s diagram (Figure 1.21).
Now if y represents the mass proportion of steam extracted from the compressor,
and:
̇ → 6)
m(2
y= (1.25)
̇ → 2)
m(1
where ṁ (2 → 6) corresponds to the mass flow rate (kg/s) between points 2 and 6,
̇ → 2) corresponds to the mass flow rate between points 1 and 2.
and m(1
Then the overall efficiency of the open FWH cycle is given by:
|𝜔turb | − 𝜔pumps (h1 − h2 ) + (1 − y)(h2 − h3 ) − (1 − y)(h5 − h4 ) − (h7 − h6 )

𝜂= =
qinB h1 − h7
(1.26)
This efficiency is always greater than the efficiency of the ideal Rankine cycle given
in Eq. (1.14). Indeed, the greater the number of regenerators, the higher the cycle
efficiency.
So, writing the energy balance of the open FWH leads to:
y ⋅ h2 + (1 − y) ⋅ h5 = h6 (1.27)
Now the open FWH requires two pumps: one at its inlet and one at its outlet, but
to avoid this multiplication of pumps in a power plant, it is possible to use a closed
FWH. Moreover, closed FWHs are more reversible than open ones.
A closed FWH has the same role as the open, but there is no mixing of the extracted
steam with the feed water. This way the extracted steam and the feed water can have
different pressures, the FWH then operating as a shell and tube heat exchanger. It is
more expensive and complex than an open FWH, but requires less area and mainte-
nance is reduced because of the lower number of pumps.
In the closed FWH system the extracted steam is cooled and turned into conden-
sate and two options are available to reinject this condensate in to the cycle as shown
Figures 1.23 and 1.24.
The ‘drain cascaded backward’ technology is the cheapest way to reinject the con-
densate, and with this configuration a steam trap is first used to reduce the pressure
from MP to LP, which then reintroduces the condensate to the condenser as shown
in Figures 1.25 and 1.26. However, the overall adiabatic efficiency of a steam trap is
lower than the average efficiency of a pump, so the drain pump forward technology
offers better performance. In fact, in the steam trap, because the pressure drops sud-
denly, exergy is destroyed and so is not reversible. On the other hand, in the pump
(of the pump forward technology), the pressure of the fluid is increased more slowly
resulting in a process more closely resembling a reversible process and resulting in
less exergy reduction.
Reiterating, the drain pumped forward technology is more expensive and requires
more maintenance. In the configuration, a pump is used to increase the condensate
Extracted Figure 1.23 Schematic of the drain cascaded

steam
backward technology.
Feed water Feed water

outlet inlet
To lower
pressure
Steam trap
Extracted Figure 1.24 Schematic of the drain pump

steam
forward technology.
Feed water Feed water

outlet inlet
To higher
pressure
Pump
HP MP LP
Wturb
1 2 3
1-y
Condenser
Qin Boiler
y
y Qout
LP
MP
HP LP
Steam
trap
6 5 4
Closed
FWH Wpump1
7
Figure 1.25 Schematic of a Rankine cycle using closed FWH and drain cascaded backward
technology.
Figure 1.26 T–s diagram of a 1

Rankine cycle using closed FWH
and drain cascaded backward
Temperature (°C)
technology.
2
6 7
5
8
4
3
Entropy (kJ/kg K)
pressure from MP to HP, and then the condensate is mixed with the feed water in a
mixing chamber, as shown in Figure 1.27. However, this process does produce higher
energetic and exergetic efficiencies because the pump creates less irreversibility than
a steam trap.
In a closed FWH (using the same notations as Figure 1.27), the energy balance
leads to:
y ⋅ (h2 − h7 ) = (1 − y) ⋅ (h6 − h5 ) (1.28)
This expression for the efficiency of the closed FWH cycle is the same as the expres-
sion for the efficiency of an open FWH. However (in Figure 1.27 for example), the
benefit of the closed FWH is that the specific energy given by the boiler (qin ) is equal
Wturb Figure 1.27 Schematic of a

HP MP LP
Rankine cycle using closed
1 2 3 FWH and drain pumped
forward technology.
1-y
Condenser
Qin Boiler
Y Qout
9 Mixing
chember
HP LP
Y
6 5 4
Closed
8 HP MP FWH Wpump1
7
Wpump2
to h1 − h9 . Without it, the specific energy would have been h1 − h5 , and since h5 < h9 ,
qin is reduced with a closed FWH.
Regenerative Rankine cycles are widely used in electrical power plants – the num-
ber of FWH systems varying from 6 to 10 and, in most of the cases, both open and
closed FWH configurations can be used in the same plant.
1.2.4.6 Cogeneration
Cogeneration is the generation of two types of energy using only one source of pri-
mary energy. In most cases, cogeneration processes produce both electrical and ther-
mal energies and so cogeneration is also known as combined heat and power (CHP).
The aim of a Rankine cycle-based power plant is to create electrical energy
through the rotation of a steam turbine. However, in the process we also waste a lot
of heat. Cogeneration offers a solution to utilise the thermal energy of this waste
heat, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the whole process. In Europe in
2011, 11% of heat and electricity requirements were produced with cogeneration
plants [9].
Here is an example to better understand the benefits of cogeneration. To produce
350 kW electrical (kWe ) and 530 kW thermal (kWth ), a cogeneration power plant
with an electrical efficiency (Eq. (1.29)) of 35% and a thermal efficiency (Eq. (1.30))
of 53% would use 1000 kW of primary energy. By comparison, a high efficiency
power plant, such as a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant, with
an efficiency of 55% combined with a high efficiency boiler at an efficiency of
90% would require 1225 kW of primary energy [10]. Hence, in this example, the
CHP cogeneration power plant saves 18% of the primary energy in comparison to
the separate production of heat and electricity. The benefits of cogeneration are
therefore: energetic, economic, and environmental.
Pelec
𝜂e = (1.29)
Pin
Power
≈50% ≈80%
Fuel supply
Efficiency Efficiency
Heat
Cogeneration system
Power plant
Power
≈50%
Fuel supply
Conventional system Efficiency
Heat
Boiler
Figure 1.28 Cogeneration vs. conventional system.
Pthermal
𝜂th = (1.30)
Pin
where, Pelec is the electrical power output, Pthermal is the thermal power output, and
Pin is the total power input (kW). In this example, the overall efficiency of the cogen-
eration plant is 88% whereas the overall efficiency of the conventional system is 72%.
Furthermore, the overall system efficiency is further reduced during the delivery of
this conventional electrical power owing to approximately 10% (or more) power loss
in transmission.
In its general application therefore, Figure 1.28 illustrates why cogeneration is a
better solution than conventional systems for producing both heat and electricity.
Notwithstanding other advantages, the average overall efficiency of a cogeneration
plant is higher than the average overall efficiency of a conventional system.
The efficiency of a cogeneration power plant is given by:
Pelec + Pthermal
𝜂cogen = (1.31)
Pin
Although cogeneration power plants can use fossil fuel or uranium as their com-
bustible, it is also possible to use renewable forms of energy such as solar, biomass,
or geothermal.
The main disadvantages of a cogeneration power plant are that: (i) the pro-
duction of electrical energy involves the production of a large quantity of thermal
energy – which is sometimes difficult to use – and (ii) electrical energy is much more
versatile in comparison with thermal energy. Common ways to harness the thermal
energy produced by cogeneration plant is to use it for industrial applications or
for district heating, e.g. through a heat network [11], but other applications are
also practical such as using the heat to warm the water of a swimming pool. It is
also possible to use a portion of the thermal heat output to produce cooling energy
through a sorption chiller, this process being called trigeneration [12].
A cogeneration Rankine cycle requires a heat exchanger to recover heat from the
fluid and in one of several possible cogeneration configurations, heat is recovered
directly from the condenser – in which case, the cogeneration plant is operating as
a back pressure plant. The temperature of the heating stream is directly linked to
the pressure of the fluid within the condenser, this pressure being controlled by a
valve. The higher the pressure of the condenser, the higher the temperature of the
heating stream. However, we must be careful because the higher the pressure within
the condenser, the lower the efficiency of the thermodynamic cycle.
So, to avoid influencing the LP of the cycle, it is also possible to extract a fraction (y)
of the steam coming from the turbine to add heat to the heating stream. In this case,
the heat recovery does not influence the LP of the system. Unfortunately, as the mass
flow rate in the turbine is reduced, the work delivered by the fluid to the turbine is
also reduced. As the fraction extracted is controlled with a valve, different heating
needs can be met by varying this. Figure 1.29 is a schematic of this kind of cycle.
Point 6 in the figure is the mixing chamber.
Figure 1.30 represents the T–s diagram of this cogeneration cycle, which is very
similar to the T–s diagram for the regenerative Rankine cycle with an open FWH.
The difference between those two cycles being that, with the open FWH configura-
tion, the latent heat from the extracted steam is entirely given to the feed water for
the regenerative cycle, whereas with the cogeneration cycle, a fraction of this latent
heat is given to the heating stream. The value of this fraction is a function of the
temperatures and flows within the heat exchanger – which can vary with the time.
Hence, the position of point 2′ on the T–s diagram is variable. For example, if the
process heater recovers 100% of the latent heat from the extracted steam, then this
point will be on the left side of the vapour dome. However, if it is less than 100%,
the point will be under the vapour dome, in which case, the rest of the latent heat is
given to the feed water and the mixing chamber acts as an open FWH.
Wturb Figure 1.29 Schematic of a

HP MP LP
cogeneration Rankine cycle.
1 3
2
1-y
Condenser
Qin Boiler
Qout
y
Heating
Stream
(Ethermal)
2′
HP MP MP LP
7 5 4
6
Mixing
chember
Wpump2 Wpump1
1
Temperature (°C)
2
7
2′
6 1-y
y
5
4
3
Entropy (kJ/kg K)
Figure 1.30 T–s diagram of the cogeneration Rankine cycle.
The overall efficiency of this thermodynamic cycle is given by:

|Wturb | + |Ethermal | − Wpump1 − Wpump2
𝜂= (1.32)
Qin
h1 − h2 + (1 − y)(h2 − h3 ) + y(h2 − h′2 ) − (1 − y)(h5 − h4 ) − (h7 − h6 )
𝜂=
h1 − h7
where, h is the enthalpy at a certain point denoted by the number, W is the work
done, Ethermal is the thermal energy, and Qin is the energy input.
Please note that the configuration shown in Figures 1.29 and 1.30 is just one
possible configuration of the cogeneration Rankine cycle. Other configurations exist
and each one is specific to a certain type of application. For example, Figure 1.31
is a cogeneration cycle used for hot temperature applications, where instead of
extracting steam from the turbine at an intermediate pressure, the steam is extracted
just after the boiler. Hence, this steam is hotter (because its pressure is higher) and
for that reason the configuration is suitable for hot temperature applications. It is
also controllable by means of an expansion valve positioned just before the heat
exchanger which controls the pressure (and therefore the temperature) inside the
exchanger allowing the system to adapt to different heating demands.
1.2.5 Other Configurations of the Rankine Cycle

So far, only the classical Rankine cycle and its possible improvements have been
presented. This section now describes other thermodynamic cycles, derived from
the Rankine cycle, which also use steam as a working fluid.
1.2.5.1 Supercritical Rankine Cycles

As we have noted previously, increasing the HP of the system results in a more work
given to the turbine. However, because of the vapour dome, it also results in a lower
steam quality at the end of the expansion phase. The supercritical Rankine cycle
Wturb
HP LP
1 2 3
1-y
Condenser
Qin Boiler
Qout
y
Heating
Stream
(Ethermal)
2′
HP MP MP LP
7 5 4
6
Mixing
chember
Wpump2 Wpump1
Figure 1.31 Schematic of a cogeneration Rankine cycle for hot temperature applications.
(SRC) bypasses this issue, because the working fluid is brought to such a condi-
tion that its pressure is above its critical pressure – a condition where the fluid is
in a supercritical state and where there is now no longer a link between its vapour
pressure and its temperature.
Advances in metallurgy and manufacturing techniques have made this possible,
to the point where we can realistically increase the HP to a pressure greater than the
critical pressure (for water) of 22.064 MPa (220.64 bar).
Hence, in an SRC, as the name implies, the fluid is in a supercritical state, i.e. it
is behaving as a liquid and a gas at the same time. Working as a SRC increases the
area of the cycle on the T–s diagram (see Figure 1.32), with a resultant increase in
the work given by the fluid to the turbine.
As their working fluid, SRCs can use steam or organic fluids, but steam is still the
most common fluid for both nuclear and fossil fuel power plants.
1.2.5.2 Reverse Rankine Cycles

The reverse Rankine cycle is another Rankine cycle widely used in the refrigeration
sector, where instead of cycling clockwise on the T–s diagram, the cycle operates in
a counterclockwise direction (as shown in Figure 1.33).
As we might expect, the components involved in this cycle are different and
comprise:
● A compressor, used to compress the gas

● A condenser, used to cool and liquefy the fluid
● An expansion valve, used to drop the pressure of the liquid and so expand it back
to a gas
● An evaporator, used to take heat from the environment
Temperature (°C)
Critical point
647 K, 22.06 MPa
Specific entropy (kJ/kg K)
Figure 1.32 T–s diagram of a supercritical Rankine cycle using water as a working fluid.
The ideal refrigeration cycle graphed onto a pressure–enthalpy chart
Liquid–vapour mixture
Sub–cooled liquid Superheated vapour
Pressure (Abs)
Condensation
Expansion
ur
n
vapo
id
o
qu
ssi
d li
rated
e
re
rat
mp
Satu
tu
Sa
Co
Evaporization
Enthalpy (BTU/Lb)
Figure 1.33 P–V diagram of the reverse Rankine cycle.
1.2.6 Rankine Cycles in Power Plants

The main application of the Rankine cycle is in converting thermal energy into
mechanical energy in order to then obtain electrical energy. Hence, Rankine cycles
are used in almost every high-temperature thermal power plant (fossil fuel, nuclear,
geothermal, biomass, concentrated solar power, etc.). This section briefly showcases
these different kinds of thermal power plant and their associated Rankine cycle.
1.2.6.1 Fossil Fuel Power Plants

Fossil fuel power plants consume either coal, fuel, or natural gas; the output power
of such power plants typically range between 500 and 700 MW. The operation of
such plant is based on complex Rankine cycles involving several turbines, pumps,
reheaters, and regenerators, and sometimes, multiple thermodynamic cycles are
used to improve the overall efficiency of the power plant. For example, the CCGT is
a type of power plant using natural gas as fuel, which uses both the Rankine cycle
and a gas turbine (Brayton) cycle to rotate two different electric generators.
In most cases, the cycle working fluid is still water because the temperature of the
hot source is high enough to vapourise the fluid under HP conditions.
1.2.6.2 Nuclear Power Plants

Enriched uranium is a high-energy density fuel – producing 1000 kWh requires only
4 g of this material whereas it requires 350 kg of coal! The power output of a nuclear
reactor is often between 0.9 and 1.5 GW [13] and different designs of nuclear reactor
exist, the most widespread being light water reactors such as the EPR reactor or the
AP1000 reactor. Heavy water, gas-cooled, and fast neutron reactors are less common
but provide other advantages over light water reactors [14].
In light water reactors, three water circuits are used to avoid radiation contamina-
tion. The primary circuit is still a hot water loop and is the hot source for the second
circuit, which then operates through a complex Rankine cycle. The third circuit is
used in order to cool the fluid after the expansion phase and acts as a condenser.
1.2.6.3 Overall Efficiency of a Power Plant

To determine the best way to convert energy into electricity we can compare the
overall efficiencies for different types of power plants. The overall efficiency of a
power plant corresponding to the ratio between the thermal energy input and the
electrical energy output over a given time being:
Electrical energy provided by the plant
𝜂overall = (1.33)
Thermal energy given by the combustible
For the fossil fuel power plants, the thermal energy given by the combustible cor-
responds to the heat of combustion for the mass of fuel used during the given time,
and the current average value of the efficiency of a Rankine-based power plant using
fossil fuel is 33% [15]; however, it can range up to 40% in some cases [16]. In compar-
ison, CCGT power plants have an average efficiency of 45% but they can reach values
in excess of 50% and the efficiencies of current nuclear power plants are similar to
the efficiencies of the Rankine-based fossil fuel power plants, i.e. with an average
value of 33%.
Figure 1.34 is an illustration of the losses occurring during the energy transforma-
tion process:
● Neither the combustion of the fluid nor the nuclear fission reaction are perfect
processes. Hence it is necessary to introduce a boiler efficiency term (𝜂 boiler ) to
quantify the amount of heat given to the system compared to the heat delivered
by the combustible/reaction:
Qin
𝜂boiler = (1.34)
Thermal energy given by the combustible
Eelec
Wturb Wshaft
Qin
Generator mechanical losses
Combustible Heat input
Turbine mechanical losses
Rankine cycle losses
Combustion losses
Figure 1.34 Sankey diagram of a Rankine-based power plant.
● The efficiency of the Rankine cycle (Eq. (1.14)) always induces energy losses.
Indeed, even if the cycle was ideal and without irreversibilities, some losses
would still be introduced by the cycle because the efficiency of this cycle cannot
be higher than the Carnot’s efficiency (Eq. (1.5)).
● Some of the work given by the fluid to the turbine is dissipated because of the
turbine mechanical efficiency:
Wshaft
𝜂turb = (1.35)
Wturbine
● Finally, the generator does not convert 100% of the mechanical energy to electrical
energy:
Eelec
𝜂generator = (1.36)
Wshaft
So, in the end and assuming the pumps of the system are powered by the plant
itself, this leads to an overall efficiency equation for the power plant of [17]:
𝜂overall = 𝜂boiler ⋅ 𝜂actual cycle ⋅ 𝜂turb ⋅ 𝜂generator (1.37)
Of course, this ‘overall’ efficiency only takes into consideration the losses occur-
ring during the production of the electrical power. It should also be noted that there
are many other sources of loss that occur after this production phase, e.g. during the
transport (transmission and distribution) phase and the consumption phase.
1.2.6.4 Case Studies

We need to appreciate that whilst real steam power plants are based on the Rankine
cycle, they used very complex configurations of this thermodynamic cycle, involv-
ing a lot of components, in order to reach the maximum efficiency for a reasonable
economic investment [18].
In these power plants, reheating and regeneration processes are widespread.
For instance, a combination of turbines are used as well as FWHs – all of them
working under different pressure conditions. Among these only one is an open
FWH, the others are closed FWHs using the drain cascaded backward technology.
Pumps are not included on this diagram but, for this configuration, at least four
pumps are necessary to increase the pressure of the fluid from one pressure stage to
the next. Of course, to control this system, a lot of valves, sensors, and controllers
are also required. So, when compared to the classical ideal Rankine cycle, this
power plant cycle is very much more complex.
The overall efficiency of a steam power plant thermodynamic cycle is given by:
𝛴|Wturb | + 𝛴|Ethermal | − 𝛴Wpump
𝜂= (1.38)
𝛴Qin
1.3 Organic Rankine Cycle

The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is very similar to the Rankine cycle, the prefix
‘organic’ being derived from the fact that ORC devices use organic compounds
rather than water as their working fluid. Interest in ORC has accelerated in the
past 10 years, particularly in the areas of waste heat recovery and renewable energy
generation.
The typical parts found in an ORC are not dissimilar from those found in conven-
tional Rankine cycle plant and these include:
1. Pump
2. Evaporator
3. Expansion device
4. Condenser
The devices are constructed to form a circuit in the order of the list provided earlier,
however the configuration of an ORC system can vary depending on its application.
Further stages such as preheating and regeneration may also be included to both
improve the efficiency and also help by recovering energy from other sources. Fur-
thermore, different working fluids also affect the performance of an ORC, with the
selection of the working fluid being largely determined by its application, and where
the temperature of the target heat source is highly influential. To analyse such sys-
tems, we need to note:
Mass conservation is governed by the following equation:
∑ ∑
ṁ out = ṁ in (1.39)
where ṁ out (kg/s) is the mass flow rate of working fluid out of the closed system, and
ṁ in (kg/s) is the mass flow rate into the closed system.
The heat flow between any two points are defined using the following equation:
Q̇ = ṁ ⋅ Δh (1.40)
where Q̇ (kW) is the heat flow, ṁ (kg/s) is the mass flow rate, and Δh is (kJ/kg) the
difference in enthalpy between two points in the ORC.
1.3 Organic Rankine Cycle 35
So, the net mechanical work is described using the following equations:
Ẇ out = Ẇ gross − Ẇ in (1.41)
Ẇ out = ṁ ⋅ Δhexp (1.42)
where Ẇ out (kW) is the net mechanical power output from the ORC system, Ẇ gross
(kW) is the gross mechanical power output from the ORC, Ẇ in (kW) is the gross
mechanical power input into the ORC and Δhexp (kJ/kg) is the enthalpy change
across the expansion device.
Since the only input considered in the configurations is the pump, Ẇ in can be
calculated using Eq. (1.43).
ṁ
Ẇ in = ⋅P (1.43)
𝜌
where ṁ (kg/s) is the mass flow rate, 𝜌 (kg/m) is the density of the working fluid
under the working conditions, and P (N/m)] is the pressure.
1.3.1 Configurations of ORC

Like the Rankine cycle, the ORC exists in many different configurations each
one of which has advantages and drawbacks and so is only suitable for a specific
application.
1.3.1.1 Basic ORC Configuration

The basic configuration of an ORC is laid out in Figure 1.35; the system receiving
and producing useful energy from one heat source, and Figure 1.36 shows the T–S
graph for the same.
The evaporator between 2 and 3 heats the working fluid until it boils, and during
boiling, although the temperature remains constant, the entropy increases. This boil-
ing is represented by the flat line on the T–S graph. In the expander (between 3 and 4)
the gaseous working fluid undergoes expansion where its temperature decreases.
Finally, between 4 and 1 the working fluid passes through a condenser where the
fluid returns to the liquid state ready for the process to begin again.
The equations governing the basic ORC are given subsequently.
Q̇ eva = ṁ ⋅ (h3 − h2 ) (1.44)

Ẇ exp = ṁ ⋅ (h3 − h4 ) (1.45)
Ẇ pump = Ẇ in (1.46)
Ẇ exp
𝜂exp = (1.47)
Q̇ eva
Ẇ exp − Ẇ pump
𝜂basic = (1.48)
Q̇ eva
1 2
Figure 1.35 Schematic of a typical ORC device.
3
Temperature (K)
2 4
1
Entropy (J/K)
Figure 1.36 T–S graph of basic ORC system.
where 𝜂 exp is the efficiency of the expander in the recovery of energy from the evapo-
rator (%) and 𝜂 basic is the thermal efficiency of the entire basic ORC configuration (%).
1.3.1.2 ORC with Preheating

Typically, configurations of ORC systems are more complicated where they are
designed and constructed to recover energy from multiple heat sources.
In automotive applications, e.g. heat can be recovered from both the exhaust
gases and the coolant liquid, so in this format the preheating system involves a heat
4
7
Preheater
1 2 3
6 5
Figure 1.37 Schematic of an organic Rankine cycle with preheater.
4
Temperature (K)
2 5
1
Entropy (J/K)
Figure 1.38 T–S graph of ORC system with preheater.
exchanger between the pump and the expansion device which then recovers heat
energy from the engine coolant fluid and transfers it to the working fluid.
This is shown in Figure 1.37 – the preheater in this case increasing the energy
content of the working fluid, so reducing the energy required for its evaporation in
the evaporator. This process is represented in Figure 1.38 by the additional heating
shown between 2 and 3, the preheating increasing the efficiency of the process by
reducing the energy required in the evaporation for boiling to occur.
The equations governing the ORC with preheating are given subsequently.
Q̇ eva = ṁ 3−4 ⋅ (h4 − h3 ) = ṁ 7−8 ⋅ (h7 − h8 ) (1.49)

Q̇ pre = ṁ 2−3 ⋅ (h3 − h2 ) = ṁ 5−6 ⋅ (h5 − h6 ) (1.50)
Ẇ exp = ṁ ⋅ (h4 − h5 ) (1.51)
Ẇ pump = Ẇ in (1.52)
Ẇ exp
𝜂exp = (1.53)
Q̇ eva + Q̇ pre
𝜂pre = (1.54)
Q̇ eva + Q̇ pre
1.3.1.3 Recuperative ORC

In order to improve the overall thermal performances of the system, preheating of
the working fluid can also be achieved by recuperation as shown in Figure 1.39.
As with normal preheating, this process impacts the working fluid both before the
evaporator but unlike normal preheating, it also affects the working fluid after the
evaporator, and these effects are shown between points 2 and 3 and 5 and 6 on
Figure 1.40. As with preheating, the process reduces the energy needed for boiling
to occur in the evaporator.
The equations governing the recuperative ORC are given subsequently.
Q̇ eva = ṁ ⋅ (h4 − h3 ) (1.55)
Q̇ rec = ṁ ⋅ (h3 − h2 ) (1.56)
Ẇ exp = ṁ ⋅ (h4 − h5 ) (1.57)
Ẇ pump = Ẇ in (1.58)
Ẇ exp
𝜂expansion = (1.59)
Q̇ eva + Q̇ rec
Recuperator Figure 1.39 Schematic of an organic

Rankine Cycle with recuperator.
5
6
4
2
3
1
4
Temperature (K)
3
5
2
6
1
Entropy (J/K)
Figure 1.40 T–S graph of ORC system with recuperator.
𝜂net = (1.60)
Q̇ eva + Q̇ rec
1.3.1.4 Recuperative ORC with Preheating

In fact, both preheating and recuperation can be combined and operated within
the same system and this is shown in Figure 1.41. This is a combination of both
the processes that were shown in Figures 1.38 and 1.40; the entire process being
described by the T–S graph in Figure 1.42 where recuperation and preheating reduce
the energy required for boiling the fluid within the evaporator and also assist in the
condensation process of the working fluid after the expansion device.
The equations governing the recuperative ORC with preheating are given subse-
quently.
Q̇ eva = ṁ ⋅ (h5 − h4 ) (1.61)
Q̇ rec = ṁ 2−3 ⋅ (h3 − h2 ) (1.62)
Q̇ pre = ṁ ⋅ (h4 − h3 ) (1.63)
Ẇ exp = ṁ ⋅ (h4 − h5 ) (1.64)
Ẇ pump = Ẇ in (1.65)
Ẇ exp
𝜂exp = (1.66)
Q̇ eva + Q̇ rec + Q̇ pre
𝜂pre = (1.67)
Q̇ eva + Q̇ rec + Q̇ pre
Recuperator
7 6
3 5
1 4
Preheater
Figure 1.41 Schematic of an organic Rankine cycle with preheater and recuperator.
5
4
Temperature (K)
3
6
2
1 7
Entropy (J/K)
Figure 1.42 T–S graph of ORC system with recuperator and preheater.
1.3.2 Organic Working Fluids

Many different working fluids are used in ORC systems and the choice is largely
determined by the conditions under which the system is designed to operate.
Organic working fluids not only behave differently to water they each also have
different characteristics, but these can be split into three categories known as: dry-,
isentropic-, and wet-type working fluids. Wet, isentropic, and dry working fluids
have dT
dS
values of <0, ∞, and >0 respectively, and the T–S graphs are displayed in
Figures 1.43–1.45, respectively.
Temperature (K)
Entropy (J/K)
Figure 1.43 T–S diagram of a wet-type working fluid.

Temperature (K)
Entropy (J/K)
Figure 1.44 T–S diagram of an isentropic-type working fluid.
There are four major benefits of using organic working fluids over water in Rank-
ine cycles:
1. Less heat is required for evaporation: This can be seen as the width of the T–S curve
is narrower for dry and isentropic working fluids than for wet working fluids.
2. Evaporation occurs at lower temperatures and pressures than water: The reduced
temperature of evaporation means that organic working fluids can be used to
recover energy from lower temperature heat sources than conventional Rankine
cycles.
3. Outlet from expansion devices is a vapour at lower temperatures: This reduces the
likelihood of damage to the expansion device, because condensation should only
Temperature (K)
Entropy (J/K)
Figure 1.45 T–S diagram of a dry working fluid type.
occur after expansion. However, when the expansion inlet temperature is low and
the inlet pressure is high, because wet organic working fluids have lower efficien-
cies than other working fluids they may start to condense within the expansion
device potentially causing damage. This is one reason why dry and isentropic
working fluids are more popular in ORC systems, where after isentropic expan-
sion, they exist in the superheated state, reducing the risk of condensation and
thus minimising potential damage to the expansion device [19].
4. Smaller temperature difference between evaporation and condensation: This results
in reduced pressure drop across the condenser.
1.3.3 Organic Working Fluid Selection

The selection of the correct working fluid is critical to optimising the efficiency
of an ORC system. As such, it is one if not the most important aspect of an ORC
design. Working fluids are chosen based on their environmental sustainability,
ozone depletion, global warming potential (GWP), safety including flammability,
toxicity, and corrosivity, boiler vapour pressure, critical temperature, and thermal
stability as shown in Table 1.1 [20].
These characteristics affect the behaviour of the fluids upon heating – as seen
in the T–s graph for different working fluids in Figure 1.46 – and so under speci-
fied conditions, there should be a specific working fluid that will result in optimum
ORC energy recovery. However, we should also note that certain conditions such
as high temperatures and pressures make the use of some organic working fluids
unsafe.
As discussed already, if the temperature in the evaporator is low, then the working
fluid may condense within the expansion device resulting in decreased efficiency
and possible damage. Additionally, any working fluid that requires more entropy to
Table 1.1 Basic properties of working fluids.
Critical Critical Density Heat of

temperature pressure at 25 ∘ C vapourisation
Fluid (∘ C) (kPa) (kg/m3 ) at 1 bar (kJ/kg)
R134a 101 4059 4.258 217

R227ea 102.8 2999 7.148 131.7
R245fa 154 3651 5.718 196
R123 183.68 3668 1464 170.6
R600 151.98 3796 2.441 358
Toluene 318.6 4126 862.2 361.3
iso-Butane 134.7 3640 2.44 165.5
iso-Pentane 187.2 3370 614.5 342.5
n-pentane 196.5 3364 620.8 358
Source: Table from Darvish et al. [20].
400
350
Key
300
Water
Heptane
250 Toluene
T (°C)
Pentane
200 R123
R245fa
150 R134a
100
50
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000
S (J/K)
Figure 1.46 T–S diagram for different working fluids.
reach the superheated phase then also requires longer exposure within the evapora-
tor, and this would result in a lower mass flow rate than selecting a different working
fluid that requires less entropy to reach the superheated phase.
Different temperature–pressure charts are shown in Figure 1.47 for various com-
mon working fluids. This figure shows that different working fluids exist at different
pressures under the same temperature; these pressure differences also increase with
temperature. Choosing an incorrect working fluid could therefore present a safety
issue – where pressures increase with temperature, then they exceed the safe limits
of the system, resulting in its failure. Under such circumstances, a higher flow rate
would be required in order to reduce the risk of this safety issues and such a pump
60.0
R-32
50.0
R-22
R-152a
R-134a
40.0 R-125 R-12
Pressure (bar)
R-143a R-1234yf
30.0
20.0
10.0 R-1234ze
0.000
–40.0 –20.0 0.000 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100. 120.
Temperature (°C)
Figure 1.47 Temperature–pressure charts for different working fluids. Source: Abas
et al. [21].
would require a higher energy input – potentially resulting in decreased system effi-
ciency. The selection of the correct working fluid therefore is essential to ensure the
safety and high efficiency of an ORC system.
These examples – extreme as they may seem – indicate in terms of both efficiency
and safety the importance of selecting the correct organic working fluid for an ORC
waste heat recovery system.
Although not always the case historically, in addition to system safety issues, work-
ing fluids are now also selected on their sustainability. In the past, organic working
fluids included chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which due to their high ozone deple-
tion potentials (ODPs) were subsequently banned, and working fluids were devel-
oped that had significantly smaller ozone reduction potentials. Nonetheless, despite
the benefits of reduced ozone depletion capacity, these improved fluids still pos-
sessed very high GWPs and so, in turn, this then has led to the development of
working fluids with reduced GWPs such as R123 and R600. The ozone depletion
and GWPs of some common working fluids are shown in Table 1.2.
Note: ODP is defined as the relative amount of degradation to the ozone layer
a substance can cause, with trichlorofluoromethane (R-11 or CFC-11) being fixed
at 1.0.
Table 1.2 Sustainability aspects of some common working fluids.
Ozone Global warming

depletion potential
Fluid potential (equivalent CO2 ) Sources
R134a 0 1300 [22]

R227ea 0 3220 [23]
R245fa 0 1030 [24]
R123 0.02 0.02 [22]
R600 0 3 [25]
Table 1.3 Table showing typical applications of ORC in the industry.
Description/ Temperature of
working fluid Focus Industry source (∘ C) Sources
Sewage heat Sustainability of Petrochemical 110 [26]

recovery TY-1 system industry
Heat recovery Reducing NOx and Shipping 450 [27]
from feeder SO gases in exhaust
ship engine emissions
Heat recovery Energy recovery Automotive 500 [28]
from car under three
exhaust gas different ambient
under different conditions, and
conditions different engine
operating
conditions
1.3.4 Applications of the ORC

There are two main energy applications for the ORC: one is waste heat recovery
(where ORC is used to improve the performance of an energy production process
or recover energy from an exhaust stream) and the other being in the renewable
energy sector. Here ORCs can be used to recover energy from geothermal energy,
solar energy, and biomass combustion.
1.3.4.1 Waste Heat Recovery

The ORC is typically used for power output range between 100 kW and 2 MW, and
Table 1.3 shows some example applications of ORC, typically in recovery of waste
heat from exhaust gases in the industries identified. Configurations of the ORC can
also vary depending on the application.
Renewable Energy
Biomass: Biomass energy generation is becoming more popular as it is now quite
possible to produce energy from food waste and other organic materials that his-
torically would be seen as waste materials. Furthermore, biomass fuels can be
reproduced more quickly than fossil fuels – the length of the carbon cycle being
much shorter for biomass than for fossil fuels. Unfortunately for this application,
biomass fuels typically burn at lower temperatures than fossil fuels. Which means
that conventional Rankine cycles are exposed to a higher risk of condensation
within the expanders when used for power generation and biomass boilers. Con-
sequently, conventional Rankine cycles may require superheating to allow their
use in biomass energy recovery, and for this reason, ORCs are a popular energy
recovery solution for use with biomass fuels [29].
Solar: ORCs make possible the recovery of thermal energy from solar radiation
particularly in warmer countries. The low boiling temperatures of the organic
working fluids used allows for the capture of energy from the Sun in such devices
as flat panel collectors. Phase change materials can also be incorporated into
such systems to store heat when energy is not required or when excess energy is
being produced, this stored energy then being released later [30].
Geothermal: Ground source heat pumps allow for the cooling or heating of a property
making use of the soil and rock as an energy store. This is practical because the
year-round temperature of soil and rock at depths of only a few metres is assumed
to be constant. Therefore, in summer, heat pumps can be used in reverse to take
thermal energy from the air within a building and store it in the ground; whilst
in winter, the process can be reversed, and energy taken from the ground can be
used to heat the air inside the building. These systems can be improved by the use
of ORC systems that help solve the ‘cold accumulation problem’ of such systems,
by storing energy in seasons that require less heating [31].
1.4 Kalina Cycle

The Kalina cycles are a family of thermodynamic power cycles that utilise a mix-
ture of fluids as their working fluid. The first Kalina cycle (also sometimes called
the reverse absorption cycle) was developed in 1984 by Alexander Kalina, a Russian
engineer [32], who then founded Exergy Inc., a company specialising in energetic
efficiency and waste heat recovery.
The family of cycles was still inspired by the family of Rankine cycles. Their
main goal being to further improve both the energetic and exegetic efficiencies
of the thermodynamic power cycle by making use of the fact that in Rankine
cycles a lot of energy is lost during the boiling phase. Moreover, as the temperature
profiles of the working fluid and the heating fluid do not match the thermal
behaviours of the source and working fluid diverge, thus irreversibilities are created
and exergy is destroyed. Kalina cycles therefore offer a solution to this energetic
issue and represent a big step forward for power cycles and their use in electricity
generation [33].
In this section, the theoretical operation of Kalina cycles will be explained and
illustrated. The advantages and drawbacks of this new family of power cycle are
also discussed and compared to both classical steam cycles and ORCs. Next, appli-
cations for these thermodynamic cycles are presented and some case studies are
used to clarify explanations. Lastly, current researches on Kalina cycles are briefly
reviewed to give the reader an indication of the current state of research on this
subject.
1.4.1 Cycle Fundamentals

As just stated, the Kalina cycle is a power cycle based on the Rankine cycle. The
difference arises in using a mixture of fluids as the working fluid.
Using a mixture of fluids (instead of a pure substance) as the working fluid allows
vapourisation and condensation to occur under a constant pressure through a
1.4 Kalina Cycle 47
non-isothermal process. This kind of mixture being called a non-azeotropic mixture

(one with components that have different boiling points), as this way there is a
better match between the temperature profiles of the working fluid and the heating
fluid during the boiling phase. Helpfully, this is also the case between the working
fluid and the cooling fluid in the condensation phase.
Currently, the most commonly used mixture for a Kalina cycle is an ammonia–
water solution, and although relatively new, this mixture has proven its efficiency
through various experiments and pilot projects [33].
It is successful because in a Kalina cycle, the mass fraction of ammonia has a
new degree of freedom, allowing more flexibility and so reaching higher efficiencies.
The main feature being that the mass fraction of ammonia is now directly linked
to the saturation pressure of the mixture. So if, e.g. the pressure is held constant
whilst the mass fraction of ammonia is decreasing, then vapourisation of the fluid
will start at a higher temperature, as shown in Figure 1.48.
The ammonia vaporises first because it is more volatile than water and hence the
mixture concentration of ammonia decreases, and this leads to an increase of the
saturation temperature of the resultant mixture. This way, the boiling phase occurs
over a range of temperatures and not just at one given temperature as would be the
case for a pure substance.
Being able to control the mass fraction of ammonia in each part of the circuit is
therefore an important factor and so, in comparison to more conventional steam
cycles, Kalina cycles require new components. For example, a separator is certainly
required to control the proportion of ammonia in the mixture. This control must
occur at every stage of the circuit, so within the separator are two different phases: a
liquid phase which is a lean ammonia–water solution (as ammonia is more volatile
than water) and a gas phase which is rich in ammonia. Mixing one of these phases
with the working ammonia–water solution is a way to either increase or decrease
the mass fraction of the ammonia depending on which phase is being mixed with
the solution.
300
Pressure = 50 bar
250
Temperature (°C)
Liquid +
200 vapour
Liquid
150
100
50
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Ammonia percentage by mass (%)
Figure 1.48 Saturation temperature as a function of ammonia concentration for an

ammonia–water solution at a pressure of 50 bar.
To operate correctly, a high proportion of ammonia is required in the boiler to

enhance the heat transfer. However, keeping this high proportion of ammonia
during the condensation phase implies a very low condensation temperature
or pressure. So, to overcome this issue, the concentration of ammonia in the
ammonia–water solution is reduced before the condensation phase. It was used to
demonstrate the feasibility of the Kalina cycles in Canoga, New York, in 1992 on a
6.5 MW power plant [34].
In this configuration, the boiler of the system is also called the heat recovery vapour
generator (HRVG). Moreover, the subsystem operating the condensation and dis-
tillation phase is called distillation and condensation subsystem (DCSS). Those two
acronyms are widely used for Kalina cycles. Throughout the cycle, the ammonia
concentration of the mixture is varying. It is like different fluids were being used, i.e.
the fluid in the boiler section is very different from the fluid in the condenser section.
Many other configurations also exist, each tailored for a specific application.
1.4.1.1 Why Use Ammonia–Water Solution in Kalina Cycle?

At this time, Kalina cycles predominantly use the ammonia–water solution with
hardly any other variants being reported. The mixture displays interesting physical,
chemical, economic, and ecological properties, and by varying the percentage mix
it can be made to behave like different fluids compared to a pure compound. The
main reason therefore for choosing this solution is its flexibility, since by varying
the ammonia concentration using distillation, we can alter either the temperature
or the pressure of saturation.
Ammonia–water solution also has an excellent heat transfer coefficient and a low
freezing point. In addition, because ammonia and water have similar molecular
weights, it is possible to use standard components (turbine, pump, etc.) that have
already proven their efficiencies in steam power plants. However, some materials
such as copper, aluminium, and mild steel cannot be used with ammonia, but oth-
erwise standard materials such as carbon steel and standard high-temperature alloys
are fine.
In addition, from an economic point of view, the two components of the mixture
are relatively inexpensive and widely available. Water is abundant and ammonia is
produced on a world-scale for industrial and domestic uses.
The main issue with ammonia is its toxicity. If the human brain is exposed to high
levels of this substance, it can lead to drowsiness and coma [35]. However, as ammo-
nia is a gas under atmospheric pressure and temperature, it is relatively easy to vent
off and so with the relevant safety procedures, already proven in industrial plants
that use large quantities of ammonia, its use here is considered acceptable. More-
over, as ammonia has a strong smell, it is a self-alarming product which makes its
detection easier.
However, the usage of ammonia can also lead to different types of corrosion, and
these will be discussed in Section 1.4.2.
Contrary to the fluids used in ORCs, ammonia and water are ecological-friendly.
Indeed, the GWP of each are zero, which means that the accidental release of those
fluids into the atmosphere has no effect on the global warming. Conversely, the fluids
1.4 Kalina Cycle 49
used in ORCs have a proven effect on the global warming. So, in case of leakage from
an ORC power plant, large quantities of fluid, harmful to the environment, could
be released into the atmosphere. This is not the case for Kalina cycle-based power
plants and furthermore, as with the modern organic fluids used in ORCs, the ODP
of ammonia is also equal to 0.
1.4.2 Advantages and Drawbacks

To evaluate the potential of this technology, it is important to compare it with the
current and most commonly used power cycles of steam systems and ORCs.
1.4.2.1 Advantages
Generally, Kalina cycles have better energetic and exergetic performances than
Rankine cycles or ORCs.
As a reference, the Carnot’s efficiency is given by:
T
𝜂 =1− C (1.68)
TH
In this formula, T H (K) is the average hot source temperature and T C (K) is the
average cold source temperature. So if we can increase the average hot temperature
and at the same time lower the average cold temperature, then the efficiency of the
thermodynamic cycle will be improved. Kalina cycles achieve this, compared to not
only the theoretical Carnot cycle, but also the very practical Rankine cycles. So for
that reason alone, Kalina cycles have a better energetic efficiency.
Moreover, during the boiling and condensing phases, because the temperature
profile of the mixture has a better match to the temperature profile of the heat-
ing/cooling fluid, heat exchanges are enhanced for Kalina cycles compared to Rank-
ine cycles. Less exergy is destroyed during the heat exchange phases for Kalina cycles
so the irreversibilities of the process are reduced. Simulations have showed that the
best work output given by a Kalina cycle is 20% to 24% higher than the equivalent
from a dual pressure Rankine cycle [33].
Also, when using a geothermal spring, Kalina cycles can generate from 10% to 50%
more power than classical steam systems (ORCs), particularly when the temperature
of the source is below 200 ∘ C [36]. When the hot source is at medium temperature,
e.g. with waste heat recovery, the efficiency increase provided by the Kalina cycle
against steam cycles is between 10% and 40% [37].
The gains are not just in simulations. During the Global CempPower conference in
2012 [38], M.D. Mirolli (formerly from Wasabi Energy) and Kevin Happ (FLSmidth)
reported that the use of Kalina cycles for waste heat recovery in the cement industry
can lead to a 15–25% improvement of the recovery compared to current technologies
(ORCs).
As we have already noted, because the properties of the working fluid can be
changed during the operation of the plant, Kalina cycle-based plant can adapt
easily to hot and cold days by varying the proportion of ammonia – this flexi-
bility then allows Kalina cycles to harness energy from a wider range of low to
medium–high-temperature heat sources.
The fact also that standard components can be used to operate a Kalina cycle is an
advantage as it increases the reliability of the potential new power plants, because
even if they are using a relatively new technology, their operation is based on tried
and tested efficiency-proven components.
1.4.2.2 Drawbacks
Ammonia is a toxic fluid, so even if it is easy to vent off under atmospheric pressure
and self-alarming due to its smell, it is relatively dangerous to use on a large scale.
However, some safety procedures exist, and for the moment no health issue linked
to Kalina cycle-based power plants have been recorded. Compared to the hydrocar-
bons used in ORCs, ammonia is non-flammable and does not represent an explosion
hazard.
General corrosion can also occur with this type of power plant due to the presence
of water. However, as ammonia raises the pH level of the solution, the phenomenon
is less important than in classical steam cycles. Indeed, a high pH and a low oxy-
gen proportion can result in the growth of protective magnetite layers (Fe3 O4 ) on
tube surfaces, but generally, a good control of the water chemistry is needed to avoid
issues linked to corrosion.
The CO2 level must also be controlled to avoid the formation of ammonium car-
bamate. This can occur if ammonia and carbon dioxide react under conditions of
HP and high temperature. Furthermore, if the temperature of the mixture exceeds
400 ∘ C, then ammonia becomes unstable and leading to nitride corrosion [39].
Currently, the physical properties of an ammonia–water solution are not yet fully
known, particularly in the supercritical region where very little data is currently
available. Some correlations exist and these are leading to smaller and smaller dif-
ferences between experimental tests and simulations.
Kalina cycles are sometimes said to be more complex than steam cycles. This
assumption is questionable, but it is undeniable that steam cycles have proved their
efficiency and reliability across time. So even though pilot projects exist for the
Kalina cycle it is relatively understandable why some industries are quite hostile to
any additional investment in this technology at the present time.
1.4.3 Applications of the Kalina Cycle

Because the boiling temperature of the mixture varies, it can start to evaporate at
a lower temperature than for the Rankine cycle at a given pressure. This is why
Kalina cycles are mostly used in geothermal power plants (100–120 ∘ C) and waste
heat recovery (300–400 ∘ C) [40]. For waste heat recovery applications, the most suit-
able applications are the cement industry, glass industry, petrochemical industry,
steel industry, and potentially, for thermal power plants [39]. Using Kalina cycles as
bottoming cycles in thermal power plant is possible, but for now it is not yet econom-
ically viable because the architecture of such a cycle is quite complex. Kalina cycles
can also be used with alternative renewable energies other than geothermal, and
some configurations of the cycle are made for solar thermal and ocean thermal [41]
operations (Figure 1.49).
1.4 Kalina Cycle 51
Liquid heat Gaseous heat

source source
Low-grade
40 geothermal
Kalina benefit (%)
Conventional
geothermal
30
HFR geothermal
20 Industrial waste
heat Process heat
waste cement
kiln Gas turbine
10 exhaust
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550
Temperature (°C)
Figure 1.49 Kalina benefit as a function of heat temperature and types of

applications.
1.4.3.1 The Different Configurations of the Cycle

Kalina cycles are part of a thermodynamic family of cycles. These vary by the num-
ber of each component, how they are arranged, and how they are linked together. To
date, a lot of interesting Kalina cycle configurations have been designed and studied;
every configuration being suitable for a particular type of application and so desig-
nated by a code. For example, KCS-1 was the very first cycle that used a mixture of
fluids and was proposed by Kalina himself in 1984 [42].
All these thermodynamic cycles are split into two groups. The oldest ones are
called first-generation Kalina cycles – the Kalina cycle being a trademark involving
all the first-generation Kalina cycles [43].
Figure 1.50 shows three configurations of the Kalina cycle system [44], all suitable
for geothermal applications. KCS-11 was designed for the high-temperature geother-
mal resources and KCS-34 for lower temperature geothermal resources. Those two
cycles are the most common Kalina cycles used for geothermal application. KSG-1
is very similar to KCS-34, the KSG-1 patent is held by Siemens.
A second generation of Kalina cycle was developed by Dr. Alexander Kalina from
2008 to 2014. The patents for those new cycles are all owned by a company called
Kalex LLC, founded by Kalina.
Those new cycles are more efficient and provide an improved power output. For
example, the SG-2a cycle offers a better energetic and exergetic efficiency than either
KCS-11 or KCS-34 when using geothermal heat sources in temperature range from
125 to 150 ∘ C [45].
So even though these new cycles have a more complex architecture than their
first-generation counterparts and so are consequently more expensive, they still offer
a shorter payback period [46]. Second-generation Kalina cycles therefore seem most
promising, and configurations now exist for biomass, geothermal, solar thermal,
cement waste heat, bottoming cycle, and ocean solar thermal applications [47].
52
[44].
KCS-11 KCS-34 KSG-1
Figure 1.50
Geothermal Geothermal
Turbine Geothermal
Brine inlet Turbine Brine inlet Turbine
Brine inlet
Evaporator
Evaporator
1 Thermodynamic Cycles
Seperator
Seperator
Evaporator
HT Evaporator
recuperator
Recuperator
Recuperator
Recuperator
LT
recuperator
Condenser
Recuperator Condenser
Feed Feed
Cooling Feed
pump pump
water/air in pump
Cooling Cooling
(a) (b) water/air in (c) water/air in
(a–c) Schematic of different Kalina cycle systems [44]. Source: Wang and Yu
1.5 Brayton Cycle 53
Table 1.4 Kalina cycle case studies from around the world [39].
Output
Name Country Commissioned (MW) Heat sources
Canoga Park USA 1992 6.5 Nuclear waste heat

Fukuoka Japan 1998 4 Waste incineration
Sumitomo Metals Japan 1999 3.5 Waste heat
Husavik Iceland 2000 2 Geothermal
Fuji Oil Japan 2005 3.9 Waste heat
Bruschal Germany 2009 0.6 Geothermal
Unterhaching Germany 2009 3.5 Geothermal
Shanghai Expo China 2010 0.05 Solar hot water
Quingshui Taiwan 2011 0.05 Geothermal
Source: Global cement [39].
1.4.4 Case Studies

Some pilot power plants exist and are currently producing energy using Kalina
cycles. Table 1.4 lists case studies from around the world as of 2012.
The first large-scale Kalina cycle-based power plant was built in the United States
in 1992 and operated for five years recovering nuclear waste heat and was able to
produce 6.5 MW of electricity [39].
A famous Kalina-based plant (KCS-34) was built in Húsavík, Iceland. It is a 2 MW
geothermal power plant and harnesses the energy of 125 ∘ C geothermal brine,
providing 80% of the electrical demand of the local town’s 2500 inhabitants [48].
Another geothermal power plant (KCS34), also harnessing geothermal hot brine
through a Kalina cycle, is located at Unterhachting in Germany. This power plant
is generating 3.4 MW of electricity. The geothermal brine is also providing 38 MW
of thermal energy to a district heating system. A third geothermal power plant
(KCS-34) using the Kalina technology is the Bruchsal power plant [49], also in
Germany.
Further Kalina cycle projects had been designed since 2012. For example, the Star
Cement plant in Dubai is a 4.75 MW plant also using this technology [3], and it is
anticipated, as we move forward, that more and more projects utilising Kalina cycles
technology will evolve [50].
1.5 Brayton Cycle

The Brayton cycle is also known as the ‘gas turbine cycle’ or the Joule cycle. It is an
open cycle, whereby the intake and exhaust points are both open to the environment
[51].
Air enters the engine and is compressed by the compressor (resulting in HP air).
Energy is then added by spraying fuel into the air and igniting it within the com-
bustion chamber, and now this high-temperature pressurised gas is used to drive a
turbine (mounted on the same shaft as the compressor) to produce work output.
Finally, the combusted gases and any unused energy leaves through the exhaust and
in doing so some of this unused energy can be recovered.
First though, the Brayton cycle itself. This consists of a compression stage (process
1–2) which takes place adiabatically followed by a second stage (process 2–3) – the
heat addition process – which occurs isobarically. The third stage (process 3–4) is an
expansion process which occurs adiabatically and the final stage (process 4–1), heat
rejection, occurs isobarically, all as shown in Figure 1.51.
The Brayton cycle is different from the Otto and Diesel cycles in that the processes
occur within an open system. Therefore, in order to determine the heat transfer and
work for the process an open system and steady flow analysis are used.
The schematic of the open Brayton process is shown in Figure 1.52, however, to
further define the process as a cycle we need to include the heat output as shown in
Figure 1.53.
The thermal efficiency of the Brayton 𝜂 th cycle is given by the following equation:
Wnet Q
𝜂th = = 1 − out (1.69)
Qin Qin
where W net (kJ) is the net work output of the system, Qin (kJ) is the heat input, and
Qout (kJ) is the heat output.
The conservation of mass then gives:
ṁ in = ṁ out (1.70)
ṁ 2 = ṁ 3 = ṁ (1.71)
where m2 and m3 are the mass flow rate of fluid leaving the compressor and the mass
flow rate entering the turbine (kg/s), respectively.
3
Temperature, T (°C)
st.
Qin con
P=
4
st. Qout
con
P=
1
Entropy, s (kJ/kg K)
Figure 1.51 Temperature entropy graph for a Brayton cycle.

Qin
2 3
Wc
Comp Turb Wnet
1 4
Qout
Figure 1.52 Gas turbine engine.
Figure 1.53 Closed Qin

Brayton cycle.
2 3
Wc
Comp Turb Wnet
1 4
Therefore,
qout Cp (T4 − T1 )
𝜂th = 1 − =1− (1.72)
qin Cp (T3 − T2 )
Q
where qout (kJ∕kg) = mout , Cp (kJ/kg K) is the specific heat capacity of the working
fluid (depending on the temperature), and T x (K) is the temperature of the fluid
given point.
Assuming the specific heat is constant (cold air standard analysis) gives:
( )
T
T4 − T1 T1 T4 − 1
𝜂th = 1 − ( )
1
=1− (1.73)
T3 − T2 T3
T2 T − 1
2
And as processes 1–2 and 3–4 are isentropic:

( ) k−1
T2 P2 k
= (1.74)
T1 P1
( ) k−1
T3 P3 k
= (1.75)
T4 P4
In these last two equations, k is the heat capacity ratio, also known as the adiabatic
index.
Moreover, as processes 2–3 and 4–1 are isobaric:
P2 = P3 (1.76)
P4 = P1 (1.77)
Thus,
T2 T
= 3 (1.78)
T1 T4
Which can also be written this way:
T4 T
= 3 (1.79)
T1 T2
So that finally, the efficiency of the ideal Brayton cycle is given by:
T1
𝜂th = 1 − (1.80)
T2
Now as the pressure ratio is defined as:
P2
rp = (1.81)
P1
Figure 1.54 shows a typical pressure ratio curve for gas turbine engine.
Then the efficiency of the cycle can also be written using this coefficient as:
1
𝜂th = 1 − k−1
(1.82)
rp k
0.7
0.6
0.5
ηth Brayton
0.4
0.3
Typical pressure ratios
for gas turbine engine
0.2
0.1
5 10 15 20 25
Pressure ratio, rp
Figure 1.54 Typical pressure ratios for a gas turbine engine.

However, this is not the whole of the story because some of work produced by the
turbine is also used by the compressor, the amount given back being defined by the
back-work ratio (BWR) from:
Win Wcomp
BWR = = (1.83)
Wout Wturb
1.5.1 Regenerative Brayton Cycle (Regenerator)

Because the temperature of the turbine exhaust is higher than the exit stream of
the compressor, it presents an ideal opportunity to install a heat exchanger located
between the hot exhaust of the turbine and the cooler gas leaving the compressor.
Such a heat exchanger is also known as a regenerator or a recuperator. Figure 1.55
shows a schematic of the regenerative Brayton cycle.
And so in describing the efficiency of this regenerator, a regenerator efficiency term
needs to be introduced, its calculation involving qregen,max and qregen,act ,and which can
be obtained through enthalpy differences expressed in kJ/kg (see Figure 1.56).
qregen,max (kJ∕kg)
𝜀regen = (1.84)
qregen,act (kJ∕kg)
qregen,max = h′5 − h2 = h4 − h2 (1.85)
qregen,act = h5 − h2 (1.86)
Hence,
h5 − h2
𝜀regen = (1.87)
h4 − h2
For ideal gases using the cold air standard analysis with constant specific heat, the
regenerator effectiveness becomes:
T − T2
𝜀regen = 5 (1.88)
T4 − T2
So, for the efficiency of the cycle (using the closed cycle analysis) this leads to:
qout h − h1
𝜂th,regen = 1 − =1− 6 (1.89)
qin h3 − h5
Regenerator
6
2 5 4
3
Qin
Wc
Comp Turb Wnet
Figure 1.55 Schematic of the regenerative Brayton cycle.

Qin
Qregen 5 5′
4
Regeneration
2 Qsaved = Qregen
6
1 Qout
Figure 1.56 Temperature entropy graph for a regenerative Brayton cycle.
And assuming the efficiency of the regenerator is equal to 1, this then gives:
T1 k−1
𝜂th,regen = 1 − r k (1.90)
T3 p
Figure 1.56 shows the temperature entropy profile for a regenerative Brayton cycle.
1.5.1.1 Compressor Analysis

The work (kW) used by the compressor is given by the following equation:
Ẇ act,comp = m(h
̇ 2a − h1 ) (1.91)
where ṁ is the mass flow rate of working fluid (in kg/s) and hx is the enthalpy at the
given point (kJ/kg).
Hence the adiabatic efficiency of the compressor is given by:
Ẇ isen,comp h − h1 T − T1
𝜂comp = = 2s ≅ 2s (1.92)
Ẇ act,comp h2a − h1 T2a − T1
And the isentropic temperature at the outlet of the compressor is given by:
( ) k−1
P2 k
T2s = T1 (1.93)
P1
1.5.1.2 Turbine Analysis

The work provided by the turbine (kW) is given by the following equation:
Ẇ act,turb = m(h
̇ 3 − h4a ) (1.94)
From which, the adiabatic efficiency of the turbine is given by:

Ẇ act,turb h − h4a T − T4a
𝜂turb = = 3 ≅ 3 (1.95)
Ẇ isen,turb h3 − h4s T3 − T4s
0.7
0.6
T1/T3 = 0.2
0.5
ηth Brayton
0.4 T1/T3 = 0.25
0.3
T1/T3 = 0.33
0.2
0.1
5 10 15 20 25
Pressure ratio, rp
Figure 1.57 Regenerative Brayton cycle efficiency as a function of the pressure ratio and
minimum and maximum temperature ratio.
And so, the isentropic temperature at the outlet of the turbine is given by:
( ) k−1
P4 k
T4s = T3 (1.96)
P3
1.5.1.3 Heat Supplied to the Cycle

The heat supplied to the cycle (kJ/kg) for process 5 to 3 can be calculated as follows:
qin = h3 − h5 = Cp (T3 − T5 ) (1.97)
The plot in Figure 1.57 shows the regenerative Brayton cycle efficiency as a func-
tion of the pressure ratio and minimum and maximum temperature ratio, T1∕T3 .
Thus, when the efficiency of the regenerative cycle is equal to the standard Brayton
cycle then:
( ) k
T3 2(k−1)
rp = (1.98)
T1
1.5.2 Regenerative Brayton Cycle (Reheater and Intercooler)

The performance of a Brayton cycle can be further improved by incorporating an
intercooler and a reheat process, the process schematic in Figure 1.58 shows a poten-
tial layout for a Brayton cycle with such additions. The concept is simple. During
multi-stage compression, cooling the working fluid between each stage ultimately
reduces the amount of work that is required by each compressor. This is because
if we reduce the specific volume of the working fluid by cooling, then less work is
required to achieve a set pressure increase.
Regenerator
10
4 5
Reheater
1 Combustion
chamber 7 8 9
6
Comp I Comp II Turb I Turb II Wnet
2 3
Intercooler
Figure 1.58 Schematic of the regenerative Brayton cycle with intercooler and reheat.
Qin 6 Qreheat Figure 1.59 Temperature entropy

8 graph for a regenerative Brayton
5 cycle with a reheater and an
9 intercooler.
Qregen 7
Qsaved = Qregen
4 2
10
3 1 Qout
Qintercooler
So, incorporating a reheating process between two or more turbines of a

multi-stage expansion ultimately results in an increase in the net work done
and therefore a more efficient cycle. The temperature against entropy for this
thermodynamic cycle is shown in Figure 1.59.
1.5.2.1 Intercooling
To minimise the work used by the compressors, P2 (Pa) should be set as:
√
P2 = P1 P4 (1.99)
As the process 2–3 is isobaric, it can also be written as follows:

P2 P P
= 4 = 4 (1.100)
P1 P2 P3
1.5.2.2 Reheating
To maximise the turbine work, P7 should be set as:
√
P7 = P6 P9 (1.101)
1.6 Chapter Summary 61
As the process 7–8 is isobaric, it can also be written this way:

P6 P P
= 7 = 8 (1.102)
P7 P9 P9
1.6 Chapter Summary

To conclude, the Rankine cycle can be considered (alongside the Carnot cycle) as
the basis for all the external combustion thermodynamic cycles that aim to convert
thermal energy into mechanical energy. In most cases the mechanical energy is then
converted into electrical energy because of its greater versatility and adaptability as
a form of energy.
Even though the ideal Rankine cycle is quite simple, a significant number of
improvements can still be made to it in order to enhance the performance of the
system and increase its energetic efficiency – reheating, regeneration, increasing or
decreasing the pressure can all be considered, in order to make the most of a power
plant.
In most cases, water is used as the working fluid because it is non-toxic,
non-reactive, abundant, cost-effective, and displays good thermodynamic proper-
ties. However, using an organic fluid is also an option to help further increase the
efficiency of the Rankine cycle or to harness medium temperature hot sources such
as geothermal, biomass solar energy, or for waste heat recovery. In which case, this
new cycle is known as an ORC, but even this can be further improved in many
ways using reheaters and/or recuperators for instance. The use of new fluids also
allows for greater flexibility, in that different fluids may be more suitable for specific
applications, thus allowing them to reach their greatest possible efficiency. Hence,
as discussed earlier, the selection of the right working fluid is crucial to efficient
operation. To assist in this choice, organic fluids are divided into three families:
wet-type fluids, dry-type fluids, and isentropic fluids, and currently a huge number
of studies are focusing on the integration of ORC with existing systems so as to
improve their overall efficiency.
Recent technological advances also allow the working fluid (water or organic
fluid) to be used in supercritical conditions in order to improve the amount of work
provided by the turbine(s) of a power plant.
In this respect, the Kalina cycle can be considered as the biggest step forward since
the development of the Rankine steam cycles and ORCs. The technology presents a
better energetic efficiency than steam cycles particularly for low-grade temperature
applications such as geothermal and waste heat recovery.
The technology is relatively new; hence the capital expenditure necessary for a
Kalina cycle-based power plant is, in most cases, higher than for a conventional
system. However, as the Kalina cycle systems have a higher efficiency, their pay-
back period is reduced, particularly for the latest second-generation cycles. It is also
important to note that the Kalina cycles are a family of thermodynamic cycles and so
a vast number of configurations exist, each one being suitable for a specific applica-
tion. In most cases, a water–ammonia mixture is used as the working fluid in those
employing binary cycles. Indeed, this fluid offers interesting thermal performance;
is compatible with standard materials and components; is ecological-friendly, abun-
dant, and relatively inexpensive.
The reverse Kalina cycle is also a widely known thermodynamic cycle in that it
is the absorption refrigeration cycle. This cycle uses an absorber and a generator
instead of a compressor to carry out the suction and compression processes, meaning
that almost no electricity is required to run the cycle. The future of Kalina cycles
seems promising. An ever-increasing number of scientific studies are addressing the
integration of this cycle in various systems: geothermal power plants, cement plants,
concentrated solar power plants, and biomass power plants.
Now the Brayton cycle, although different to the Rankine cycle and its derivatives
in that it is an open thermodynamic cycle, still has the same role to play as the closed
power cycle – converting heat into mechanical energy – and the cycle efficiency can
also be improved by using different technologies such as regeneration, reheating,
and intercooling. The Brayton cycle can also use organic fluids as their working fluid
(CO2 in most cases) and sometimes these fluids too can operate under supercritical
conditions with a further increase in efficiency.
But we are not just thinking about systems in isolation. Even if Rankine cycles
and Brayton cycles are quite different, they can still be used together in combined
cycles. In the CCGT plant, those two cycles are used together to reach a relatively
high overall thermal efficiency (from 50% to 63%). So high, that the association of the
Rankine cycle with the Brayton cycle is currently the most efficient way of producing
electricity on a large scale. For example, the Chubu Electric Nishi-Nagoya power
plant Block-1 in Japan is achieving a gross efficiency of 63.08%, and so is currently
recognised as the world’s most efficient combined cycle power plant.
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1.1 Introduction to Thermodynamic Cycles

1.2 Rankine Cycle

Refrigeration cycles Power cycles

Idealised models of real Ideal cycles

Gas power cycles Vapour power cycles

Internal combustion External combustion

Figure 1.1 Map of all thermodynamic cycles.

fixed to a shaft and on to which an electrical generator is also located. In this

1.2.2 Thermodynamic Diagrams

physical parameters used to describe a thermodynamic system are the temperature

Constant pressure line Gas

(a) Volume (V) (b)

Solid and liquid

Solid and vapour

Figure 1.3 P–V perspective of a P–V–T diagram.

view we would obtain by looking at the surface from a pressure–volume perspective

Figure 1.4 P–V diagram of a pure substance.

Liquid and Vapour

Figure 1.5 T–V and P–T perspectives of a P–V–T diagram.

Figure 1.6 T–V diagram of a pure substance.

Figure 1.7 P–T diagram of a pure substance.

In fact, entropy is very relevant to thermodynamics and is the function of the

Entropy (kJ/(kg K))

Figure 1.9 P–h diagram of refrigerants. Source: Sethi et al. [4].

1.2.3 The Carnot Cycle

T Figure 1.10 T–s diagram

● Stage 1 (AB): Heat is transferred from the high-temperature reservoir (T 1 ) at con-

W= PdV = TdS (1.1)

|W| = (T1 − T2 ) ⋅ (SB − SA ) (1.2)

QH = T1 ⋅ (SB − SA ) and QC = T2 ⋅ (SB − SA ) (1.3)

Then the efficiency of the Carnot cycle can be defined as:

1.2.4 Ideal and Actual Rankine Cycles

Figure 1.11 T–s diagram of the Rankine cycle.

Figure 1.12 Schematic of the Rankine cycle.

1.2.4.1 Ideal Cycle

1. The pressure P (Pa)

3. The steam quality x, which represents the proportion of saturated vapour in a

1.2.4.2 Superheated Rankine Cycle

Figure 1.13 T–s diagram of the superheated Rankine cycle.

Figure 1.14 Schematic of the superheated Rankine cycle.

1.2.4.3 Actual Rankine Cycle

Ideal Rankine cycle

In thermodynamics, reversibility defines the best theoretical work process, i.e. as

Adiabatic turbine (neglect, Δke, Δpe)

Wreal h – h4r Entropy (s)

(a) Specific entropy (b)

Figure 1.16 Adiabatic efﬁciency of a turbine.

1.2.4.4 Improvements to the Rankine Cycle

Figure 1.17 Effects of decreasing the LP on the Rankine cycle.

Figure 1.18 Effects of increasing the HP on the Rankine cycle.

Figure 1.19 Schematic of the Rankine cycle with reheat.

Figure 1.20 T–s diagram of a

Rankine cycle with reheat.

1.2.4.5 Regenerative Rankine Cycles

Figure 1.22 T–s diagram 1

|𝜔turb | − 𝜔pumps (h1 − h2 ) + (1 − y)(h2 − h3 ) − (1 − y)(h5 − h4 ) − (h7 − h6 )

Extracted Figure 1.23 Schematic of the drain cascaded

Feed water Feed water