Rankine Cycle efficiency of a steam power plant may be in the range of

Explanation:

Range of Rankine cycle efficiency: 35 – 45%.

Rankine cycle:

Process 1 – 2: Isentropic compression

• Working fluid is pumped from low to high pressure

Process 2 – 3: Isobaric heat addition

• The high-pressure liquid enters a boiler where it is heated at constant pressure by an external heat source to become dry saturated vapour.

Process 3 – 4: Isentropic expansion

• The dry saturated vapour expands through a turbine, generating power.

Process 4 – 1: Isobaric heat rejection

• The wet vapour then enters a condenser where it is condensed at constant pressure and temperature to become a saturated liquid.

The efficiency of Rankine cycle:

\({\eta _{rankine}} = \frac{{net\;work\;done}}{{heat\;supplied\;}} = \frac{{{W_{Turbine}} - {W_{Pump}}}}{{{Q_{boiler}}}}\)

Additional Information

Range of Brayton cycle efficiency: 40 – 60%.