MCEN90015 Thermodynamics

Tutorial sheet 1: The 2nd Law and Gas Turbines Cycle Analysis
1) From the 2nd law of thermodynamics, prove the following inequality is always valid.
dS

dQ
T

2) Neglecting changes in kinetic and potential energies, prove that the work done by a
reversible steady flow is
2

wrev = vdp
1

3) Using the equation from Q2, prove that a steady-flow device, e.g. compressor or turbine,
delivers the most and consume the least work when the process is reversible.

4) The pressure ratio across the compressor of a gas turbine cycle is 4.5 to 1. The pressure
of the air entering the compressor is 0.101 MN/m2, and the temperature is 15 C. The
maximum temperature in the cycle is 816 C. Determine the compressor work, turbine
work, and thermal efficiency of the cycle.
(156 kJ/kg, 383 kJ/kg, 35%)

5) An ideal counter-flow heat exchanger is incorporated into the cycle in Problem 1. The
heat exchanger uses the exhaust gas to heat the compressed air before combustion. It has
100% heat transfer efficiency, which means that the outlet temperature of the cold flow
(compressed air) can reach the same temperature as the inlet temperature of the hot flow
(exhaust gas). Determine the thermal efficiency of the cycle.
(59.3%)

6) A gas turbine power plant has a compressor isentropic efficiency and a turbine isentropic
efficiency of 70%. Given the inlet temperature of 20 C, determine the minimum turbine
inlet temperature, in terms of the pressure ratio, that leads to positive power output.
Compressor isentropic efficiency
Turbine isentropic efficiency

( 598rp

isentropic work
actual work
actual work
t =
isentropic work

c =

-1-

7) A standard gas turbine using air as a working substance operates under the following
conditions: inlet temperature 21.0 C, inlet pressure 101.0 kN/m2, pressure ratio 5 to 1,
turbine inlet temperature 760 C, compressor efficiency 0.75, turbine efficiency 0.85.
Determine the thermal efficiency and the air consumption per kW.hr.
(18.6 %, 37.7 kg/kW.hr)

8) For ideal gas turbine cycle, prove that the pressure ratio rp to produce the maximum work
in a cycle is

T 2( 1)
rP = 3
T1
where T1 and T3 is the compressor and turbine inlet temperature, respectively.
9) A gas turbine consists of a compressor directly coupled to the turbine. Air enters the
compressor at 102.0 kN/m2, and 18 C. Air is compressed to 489.6 kN/m2 with an
isentropic efficiency of 75 % and passes to the combustion chamber via a heat exchanger
of effectiveness of 80%. The heat exchanger effectiveness is defined as
=
(Thot,in Thot,out ) / (Thot,in Tcold,in ) . The combustion products enter the turbine at 820 C.
The turbine has an isentropic efficiency of 85% and exhausts to atmosphere at 102.0
kN/m2. Determine the temperature at the exit from exchanger, the compressor work,
turbine work and thermal efficiency.
(435 C, 221 kJ/kg, 338 kJ/kg, 30.2%)

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