Thermodynamics 1

An external combustion engine (EC engine) is a heat

engine where an (internal) working fluid is heated by
combustion in an external source, through the
engine wall or a heat exchanger.

Thermodynamics 1

The ideal cycle for Gas-Turbine Engines (It is also

sometimes known as the Joule cycle) named after
George Brayton an American engineer.

Operation of Simple Gas Turbine Power Plant

Gas turbines usually operate on an open cycle,
as shown in Fig. 26 (a)

Diagrammatic Layout of Gas Turbine Units

1.
2.

3.

4.

Air continuously enters compressor 1.

As air enters, some go around the outside of the
combustion chamber & the remainder furnishes
oxygen for burning the fuel, which is continuously
injected in the combustion chamber.
Temperature rise cause the gases to expand &
enter the turbine in state 3.
After expansion through the turbine, the exhaust to
the atmosphere is in some condition 4.

In an ordinary power plant arrangement, the work of the turbine

W1 is great enough to drive the compressor Wc & deliver brake
work WB to drive a generator or propeller; WT = WB +Wc. An
external source of power is needed to start a gas turbine unit.

The open gas-turbine cycle described above can be modeled as a

closed cycle, as shown in Fig. 26 (b), by utilizing the air-standard
assumptions. Here the compression and expansion processes remain
the same, but the combustion process is replaced by a constantpressure heat-addition process from an external source heat
exchanger), and the exhaust process is replaced by a constant
pressure heat-rejection process to the ambient air (or heat sink heat
exchanger). The ideal cycle that the working fluid undergoes in this
closed loop is the Brayton cycle, which is made up
of four internally reversible processes:

Air-Standard Brayton (Joule) Cycle

1-2: isentropic compression
2-3: constant-pressure addition of heat
3-4: isentropic expansion
4-1: constant-pressure rejection of heat
Air-standard cycle means that air alone is the working medium

QA = mcP (T3 T2)

QR = mcP (T1 T4)
= - mcP (T4- T1)
W = QA - QR = mcP (T3 T2 ) - mcP (T4 T1 )
e
e
e

QA

mcP (T3 T2 ) mcP (T4 T1 )

= =
mcP (T3 T2 )
(T4 T1 )
=1{1}
(T3 T2 )
1
1
= 1 - 1 = 1 - 1

Where: =

V1
,
V2

the compression ratio and =

P2
,
P1

the pressure ratio

Derivation of the formula for e:

Process 1-2:

V1 k1
P2 k1
=( )
=( ) k
V2
P1
T2 = T1 rk k1
{2}
T2
T1

rk

k1

= rp

k1
k

{3}

Process 3-4:

P3 k1
P2 k1
=( ) k =( ) k
P4
P1
T3 = T4 rk k1
{4}
T3
T4

Substituting equation {2} and

{4} in {1}.
e=1-

e=1-

4 1
4 1 1 1

1
1

=1-

1
1

Total compressor work:

Wc = -H = -mcp (T2 T1)
Total turbine work:
Wt = -H = -mcp (T4 T3)
= mcp (T3 T4)
Net work: W or WB = Wt - Wc

Sample Problem 1: Brayton Cycle

1. The intake of the compressor of an air standard Brayton cycle is
40,000 cfm at 15 psia and 90F. The compression ratio, rk = 5 and the
temperature at the turbine inlet is 1440 degree Fahrenheit. The exit
pressure of the turbine is 15 psia. Determine the net work, thermal
efficiency and the mean effective pressure.

Sample Problem 1: Brayton Cycle

Solution
V1 = 40,000 cfm
P1 = 15 psia
T1 = 550R
T3 = 1,990R
P4 = 15 psia

rk= =
m

Point 3:

V3 =

Point 4:

V1=

( ) =

V2=

= .

(,)
. ()

). = 24.7

.
(, )( ). = 998R
.

V4 = ( ) = (. )(

T4 =

= ,

= - (0.24)(1,047 550) = -119.3

Turbine work, Wt = Cp(T3 T4)
= (0.24)(1,900 -998) = 216.5

,
,

Compressor work, Wc = -Cp (T2 T1)

= .

Net work, WB = Wt Wc

= 216.5 -119.3 = 97.2

Heat added, QA = cp (T3 T2)

Point 2:

= .

,
,

Point 1:

= .

P2 =
= () = 142.8 psia
T2 = T1rkk-1 = (). = , R

= (0.24)(1,900 1,047) = 204.7

e=

Pm =

.
.

= . . %

. ()
.. ()

= .

Sample Problem 2: Brayton Cycle

2. There are required 2,238 kW net from a gas turbine unit for pumping
of crude oil from the North Alaskan Slope. Air enters the compressor
section at 99.975kPa, 278K; the pressure ratio rp = 10. The turbine
section receives the hot gases at 1,111k. Assume the closed Brayton
cycle and find (a) the required air flow and (b) the thermal
efficiency.

Sample Problem 2: Brayton Cycle

Solution
WB = 2,238 Kw
P1 = 99.975 kPa
T1 = 278 K

rp = =

Point 2:
P2 = = . = .

T2 = ( )

Point 4:

( )

= ()()

.
.

= .

.
( ) .

T4 =

QA= = . , . = .

QR= = . . = .

W= 577.9 299.2 = 278.7

= ,

a) m (278.7) = 2,238 = 8.03

b) e =

.
.

= .

= . . %

Thermodynamics 1

Reference: Sta. Maria, H. B. (1990). Thermodynamics 1. Mandaluyong City, Philippines: National Book Store.

Presentation made by David Anthony C. Manalo & Gino Carlo O. Cadao