MEE 401

Applied Thermodynamics II

Group Task 3 with Solutions

1
 Question 1
Group Take Home Task (10 marks)
Air enters the compressor of an ideal cold air-standard Brayton cycle at 100 kPa, 300 K, with a mass flow rate of
6 kg/s. Investigate and discuss the effect of varying compressor ratio and turbine inlet temperature on the net
power developed for

(a) Compressor pressure ratio of 10 and turbine inlet temperature ranging from 1000 to 1600 K
(b) A turbine inlet temperature of 1400 K and compressor pressure ratios ranging from 2 to 20

Solution

𝑝2
(a) For a constant pressure ratio of = 10 and range of turbine inlet temperature 1000 to 1600 K
𝑝1

𝛾−1ൗ 𝛾−1ൗ
𝛾 𝛾
𝑇3 𝑝1 𝑇3 𝑝2
𝑊ሶ 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒 = 𝑚𝑐
ሶ 𝑝 𝑇1 − − +1
𝑇1 𝑝2 𝑇1 𝑝1

Let
𝛾−1ൗ 𝛾−1ൗ
𝛾 𝛾
𝑝1 𝑝2
𝑐 = 𝑚𝑐
ሶ 𝑝 𝑇1 , 𝑎= , 𝑏=
𝑝2 𝑝1

We can create a table of results for the range of turbine inlet temperature for investigation and discussion
2
 Question 1
Group Take Home Task (10 marks)

The results in the table below show that for a fixed compressor pressure ratio of 10 and increasing turbine inlet
temperature, the net power developed increases (1 mark)

Each result for the net power developed is 1 mark (Total 4 marks)

𝑇3 𝑝1 𝑝2
c 𝑇1 𝑝2 a 𝑝1 b 𝑊ሶ 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒 (kW)

1809 3.33333 0.1 0.51795 10 1.9307 1223.144577

1809 4 0.1 0.51795 10 1.9307 1804.499931

1809 4.66667 0.1 0.51795 10 1.9307 2385.855284

1809 5.33333 0.1 0.51795 10 1.9307 2967.210638

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 Question 1
Group Take Home Task (10 marks)

𝑝2
(b) For varying compressor pressure ratio of = 2 𝑡𝑜 20 and fixed turbine inlet temperature 1400 K, results
𝑝1
in the table below shows that the net power developed increases up to a pressure ratio of 14 then it begins to
decrease. This shows that there is a particular limit of compressor pressure ratio for maximum power. (1 mark)

Each result for the net power developed is 0.5 mark (Total 4 marks)

𝑇3 𝑝1 𝑝2
c 𝑇1 𝑝2 a 𝑝1 b 𝑊ሶ 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒 (kW)
1809 4.66667 0.5 0.82034 2 1.21901 1120.533224
1809 4.66667 0.166667 0.59934 6 1.66851 2173.061872
1809 4.66667 0.1 0.51795 10 1.9307 2385.855284
1809 4.66667 0.071429 0.47047 14 2.12552 2434.200332
1809 4.66667 0.0625 0.45286 16 2.20818 2433.344553
1809 4.66667 0.055556 0.43788 18 2.28375 2423.143798

1809 4.66667 0.05 0.42489 20 2.35355 2406.507051

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 Question 2
Group Take Home Task (5 marks)

Air enters the compressor of an ideal air-standard Brayton cycle at 100 kPa, 300 K with a volumetric flow rate of
5 𝑚3 /𝑠. The compressor pressure ratio is 10. The turbine inlet temperature is 1400 K. What would be the
thermal efficiency and back work ratio if the isentropic turbine efficiency is 75% and the isentropic compressor
efficiency is 85%?

(Keep other given data the same)

Solution

• Thermal Efficiency is given by

𝑊ሶ 𝑡 Τ𝑚ሶ − 𝑊ሶ 𝑐 Τ𝑚ሶ ℎ3 − ℎ4 − ℎ2 − ℎ1
𝜂= =
𝑄ሶ 𝑖𝑛 Τ𝑚ሶ ℎ3 − ℎ 2

With the given isentropic efficiency, the turbine work per unit mass flow is

𝑊ሶ 𝑡 Τ𝑚ሶ = 𝜂𝑡 𝑊ሶ 𝑡 Τ𝑚ሶ 𝑠
= 𝜂𝑡 ℎ3 − ℎ4𝑠 = 0.75 × 706.93

= 530.198 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔
(1 mark)
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 Question 2

For the compressor work per unit mass flow we have (1 mark)

𝑊ሶ 𝑐 Τ𝑚ሶ 𝑠 ℎ2𝑠 − ℎ1 279.66

𝑊ሶ 𝑐 Τ𝑚ሶ = = =
𝜂𝑐 𝜂𝑐 0.85

= 329.012 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

• To obtain the value for ℎ2 (1 mark)

𝑊ሶ 𝑐 Τ𝑚ሶ = ℎ2 − ℎ1

Therefore,

ℎ2 = 𝑊ሶ 𝑐 Τ𝑚ሶ + ℎ1 = 329.012 + 300.19 = 629.202 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

𝑊ሶ 𝑡 Τ𝑚ሶ − 𝑊ሶ 𝑐 Τ𝑚ሶ 530.198 − 329.012

𝜂= = = 0.227
𝑄ሶ 𝑖𝑛 Τ𝑚ሶ 1515.42 − 629.202

= 22.7%
(1 mark) 6
 Question 2 & 3

• The back work ratio is given by (1 mark)

𝑊ሶ 𝑐 Τ𝑚ሶ ℎ2 − ℎ1 329.012
𝑏𝑤𝑟 = = = = 0.618 = 62.1%
𝑊ሶ 𝑡 Τ𝑚ሶ ℎ3 − ℎ4 530.198

Group Take Home Task (10 marks)

Air enters the compressor of an ideal cold air-standard Brayton cycle with regeneration at 100 kPa, 300 K, with a
mass flow rate of 6 kg/s. The compressor pressure ratio is 10 and the turbine inlet temperature is 1400 K. The
turbine and compressor each have isentropic efficiencies of 80% and the regenerator effectiveness is 80%. For
𝛾 = 1.4, Determine

(a) The thermal efficiency of the cycle

(b) The back work ratio
(c) The net power developed in kW

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 Question 3
At state 1 we are given 𝑇1 = 300 𝐾, 𝑝1 = 100 𝑘𝑃𝑎
From the tables, we obtain ℎ1 = 300.19 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔 and 𝑝𝑟1 = 1.386.
.
𝑝2
𝑝𝑟2 = 𝑝𝑟1 = 10 × 1.386 = 13.86
𝑝1

• We obtain ℎ2𝑠 by interpolation

14.38 − 13.86 586.01 − ℎ2𝑠

=
14.38 − 13.50 586.01 − 575.59

ℎ2𝑠 = 579.85 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

(1 mark)

The isentropic efficiency of the compressor is 80%

ℎ2𝑠 − ℎ1
𝜂𝑐 =
ℎ2 − ℎ1

ℎ2𝑠 − ℎ1 579.85 − 300.19

ℎ2 = ℎ1 + = 300.19 + = 649.77 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔
𝜂𝑐 0.8

(2 marks) 8
 Question 3
The maximum temperature is at state 3 and this is already given as 𝑇3 = 1400 𝐾 and ℎ3 = 1515.42 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔 with
𝑝𝑟3 = 450.5

We now obtain the needed properties at state 4s

𝑝1 1
𝑝𝑟4 = 𝑝𝑟3 = 450.5 × = 45.05
𝑝2 10

• We obtain the enthalpy at state 4s by interpolation

45.55 − 45.05 810.99 − ℎ4𝑠

=
45.55 − 43.35 810.99 − 800.03

ℎ4𝑠 = 808.49 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

(1 mark)

The isentropic efficiency of the turbine is 80%

ℎ3 − ℎ4
𝜂𝑡 =
ℎ3 − ℎ4𝑠

ℎ4 = ℎ3 − 𝜂𝑡 ℎ3 − ℎ4𝑠 = 1515.42 − 0.8 1515.42 − 808.49 = 949.88 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

(2 marks) 9
 Question 3
The regenerator effectiveness is 80% (1 mark)

ℎ𝑥 − ℎ2
𝜂𝑟𝑒𝑔 =
ℎ4 − ℎ2

ℎ𝑥 = ℎ2 + 𝜂𝑟𝑒𝑔 ℎ4 − ℎ2 = 649.77 + 0.8 949.88 − 649.77 = 889.86 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Thermal efficiency is (1 mark)

ℎ3 − ℎ4 − ℎ2 − ℎ1 1515.42 − 949.88 − 649.77 − 300.19

𝜂= = = 0.345 = 34.5%
ℎ3 − ℎ𝑥 1515.42 − 889.86

The back work ratio is given by (1 mark)

ℎ2 − ℎ1 349.58
𝑏𝑤𝑟 = = = 0.618 = 61.8%
ℎ3 − ℎ4 565.54

The net power developed in kW (1 mark)

𝑊ሶ 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒 = 𝑚ሶ ℎ3 − ℎ4 − ℎ2 − ℎ1

= 6 × 565.54 − 349.58 = 1295.76 𝑘𝑊

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