The Brayton Cycle

Used in gas turbine Jet engines and power production

The ideal Brayton cycle comprises three reversible processes. It always uses air as the working fluid. An open system Brayton cycle is implemented using the three steady flow devices shown:

The Brayton Cycle Q

in

2
Compressor (C)

Combustor (B)

3
Turbine (T)

Wout

Air in
T
TH

1
3 2

Exhaust out

Lines of constant press.

TL

C) An isentropic compression
Q C = 0, W C =,

The Brayton Cycle Q

in

Compressor (C)

Combustor (B)

3
Turbine (T)

Wout

m C P (T2 T1 )
Air in

process 1-2.

T
TH

1
3 2

Exhaust out

Lines of constant press.

TL

B) An isobaric heat addition

W B = 0, Q B =, m C P (T3 T2 )

The Brayton Cycle Q

in

2
Compressor (C)

Combustor (B)

3
Turbine (T)

Wout

process 2-3.

Air in
T
TH

1
3 2

Exhaust out

Lines of constant press.

TL

B) An isentropic expansion
Q B = 0, W B =, m CP (T4 T3 )

The Brayton Cycle Q

in

2
Compressor (C)

Combustor (B)

3
Turbine (T)

Wout

process 3-4. Note that the Turbine and compressor are on the same shaft.

Air in
T
TH

1
3 2

Exhaust out

Lines of constant press.

TL

This complete cycle is reversible if: 1. the isothermal expansion and compression are reversible, and 2. the expansion and compression are isentropic.

The Brayton Cycle

Qin
Combustor (B)

2
Compressor (C)

3
Turbine (T)

Wout

Air in
T
TH

1
3 2

4
Lines of constant press.

Exhaust out

TL

A fully reversible cycle has not yet been built, but gas turbines running with Brayton cycles are very common in both power production (gas turbines) and transport (jet engines)

The Brayton Cycle

Qin
Combustor (B)

2
Compressor (C)

3
Turbine (T)

Wout

Air in
T
TH

1
3 2

4
Lines of constant press.

Exhaust out

TL

Cutaway P&W JT8D

For an ideal Brayton cycle running with a flow rate of 4 kg of air per second, find the heat and work values for each of the three processes in the cycle. The cycle will run with a turbine inlet temperature of 1000 C T and an air inlet 3 temperature of 10 C. T 1273K 10bar The compressor 2 outlet pressure is a 1bar 10 bar. Air inlet pressure is 1 bar. 4 283K Use n = =1.40 and T 1 -1 -1 cp = 1.005 kJ kg K .
H L

Example of a Brayton Cycle for Air

Process 1-2 (isentropic compression)

Initial temperature = 283 K, initial pressure = 1 bar, n 1 final pressure = 10 bar p2 n T2 = T1 , so 0.4
10 1.4 T2 = 283 =546K 1 =273C p1
T
TH 1273K
2 3

10bar 1bar

TL

283K
1

Process 1-2 (isentropic compression)

Initial temperature = 283 K, initial pressure = 1 bar, n 1 final pressure = 10 bar p2 n T2 = T1 , so 0.4
10 1.4 T2 = 283 =546K 1 =273C WC = m cP (T2 T1 ) =

p1

T
TH 1273K
2 3

The work put in will be:

4 1.005 (546 283)

10bar 546K 1bar

= 1059 kW

TL

283K
1

Process 3-4 (adiabatic expansion)

Initial temperature = 1273 K, initial pressure = 10 bar, final pressure = 1 bar , To find the final temperature n 1
p2 T2 = T1 1 T2 = 1273 =659K p1 T 10
0.4 1.4 n

=386C

The work out will be:

WT = m cP (T3 T4 )

TH

1273K
2

10bar 546K 659K TL 283K

1 4

1bar

= 4 1.005 (1273 659)

= 2467 kW

Process 2-3 (heat addition)

Initial pressure = 10 bar, Initial temperature = 546 K, Final temperature = 1273 K The heat in will be:
QB = cP (T3 T2 )

T
1273K
H

= 4 1.005 (1273 546 ) T

10bar

= 2921 kW

546K 659K TL 283K

1 4

1bar

The total power out is 2467 1059 = 1408kW. This gives an efficiency of =0.482 = 48.2%.
1408 = 2921

By comparison, the expected Carnot efficiency is given by,

Tsource Tsink 1273 283 = = = 0.778 Tsource 1273

= 77.8%.

Also,

Net Work 1408 = = 57.1% Total Turbine Work 2467

so about 40% of the turbine power is used to drive the compressor.

If the isentropic efficiency of the adiabatic processes is less than 100%, the compression will require more work, and the turbine will produce less work. T This will greatly 3 reduce the output T of the cycle. Lines of 2
H

The Effect of Isentropic Efficiency on a Brayton Cycle

2s

constant press.

4s

4a

TL

On the other hand, the higher outlet temperature from the turbine will reduce slightly the heat input required.
T
3

The Effect of Isentropic Efficiency on a Brayton Cycle

TH
2s 2a Lines of constant press.

4s

4a

TL

Example of a Brayton Cycle With an Isentropic Efficiency of <100%

For a Brayton cycle running with a flow rate of 4 kg of air per second, find the heat or work values for each of the three processes in the cycle. The cycle will run with a turbine inlet temperature of 1000 C and an air inlet temperature of 10 C. The compressor outlet pressure is at 10 bar. Air inlet pressure is 1 bar. The isentropic efficiency of both turbine and compressor is 90%. Use n = =1.40 and cp = 1.005 kJ kg-1 K-1.

Process 1-2 (adiabatic compression)

As previous example
p2 T2 s = T1 p 1
n 1 n

10 , so T2 s = 283 1
T
TH
2s

0.4 1.4

=546K =273C
3

2a

Lines of constant press.

4s

4a

TL

Process 1-2 (adiabatic compression)

As previous example
p2 T2 s = T1 p 1
n 1 n

With an isen of 0.9, the final temperature will be

10 , so T2 s = 283 1
T
TH
2s 546K

0.4 1.4

=546K =273C
1273K 3

T2 s T1 T2 a = T1 + = isen 546 293 = 283 + 0.9

2a 576K

Lines of constant press.

TL

283K 1

4s

4a

= 576 K = 303 C

Process 1-2 (adiabatic compression)

The work in will be:
WC = m cP (T1 T2 a ) = 4 1.005 (576 283)

= 1176 kW.

T
TH
2s 546K 2a 576K 1273K 3

Lines of constant press.

TL

283K 1

4s

4a

Process 3-4 (adiabatic expansion)

As previous example
p4 T4 s = T3 p 3
n 1 n

1 , so T4 s = 1273 10
T
TH
2s 546K

0.4 1.4

= 659K =386C
1273K 3

2a 576K

Lines of constant press.

TL

283K 1

4s

4a

Process 3-4 (adiabatic expansion)

As previous example
p4 T4s = T3 p 3
n 1 n

With an isen of 0.9, the final temperature will be

T4 a = T3 + (T4 s T3 )

1 , so T4s = 1273 10
T
TH
2s 546K

0.4 1.4

= 659K =386C
1273K 3

2a 576K

Lines of constant press. 721K

= 1273 (659 1273) 0.9

isen

659K 283K 1 4s

4a

721 K = 448 C

TL

Process 3-4 (adiabatic expansion)

The work out will be:
W T = m cP (T3 T4 a ) = 4 1.005 (1273 721)

= 2220 kW.

T
TH
2s 546K 2a 576K 1273K 3

Lines of constant press. 721K

659K

TL

283K 1

4s

4a

Process 2-3 (isobaric heat addition)

Initial pressure = 10 bar, initial temperature = 576 K, final temperature = 1273 K
T

The heat in will be:

QB = m cP (T3 T2 a )

TH
2a

1273K

576K

= 4 1.005 (1273 576 )

4a

Lines of constant press. 721K

= 2803 kW

TL

283K 1

The total power out is 2220 1176 = 1044 kW. This compares with 1408 kW for a Brayton cycle with an isentropic compressor and turbine. As
Net Work 1044 = = 47.0% Total Turbine Work 2220

Over the half the power produced from the turbine goes into driving the compressor.

The total power out is 2220 1176 = 1044 kW. This gives an overall cycle efficiency of
1044 = 0.372 = 37.2%. 2803

This compares with 48.2% for a Brayton cycle with an isentropic compressor and turbine. This corresponds to a 23% reduction in cycle efficiency. If the isentropic efficiency of the compressor and turbine is reduced to 80%, the overall cycle efficiency will drop to 25%!

The effect of Combustor Pressure Drop on a Brayton Cycle

The pressure drop across the combustor means that the expansion starts from a reduced pressure, compared to the ideal case. This in turn will raise the outlet T temperature from 3 the turbine and thus T reduce the power 2 Lines of from the turbine. constant
i

press. 4i

TL

The effect of Combustor Pressure Drop on a Brayton Cycle

The pressure drop across the combustor means that the expansion starts from a reduced pressure, compared to the ideal case. This in turn will raise the outlet Pressure T temperature from drop through 3 the turbine and thus T combustor 3 reduce the power 2 Lines of from the turbine. constant
i

press. 4i

4a

TL

Temperature difference due to pressure drop

Example of a Brayton Cycle With a combustor pressure drop

A Brayton cycle runs with a flow rate of 4 kg s-1of air. Find the heat and work values for the three processes in the cycle. The cycle uses a turbine inlet temperature of 1000 C and an air inlet temperature of 10 C and pressure of 1 bar. The compressor outlet pressure is 10 bar. The pressure drop across the combustor is 5% of the pressure rise in the compressor. The isentropic efficiency of both turbine and compressor is 90%. Use n = =1.40 and cp = 1.005 kJ kg-1 K-1.

Process 1-2 (adiabatic compression)

As previous example
p2 T2 s = T1 p 1
n 1 n

With an isen of 0.9, the final temperature will be

10 , so T2 s = 283 1
T
TH
576K

0.4 1.4

=546K =273C
Pressure drop through combustor

3i 3a 2a 4a 4i 283K 1

= 576 K = 303 C

T2 s T1 T2 a = T1 + = Lines of isen constant press. 546 293 = 283 + 0.9 T

L

Temperature difference due to pressure drop

Process 1-2 (adiabatic compression)

The work in will be:
WC = m cP (T1 T2 a ) = 4 1.005 (576 283)

= 1176 kW.
T
TH
576K 2a 4a 4i Temperature difference due to pressure drop 3i 3a Pressure drop through combustor

Lines of constant press.

TL

283K 1

Process 2-3 (heat addition)

Pressure drop = 0.05(101) = 0.45 bar Initial pressure = 10 bar, final pressure = 9.55 bar, initial temperature = 576 k, final temperature = 1273 K Pressure The heat in will be: T drop

QB = m cP (T3 T2 a )

= 4 1.005 (1273 576 )

TH
576K 2a

3i 3a

through combustor

= 2803 kW.

Lines of constant press.

4a 4i Temperature difference due to pressure drop

TL

283K 1

Process 2-3 (heat addition)

Note that the pressure drop does not effect the heat input term. However, it will increase the entropy of the gas, reducing its potential for doing work. This will manifest itself in the next section
QB = m cP (T3 T2 a )

T
TH
576K 2a 4a 4i 3i 3a

Pressure drop through combustor

= 4 1.005 (1273 576 )

= 2803 kW.

Lines of constant press.

TL

283K 1

Temperature difference due to pressure drop

Process 3-4 (adiabatic expansion)

Initial temperature = 1273K, initial pressure = 9.55 bar, final pressure = 1 bar. To find the final temperature, initially assume 100% isentropic efficiency
p4 a T4i = T3 p 3i
n 1 n

T
TH
576K 2a 4a 4as 283K 1 1273K 3i 3a

Pressure drop through combustor

, so
1 T4i = 1273 9.55
0.4 1.4

Lines of constant press.

= 668K = 395C

TL

668K 4i Temperature difference due to pressure drop

Process 3-4 (adiabatic expansion)

T4i= 668K = 395C With an isentropic efficiency of 0.9, the final temperature will be:
T4 a = T3 + (T4 T3 )
isen

= 1273 (668 1273) 0.9

1273K 2a 4a 4as 283K 1 3i 3a 576K Pressure drop through combustor

= 729K = 456C

T
TH

Lines of constant press.

729K

TL

721K 4i Temperature difference due to pressure drop

Process 3-4 (adiabatic expansion)

The work out will be
W = m cP (T4 T3 ) = 4 1.005 (1273 729 )

= 2189 kW
T
TH
576K 2a 4a 1273K 3a Pressure drop through combustor

Lines of constant press.

729K

TL

283K 1

The total power out is 2189 1176 = 1012kW. This compares with 1044 kW for a Brayton cycle with no pressure drop across the combustor As
Net Work 1012 = = 46.2% Total Turbine Work 2189

Again, over the half the power produced from the turbine goes into driving the compressor.

The total power out is 2189 1176 = 1012kW. The overall cycle efficiency is
1012 = 2803

0.36.1 = 36.1%

This compares with 37.2% for a Brayton cycle with the same isentropic efficiencies, but no pressure loss through the combustor. A five percent pressure drop in the combustor thus leads to a 3% drop in cycle efficiency.

To Summarise These Results;

Turbine inlet temperature = 1000 C Air inlet temperature = 10 C Air inlet pressure = 1 bar Compressor outlet pressure = 10 bar. The effect of isentropic efficiency and pressure drop through the combustor are:

Condition Isentropic efficiencies (%)

Combustor pressure drop (b)

1 100 0 2921 1408 57.1 48.2 N/A

2 90 0 2803 1044 47.0 37.2 22.8

3 90 0.45 2803 1012 46.2 36.1 2.96

Heat input rate (kW) Net power output (kW) Net work/Turbine work (%) Cycle efficiency (%) Drop from previous (%)

Thus endeth the course