THE COMBINED

BRAYTON AND RANKINE

CYCLES
Reported by: Azher Roi Ferrer & Darryl Mathew Tongson
ME 188: Power Plant Engineering (THUV)
Second Semester, A.Y. 2015-2016

2/15/16

QUICK REVIEW: THE BRAYTON CYCLE

Gas
(turbine) power cycle

May be open-cycle or closed-cycle

Processes (ideal):

1-2: Isentropic compression (reversible & adiabatic)

2-3: Isobaric heat extraction

3-4: Isentropic expansion

4-1: Isobaric heat rejection

Processes (real):

1-2: Compression with increased entropy

2-3: Slight pressure drop during heat extraction

3-4: Expansion with increased entropy

4-1: Another slight pressure drop during heat

rejection

Thermal efficiency (ideal):

, where rp = pressure ratio, p2/p1

QUICK REVIEW: THE BRAYTON CYCLE

Regeneration!

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QUICK REVIEW: THE BRAYTON CYCLE

Reheat!

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QUICK REVIEW: THE BRAYTON CYCLE

Intercooling!

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QUICK REVIEW: THE BRAYTON CYCLE

O_O!

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QUICK REVIEW: THE RANKINE CYCLE

Two-phase
(usually liquid and steam) power

cycle

Processes (ideal):

1-2: Isentropic pumping

2-3: Isobaric heat extraction

3-4: Isentropic expansion

4-1: Isobaric heat rejection

Processes (real):

1-2: Polytropic pumping

2-3: Slight pressure drop during heat extraction

3-4: Polytropic expansion

4-1: Another slight pressure drop during heat

rejection

Thermal efficiency (ideal):

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QUICK REVIEW: THE RANKINE CYCLE

Reheat!

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QUICK REVIEW: THE RANKINE CYCLE

Regeneration!

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The Combined Cycle

10

Combines both the Brayton & Rankine

cycles

Topping cycle: Brayton cycle

Bottoming cycle: Rankine cycle

Link between the two cycles: wasteheat recovery boiler (WHRB) (aka HeatRecovery Steam Generator, HRSG)

WHRB: device that transfers the heat

content of the flue gas (Brayton-cycle
exhaust gases) to the water in the
steam cycle

WHRB:
Economizer,
Superheater

Evaporator,

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11

A More Detailed Schematic Diagram of the

Basic Combined Cycle (Unfired Boiler)

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12

Combined Cycle Energy Diagram

Fuel Input (100%)

Radiation Losses
(0.5%)

Radiation Losses
(0.3%)

Gas Turbine Output

(38%)

Exhaust
Energy
(61.5%)

Radiation Losses
(0.3%)

Steam Turbine
Output (21%)

Radiation Losses
(0.2%)

Condenser (30%)
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Modifications of the
Basic Combined Cycle
NOTE: Either the top cycle or the bottom cycle can be modified so that the
new cycle can be called as a modification to the basic combined cycle.

14

Supplementary Firing

Additional fuel combustion with exhaust

gases to increase steam turbine output

Flexible operation due to varying powerto-heat-production ratio (AKA -ratio)

Steam-turbine cycle remains operational

in case something goes wrong in the
gas-turbine cycle

Decreases overall thermal efficiency

Placement of HRSG with relation to the

supplementary firing burner depends on
duct velocities.

Horizontal-firing from 500-3500 ft./min

Vertical Firing from 5004000 ft./min

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.
Gjerde, Ed. Supplementary Firing of Gas Turbine Exhaust System

2/15/16

15

Multipressure Boiler

Used when exhaust gases are hotter than normal.

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.

2/15/16

16

Multipressure Boiler, Triple Pressure

Boiler

Ibrahim, T. K., Rahman, M. M. Study on Effective Parameter of the Triple-Pressure Reheat Combined Cycle Performance.

2/15/16

17

Supercharged Boiler

Replaces combustion chamber

for gas turbine

Higher energy input

Supposedly not a true combined

cycle plant, due to no steam
being generated.

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.

2/15/16

18

Integrated Gasification

Primarily CO2 capture taken from

other industrial processes

involves partial oxidation of feedstock (such as coal) and highpressure, high purity oxygen to make
syngas

More compact equipment compared

to pulverized coal plants

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.
Beer, Janos. High Efficiency Electric Power Generation; The Environmental Role.

2/15/16

19

Integrated Gasification

Beer, Janos. High Efficiency Electric Power Generation; The Environmental Role.

2/15/16

20

Coal Gasification

Uses coal as fuel

Needs high pressure air and

steam

Flow rates usually inadequate

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.

2/15/16

21

Humid Air Cycle

Plants using this are also known as mixed/wet gas turbine plants.

Combustion gases and steam mixed in certain proportions. (10%-15%

steam in mass flow)

Brayton and Rankine cycles parallel rather than serial in configuration

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.

2/15/16

22

Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustion

Fuel enters a hot, turbulent bed.

Bed includes solid fuel particles (up to 3%)

Temperatures around 800-900C

Has better temperature control and heat transfer

Handling of solids within plant similar to handling fluids

Heat exchanging surfaces may experience erosion

High variation in fluidization

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.

2/15/16

Oxy-Combustion Turbine Cycle

System

23

Rankine cycle boiler process

replaced with direct combustion

Requires pure oxygen, needing large

air separation units

Higher efficiency for CO2 Separation

Mostly for cleaning flue gas

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.
Beer, Janos. High Efficiency Electric Power Generation; The Environmental Role.

2/15/16

24

External Firing

A subset of externally fired gas turbines

Has been researched for over 5 decades

Most developments are for the steam turbine (bottoming) system

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.

2/15/16

25

Hybrid Fuel-Cell Gas Turbine

High-temperature fuel cells integrated

with gas turbine, normally by
replacing combustor

High pressure operation of gas turbine

Electricity additionally produced by

fuel cell

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation.
Beer, Janos. High Efficiency Electric Power Generation; The Environmental Role.

2/15/16

PROBLEM SOLVING
After all, we like to see numbers

27

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)

A combined gas-steam-turbine power plant is designed with four 50-MW gas turbines and one 120MW steam turbine. Each gas turbine operates with compressor inlet temperature 505R (280.556
K), turbine inlet temperature 2450R (1361.111 K), pressure ratio for both compressor and turbine
5, and compressor & turbine polytropic efficiencies of 0.87. The turbines have a mechanical
efficiency of 0.96. The gases leaving the turbines go to a regenerator with an effectiveness of 0.87
then to a heat-recovery boiler. The turbine gases correspond to 200% theoretical air. The steam
cycle has a turbine steam inlet at 1200 psia (8.27309 MPa) and 1460R (811.1111 K), one open
feedwater heater (not optimally placed), where the feedwater goes to the heat-recovery boiler at
920R (511.111 K), condenser pressure 1 psia (6.89476 kPa), and turbine polytropic & mechanical
efficiencies of 0.87 and 0.96, respectively. All electric generator efficiencies are 0.96.
Supplementary firing at full load raises the gas temperature to 2000R (1111.111 K). Draw the
schematic and T-s diagrams and calculate a) the required steam mass flow rate in the steam
turbine in pound-mass per hour, b) the required air mass flow rate in each gas turbine in poundmass per hour, c) the heat added in the gas cycle and in the supplementary firing at full load, d)
the stack gas temperature in F, e) the cycle efficiency at full load, and f) the efficiency at startup
when only one gas turbine is used at its full load with no supplementary firing or regeneration.

Ignore the work required by the pump in the steam cycle.

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28

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)

Given:

Gas Turbine Cycle

Given:

Steam Turbine Cycle

Rating of Gas Turbines: 50 MW

Rating of Steam Turbine: 120 MW

Compressor Inlet Temperature: 505R (280.556

K)

Turbine Inlet Pressure: 1200 psia (8.27309

MPa)

Turbine Inlet Temperature: 2450R (1361.111 K)

Turbine Inlet Temperature: 1460R

Pressure Ratio of Compressor (Exit-to-Intake

Ratio): 5:1

Not optimally-placed open feedwater

heater

Pressure Ratio of Turbine (Exit-to-Intake Ratio):

1:5

Feedwater Temperature: 920R (511.111

K)

Polytropic Efficiency (both compressor & turbine):

0.87

Turbine Polytropic Efficiency: 0.87

Mechanical Efficiency (turbine): 0.96

Turbine Mechanical Efficiency: 0.96

Exit Temperature of Exhaust Gases after

Supplementary Firing: 2000R (1111.111 K)
Model of Working Fluid: Dry Air & Gas products
when fuel is burned at 200% theoretical air

Model of Working Fluid: Water at Liquid &

Gaseous States

Generator Efficiency: 0.96

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29

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)

Required:

Schematic Diagram

T-s Diagram

Mass Flow Rate of Steam (lb-m/h)

Mass Flow Rate of Gas Turbine Working Fluid (lb-m/h)

Heat added to the combustors of the gas turbine cycles at full load (BTU/h)

Heat added to supplementary firing at full load (BTU/h)

Temperature of the gas going to the stack (F)

Cycle efficiency at full load

Efficiency at startup when only one gas turbine is used at its full load with no
supplementary firing or regeneration
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30

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)
Schematic Diagram

Source: I drew the schematic & T-s diagrams. +10 points for effort!

T-s Diagram

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31

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)

SOLUTION

GAS CYCLE ANALYSIS

Thermodynamic states:

State 1
T1 = 505R

Working equations:

rP1 = 1.09695
h1 = 120.675 BTU/lb-m

State 2

rP2 = 5rP1 = 5(1.09695) = 5.48475

T2S = 798.2883817R
h2s = 191.3940768 BTU/lb-m

= 201.9612952 BTU/lb-m

= 842.1130824R

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32

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)
states:
Thermodynamic

Thermodynamic states:

State 4

State 6
T6 = 2000R

T4 = 2450R

rP6 = 211.6

rP4 = 511.9

h6 = 15189.3 BTU/lbm-mol

h4 = 19080.7 BTU/lb-m

State 5
rP5 = rP4/5 = 511.9/5 = 102.38

Net work done:

1782.782213) = 160.1322689 BTU/lb-m

= 13389.86597 BTU/lbm-mol

= 1782.782213R

The values of the properties were obtained via REFPROP.

wGC = h2A h1 = CP(T2A T1) =

0.24(842.1130824 505) = 80.90713978
BTU/lb-m

T5S = 1683.083004R
h5s = 12539.51146 BTU/lbm-mol

wGT = h4 h5A = CP(T4 T5A) = 0.24(2450

wBC = wGT wGC = 79.22512912 BTU/lb-m

wnet = wBCMG = (79.22512912)(0.96)(0.96) =

73.013879 BTU/lb-m

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33

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)

Mass flow rate of air:

Since there are four gas turbine cycles, the required mass flow rate of air is
9.34 106 lbm/h.

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34

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)

STEAM TURBINE CYCLE ANALYSIS

State 10

State 11A

h11A = h10 + T(h11S h10) = 1285.192 BTU/lbm

State 12S

P10 = 1200 psia

P12 = 1 psia

T10 = 1460R

s12S = s10

h10 = 1501.3 BTU/lbm

h12S = 911.08 BTU/lbm

s10 = 1.6314 BTU/lbm-R

T12S = 561.36R

State: Superheated vapor

State: Saturated Mixture (x12S = 0.81176)

State 11S
T11 = 920R

State 12A

h12A = h10 + T(h12S h10) = 987.8086 BTU/lbm

s11S = s10

Saturated Liquid

h11S = 1252.9 BTU/lbm

h13 = 69.769 BTU/lbm

P11 = 159.15 psia

v13 = 27.884 in3/lbm

State: Superheated vapor

s13 = 0.13271 BTU/lbm-R

State 13

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35

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)

STEAM TURBINE CYCLE ANALYSIS

State 14
s14 = s13 = 0.13271 BTU/lbm-R

P14 = P11 = 159.15 psia

State: Subcooled Liquid

s9 = s15

Saturated Liquid

P9 = P10 = 1200 psia

P15 = P14

h9 = 339.29 BTU/lbm

h14 = 70.242 BTU/lbm

State 15

State 9

h15 = 335.80 BTU/lbm

v15 = 31.357 in3/lbm
s15 = 0.52042 BTU/lbm-R

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36

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)

STEAM TURBINE CYCLE ANALYSIS

Net work done by the steam turbine

By applying mass and energy balances in the open feedwater heater:

Thus, wST = 448.490749 BTU/lbm.

After applying the efficiencies of the steam turbine and generator, we have w ST =
413.3290743 BTU/lbm.

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37

PROBLEM 8.14 (Powerplant

Technology by El-Wakil)

Mass flow rate of steam:

(4.13105 lbm/h)

Stack Gas Temperature

Heat Added to the Combustion Chamber

Heat Added to Supplementary Firing

Full-load Cycle Efficiency

Startup Cycle Efficiency

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38

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
COMBINED CYCLE
Within the recent 5 years

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39

Innovations

Optimization with carbon dioxide (CO2), supercritical in the Brayton

Cycle and transcritical in the Rankine cycle. (published 7 July 2015)

Improvement on fuel consumption with integration of solar energy

(published 17 January 2016)

Increased efficiency and operation range via supercharging (published

24 January 2015)

Increased efficiency by optimization and use of inlet cooling system

(published 22 November 2014)

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40

CO2 Optimization

Simple and recompressing CO2 cycles considered in topping and

bottoming cycle

Genetic Algorithm used to maximize efficiency

Modified Supercritical CO2 Cycles with bottoming transcritical CO2 Cycles

have thermal efficiency increases of 10.12% in combined
recompression and 19.34% in simple configurations compared to
original values

Wang, Xurong, Ph.D., Jiangfeng Wang, Pan Zhao, Ph.D., and Yiping Dai. "Thermodynamic Comparison and Optimization of
Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycles with a Bottoming Transcritical CO2 Cycle."

2/15/16

41

Solar Integration with minimal

modifications to plant design

Maximum incremental power output given design solar irradiance

limited to 19 MW, possible to go higher with larger steam turbines

Solar radiation-to-electrical efficiency about 24-29%

Lower thermal efficiency compared to power boosting, due to efficiency

drop of gas turbine at reduced loads.

Reference Plant is a Natural Gas Combined Cycle plant located in Priolo

Gargallo, Sicily, Italy. Analysis was done by simulation with plant data.

Manente, Giovanni. "High Performance Integrated Solar Combined Cycles with Minimum Modifications to the Combined Cycle
Power Plant Design."

2/15/16

42

Supercharged Natural Gas Combined

Cycle Plant

Higher efficiencies in
compression with addition
of compressor stage

Able to operate at part-load

equal to 47.8% with an
efficiency of about 49%,
compared to original cycle
at 70% with 48% efficiency

3.5% efficiency increase

compared to the nonmodified cycle

Without Supercharger

With Supercharger K1

Reference Plant generating

power at 397.8 MW
Barelli, Linda, and Andrea Ottaviano. "Supercharged Gas Turbine Combined Cycle: An Improvement in Plant Flexibility and
Efficiency."

2/15/16

43

Optimization of Fog Inlet Air Cooling

System Using Genetic Algorithm

Increase in power output by 17.24%, Energy efficiency increase by 3.6%

and thermal efficiency increase by 3.5%

Leads to cheaper electricity

Susceptible to humid air

Cleaner byproducts

Ehaaei, Mehdi et.al. Optimization of Fog Inlet Air Cooling System for Combined Cycle Power Plants using Genetic Algorithm.

2/15/16

44

References

El-Wakil, M. M. Powerplant Technology. New York: McGraw-Hill Primis Custom Pub., 2002. Print.

Potter, Merle C., and Craig W. Somerton. Thermodynamics for Engineers. 3rd ed. N.p.: McGraw-Hill Education, 2014. Print.

Yahya, S. M. Turbines Compressors and Fans. 4th ed. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Education Pvt, 2011. Print.

Rao, Ashok D. Combined Cycle Systems for Near-zero Emission Power Generation. Oxford, UK: Woodhead Pub., 2012. Print.

Wang, Xurong, Ph.D., Jiangfeng Wang, Pan Zhao, Ph.D., and Yiping Dai. "Thermodynamic Comparison and Optimization of Supercritical
CO2 Brayton Cycles with a Bottoming Transcritical CO 2 Cycle." ASCE Library. ASCE, 7 July 2015. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.engglib.upd.edu.ph/10.1061/(ASCE)EY.1943-7897.0000292

Manente, Giovanni. "High Performance Integrated Solar Combined Cycles with Minimum Modifications to the Combined Cycle Power
Plant Design." ScienceDirect. Elsevier, 7 Jan. 2016. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.12.079

Barelli, Linda, and Andrea Ottaviano. "Supercharged Gas Turbine Combined Cycle: An Improvement in Plant Flexibility and Efficiency."
ScienceDirect. Elsevier, 2 Jan. 2015. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.01.004

Ehaaei, Mehdi et.al. Optimization of Fog Inlet Air Cooling System for Combined Cycle Power Plants using Genetic Algorithm.
ScienceDirect. Elsevier, 22 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Jan 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.11.032

Ibrahim, T. K., Rahman, M. M. Study on Effective Parameter of the Triple-Pressure Reheat Combined Cycle Performance. THERMAL
SCIENCE. N.p. n.d. 7 Feb 2016. http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-9836/2013/0354-98361100143I.pdf

Beer, Janos. High Efficiency Electric Power Generation; The Environmental Role. MIT Energy Initiative. Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 1967. Web. 7 Feb 2016. https://mitei.mit.edu/system/files/beer-combustion.pdf

Gjerde, Ed. Supplementary Firing of Gas Turbine Exhaust System ASME Digital Collection. Asme,1967. 10 Feb 2016.
http://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org.ezproxy.engglib.upd.edu.ph/proceeding.aspx?articleid=2288605&resultClick=1

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