LAB REPORT
NE-3104: Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety
Experiment no: 01
Name of experiment: Experimental Studies of Steam Turbine Miniature Power Plant
Using Rankine Cycle
NAME: Noman Bin Morshed
ROLL: 02
SESSION: 2020-21
BATCH: 08
DATE: 07-05-24
Experiment no: 01
Name of experiment: Experimental Studies of Steam Turbine Miniature Power
Plant Using Rankine Cycle
Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................1
Theory...................................................................................................................1
Laboratory Setup....................................................................................................5
Data Collection.......................................................................................................6
Calculation:.........................................................................................................10
System Mass Flow Rate (m)..............................................................................10
Boiler................................................................................................................10
Turbine and Generator........................................................................................11
Condenser.........................................................................................................11
Total System Efficiency......................................................................................11
Result...................................................................................................................12
Conclusion...........................................................................................................12
References............................................................................................................12
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Schematic diagram of an ideal Rankine cycle..........................................1
Figure 2: P-V diagram and T-S diagram of ideal Rankine cycle..............................2
Figure 3: RankineCyclerTM laboratory setup............................................................6
Figure 4: Run-time data spreadsheet in MS Excel...................................................6
Figure 5: Fuel flow plot against time......................................................................7
Figure 6: Boiler temperature plot against time........................................................7
Figure 7: Boiler pressure plot against time.............................................................8
Figure 8: Turbine inlet and outlet temperatures plots against time........................8
Figure 9: Turbine inlet and outlet pressures plots against time .............................9
Figure 10: Generator voltage, current, and power plots against time....................9
Figure 11: Turbine speed plot against time.........................................................9
Introduction:
This experiment explores the efficiency of miniature steam turbines, vital
components in power generation, operating on Rankine cycle. The Rankine
cycle, a fundamental cycle in thermodynamics, delineates the process of
converting thermal energy into mechanical work via steam expansion, work
extraction, and condensation. By scrutinizing the performance of miniature
steam turbines in this experiment, we aim to unravel the dynamics of energy
conversion and transfer inherent in these systems. Despite their small scale,
these turbines embody the core principles of their larger counterparts, making
them ideal subjects for experimentation.
Theory:
The ideal Rankine cycle comprises four sequential processes: two isentropic
(reversible adiabatic) and two isobaric, facilitating the conversion of water into
steam to generate electricity. During isentropic compression (1-2), liquid water is
compressed adiabatically by centrifugal pumps, increasing its enthalpy and
pressure while keeping entropy constant. The work required for pumping is
calculated as the difference in enthalpy. Isobaric heat addition (2-3) involves
constant-pressure heat transfer to water, leading to phase change into saturated
and superheated steam. The heat added is determined by the difference in
enthalpy. Isentropic expansion (3-4) sees steam expanding adiabatically in a
turbine, producing work as it loses enthalpy. Entropy remains unchanged, and
the work done by the turbine is calculated as the difference in enthalpy. Lastly,
during isobaric heat rejection (4-1), heat is transferred from partially condensed
steam to a cooling circuit, resulting in vapor condensation. The net heat rejected
is determined by the difference in enthalpy.
The following are the energy analyses for these four processes with
accompanying schematic:
Isentropic compression (1-2): Centrifugal pumps compress liquid water
adiabatically from condition 1 to state 2. The higher-pressure boiler receives a
pumping of liquid condensate from the condenser. In this process, the fluid's
surroundings compress it (raising its pressure) and increase its enthalpy
(h=U+PV). Conversely, the entropy does not change. The formula for the
pump's needed work is
Wpump = h2 -h1
Isobaric heat addition (2–3): Heat from an external source is transferred to the
liquid water at constant pressure between states 2 and 3. Liquid water changes
phases, becoming saturated and then superheated steam in its final state. The
formula for the net heat added is
Qin = h3-h2
Isentropic expansion (3–4): To generate work, steam from the boiler expands
adiabatically in a steam turbine from state 3 to state 4, after which it is released
into the condenser. As the steam interacts with the surrounding material (the
turbine blades), it loses enthalpy in a quantity proportional to the work that exits
the system. Here, too, the entropy is unaffected. WT = h4 — h3 is the work
performed by the turbine.
Isobaric heat rejection (4-1): In this stage, heat is rejected from the partially
condensed steam through a constant-pressure process that brings the cycle to a
close. In a cooling circuit, heat is transferred from the vapor to the running
cooling water. The cooling water's temperature rises as the vapor condenses. The
overall heat rejected is given by
Qout = h4-h1
The overall thermal efficiency of the cycle is a combination of all four equations.
Where, the cycle input is the amount of heat added and the product would be the
net generated work.
Rankine cycle efficiency,
Applying the First Law of thermodynamics in a closed system in steady state
condition we get, Steady State Steady Flow Equation (SSSFE):
Where,
Qi = Heat from Sorrounding
mi = Inlet mass flow rate
mo = Inlet mass flow rate
K.E = Kinetic energy,
P.E = Potential energy,
W0= Work done by the system
Laboratory Setup: The lab setup involves the utilization of the
RankingCycler™ system, a sophisticated experimental apparatus designed
specifically for studying the Rankine cycle. The RankingCycler™ comprises key
components such as a boiler, turbine, condenser, and pumps, meticulously
engineered to replicate the processes of compression, heat addition, expansion,
and heat rejection inherent in the Rankine cycle. Liquid water is heated within
the boiler to produce steam, which is then directed through the turbine to
generate mechanical work. The steam is subsequently condensed back into water
in the condenser, completing the cycle. Advanced instrumentation and data
acquisition systems integrated into the RankingCycler™ allow for precise
monitoring and analysis of parameters such as temperature, pressure, and flow
rates at various points throughout the cycle.
Data Collection: Our run-time data was recorded through the National
Instruments 6218 precision data acquisition software and opened in an MS Excel
spreadsheet.
Now we draw the following graphs using this data:
Rankine Cycle Calculations
Boiler - Saturation condition, no superheating:
PB :=P0 +105.5 psi=0.829 MPa
T B :=PropsSI ¿" T , P , {P } rsub {B } , Q ,1, water") K=171.874 ∘ C
J kJ
ℎ B :=PropsSI ¿ "H", "P", P0 , T , T 0, "water") =125.823
w
kg kg
J 3 kJ
ℎ B s :=PropsSI ¿ water") =( 2.77 ⋅10 ) Final steam enthalpy
−
kg kg
kg kg
ρ s B :=PropsSI ( D, P , PB , Q , 1 , "water") 3
=4.302 3 Assuming Saturated steam
−
m m
Volume of steam produced in the boiler during steady-state time period
( t steady :=6 min ) :
V s :=2000 mL
Vs kg
Steam flow rate: w s := ρs B ⋅ t −
=0.086
hr
Mass flow rate ¿ Density x Volume flow
steady
rate
Heat added in the Boiler: QB :=w s ⋅ ( ℎ B s −ℎ B w )=63.197 W − −
Turbo-generator:
PT :=P 0+ 14.6 psi=0.202 MPa x T :=99.9 % Quality loss in the throttling valve
¿ ¿
J 3 kJ
ℎT :=¿ PropsSI ("H", "P", PT , Q , x T , water") =( 2.704 ⋅10 )
¿ ¿ ¿
kg kg
J kJ
sT − ∈¿:=PropsSI ¿¿ water") kg⋅K =7.118 kg ⋅ K
Assuming ideal turbine - isentropic expansion
kJ
PT out :=P 0+ 3.4 psi=0.125 MPa s T out_ideal :=s T =7.118
− ¿ ¿
kg ⋅ K
¿
Ideal heat drop in turbine:
kJ
H ideal :=ℎT −ℎT out_ideal =82.843
¿ −
kg
kJ
Real heat drop assuming turbine efficiency, ηT =0.9 : H :=ηT ⋅ H ideal =74.559 kg
kJ
Then real outlet enthalpy, ℎT − out :=ℎT − in − H =2629.925
kg
Other parameters at turbine outlet:
out (
sT :=PropsSI S , P , P T , H ,ℎ T −out − out , water ¿
J
kg ⋅ K
=7.14
kJ
kg ⋅ K
xT −
out :=PropsSI ( Q , P , P T −
out , H , ℎT − out
, water ¿ ¿ 97.551 %
TT − out :=PropsSI ( T , P , P T , H ,ℎ T − out − out , water ¿ K =105.911 ∘ C
Work done in the turbine: W T :=ws ⋅ ( ℎ T in − ℎT − − out ) =1.782W
Generator:
Electrical power produced in the generator with voltage V el :=6.6 V and
amperage I el :=0.24 A :W G :=V el ⋅ I el=1.584 W
G W
Efficiency of the electric generator: ηG := W =88.881 %
T
Condenser:
PC :=P 0=0.101 MPa
J kJ
ℎC :=PropsSI ( H , P , P C , "T", T 0, "water") =125.823
kg kg
Heat disposed by the condenser to the ambience, QC :=w s ⋅ ( ℎT − out − ℎC ) =59.855W
Condensate amount, V C :=500 mL
C V
Condenser efficiency, ηC := V =25 %
s
Result:
Boiler Thermal Power, QB =63.197 W
Turbine Mechanical Power, W T =1.782 W
Generator Electrical Power, W G =1.584 W
Condenser Heat Dissipation Power, QC =59.855 W
Generator efficiency, ηG =88.881 %
W T
"Cycle" efficiency, ηcycle := Q =2.82 %
B
W G
System efficiency, ηsystem := Q =2.506 %
B
Conclusion:
Our experiment utilizing the RankingCycler™ system has provided invaluable
insights into the efficiency and dynamics of the Rankine cycle in miniature
steam turbine systems. Through meticulous analysis of the experimental data
and observations, we have gained a deeper understanding of the fundamental
processes involved in steam power generation, including compression, heat
addition, expansion, and heat rejection. The hands-on nature of the experiment
has allowed us to appreciate the complexities of real-world energy systems and
the importance of optimizing efficiency for sustainable power generation.
Moving forward, the knowledge and experience gained from this experiment
will serve as a solid foundation for further exploration and refinement of steam
turbine technology, contributing to the ongoing pursuit of more efficient and
environmentally friendly energy solutions.
References:
1. "Steam Plant Operation" by Everett B. Woodruff and Herbert B. Lammers
2. "Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer" by Yunus A. Çengel
3. "Power Plant Engineering" by Larry Drbal, Kayla Westra, and Pat Boston
