This lecture is was created for use in Thermodynamics for Mechanical Engineers at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
This lecture I introduce four methods of improving thermal efficiency of Rankine Cycles. The first three come from looking at the Carnot efficiency. We can increase the average temperature of heat addition by having a (1) superheated or (2) supercritical fluid at the turbine inlet. We can reduce the average temperature of heat rejection by (3) reducing the pressure of the fluid running through the condenser. Finally, we see how (4) adding reheat to a Rankine cycle can improve the thermal efficiency at the cost of increasing cycle complexity.
6 сен 2024
