STEAM POWER

1. Through combustion of a fossil fuel at 1670°C, an engine receives energy at a rate of 3165 kW
to heat steam to 560°C. There is no energy loss in the combustion & boiling process. The steam,
in turn, produces 1055 kW of work and rejects the remaining energy to the surroundings at 5°C.

(a) What is the thermal efficiency of the plant? (33.3%)

(b) What are the reversible work and the Carnot efficiency
corresponding to the source and sink temperatures?
(2712.4 kW & 85.7%)

(c) What is the irreversibility? (1657.4 kW)

(d) What is the second-law efficiency? (38.9%)

(e) What would the irreversibility and the second-law

efficiency be if the working fluid were processed by a
Carnot engine rather than by the real engine? (77.7% &
604 kW)

2. An ideal Rankine cycle has a throttle state of 100 bar & 593K with condenser pressure of 0.06
bar. Determine the temperatures, pressures, entropies and enthalpies at the inlets of all
components, and compare the thermal efficiency of the cycle with the relevant Carnot
efficiency. What is the quality of the steam at the turbine exit?

State Temperature Pressure (bar) X (quality) Entropy (kJ/kgK) Enthalpy (kJ/kg)

(K)

1 593 100 SH 5.7103 2781.3

2 309.16 0.06 0.66 5.7103 1746

3 309.16 0.06 0 0.5210 151.53

4 309.5 100 Liq 0.5210 161.8

Process q (kJ/kg) w (kJ/kg)

1-2 (Turbine) 0 1035.3

2-3 (Condenser) -1594.47 0

3-4 (Pump) 0 -10.27

4-1 (Boiler) 2619.5 0

net 1025.03 1025.03

3. If the throttle mass flow is 905,000 kg/h and the cooling water enters the condenser at 293K (c p
= 4.2 kJ/kgK) and exit at 310K, what is the power plant output? Estimate the cooling water mass
flow rate
 Power output: 905,000 kg/h x 1025.03 kJ/kg = 9.27 x 108 kJ/h= 257.7 MW
 Cooling water mass flow rate :

Condenser demand of cooling = qcond x 905,000 kg/h = 1594.47 kJ/kg x 905,000 kg/h =
1.44 x 109 kJ/h = 400 MW

Cooling water mass flow rate = 400 MW/ 4.2 kJ/kgK/(310 – 293)

= 5.6 x 103 kg/s = 2 x 107 kg/h

4. At isentropic process 𝑇𝑑𝑠 = 𝑑ℎ − 𝑣𝑑𝑝 = 0

so ℎ4𝑠 − ℎ3 = 𝑣3 (𝑝4 − 𝑝3 )

𝑤𝑝−𝑎𝑐𝑡 = 𝑣3 (𝑝3 − 𝑝4 )/𝜂𝑝

Calculate the actual work and the isentropic and actual discharge enthalpies for an 80%
efficiency pump with 300K saturated liquid inlet and an exit pressure of 100bar

From table 𝑣3 = 1.0035×10−3 m3/kg, ℎ3 = 113.25 kJ/kg, 𝑝3 =0.03567bar

𝑤𝑝−𝑎𝑐𝑡 = −10.03 kJ/kg

Actual discharge enthalpy h4 = h3 − 𝑤𝑝−𝑎𝑐𝑡 = 1344 +10.03 = 1354.03 kJ/kg

Isentropic discharge enthalpy ℎ4𝑠 = ℎ3 − 𝜂𝑝 𝑤𝑝−𝑎𝑐𝑡 = 1344 + 0.8(10.03) = 1352.02 kJ/kg

Actual discharge temperature? 574K

5. An ideal Rankine cycle has a throttle state of 100 bar & 793K with condenser pressure of 0.06
bar. It is reheated at 10 bar (793K), determine the temperatures, pressures, entropies and
enthalpies at the inlets of all components, and calculate the thermal efficiency. What is the
quality of the steam at the turbine exit?
Thermal Efficiency : 43.4%
State Temperature (K) Pressure X (quality) Entropy Enthalpy
(bar) (kJ/kgK) (kJ/kg)

1 793 100 SH 6.6622 3425.1

2 467 10 SH 6.6622 2813.2

3 793 10 SH 7.8171 3522.1

4 309.16 0.06 0.93 7.8171 2408.6

5 309.16 0.06 0 0.5210 151.53

6 309.52 100 Liq 0.5210 161.96

Process q (kJ/kg) w (kJ/kg)

1-2 (HP Turbine) 0 611.9

2-3 (Reheat) 708.9 0

3-4 (LP Turbine) 0 1113.5

4-5 (Condenser) -2257.1 0

5-6 (Pump) 0 -10.4

6-1 (Boiler) 3263.1 0

net 1715 1715

6. Recalculate example of the Rankine with Reheat analysis step by step by yourself!
Compare it if without reheat, how many % difference in efficiency?

7. What is the turbine work, pump work, net work, bwr and the cycle thermal efficiency
form that Rankine with Reheat if the HP & LP turbine efficiency is 90% and the pump
efficiency is 85%? Also what is the actual turbine exit quality? Analyze what happen with
the turbine exit quality!
Fuels and Combustion
8. Consider Methane CH4
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2 O
2
𝑥𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = = 0.667
3
 1
𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 = = 0.333
3
44
𝑚𝑓𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 = (1) = 0.55
80
In air
CH4 + 2O2 + 2(3.76)N2 → CO2 + 2H2 O + 2(3.76)N2
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2 O
CH4 + 2O2 + 2(3.76)N2 → CO2 + 2H2 O + 2(3.76)N2
2 2
𝑥H2O = 3 = 0.667 in Air 𝑥H2O = 10.52 = 0.19
1 1
𝑥CO2 = = 0.333 in Air 𝑥CO2 = = 0.095
3 10.52
44 44
𝑚𝑓CO2 = (1) 80 = 0.55 in Air 𝑚𝑓CO2 = (1) 290.56 = 0.15

Flue gas  wet flue gas (wet basis) vs dry flue gas (dry basis)
44 44
𝑚𝑓𝑤𝑒𝑡 CO2 = (1) = 0.15 vs 𝑚𝑓𝑑𝑟𝑦 CO2 = (1) = 0.17
290.56 254.56

9.

10. Contain 83-94% methane (CH4), 0-16% ethane (C2H6), 0.5-8.4% nitrogen and
small quantities of other components, by volume.
The ultimate analysis shows that the gases contain about 65-75% carbon, 20-24%
hydrogen, 0.75-13% nitrogen, and small amounts of oxygen and sulfur in some
cases.
HHV of 1000 Btu/ft3 or 22,000 Btu/lbm
11.
12.

13. A coal with a dry, ash-free composition of 0.87 C, 0.09 H2, 0.02 S, and 0.02 O2 is burned
with 25% excess air. The as-fired ash and moisture contents are 6% and 4%, respectively.

(a) What are the stoichiometric and actual air-fuel ratios?

(b) What is the flue gas composition?

 (a) As fired ratio:

1-A-M=1-0.06-0.04=0.9

C + O2CO2

H2 + 1/2O2H2O

S + O2SO2

14.
15. Determine the carbon
component of the ultimate
analysis, the theoretical mass
and mole air-fuel ratios, and
the molecular weight of the
Oklahoma natural gas.
Determine the true air-fuel
ratio and percentage of
excess air if the flue gas
Orsat analysis is 9% CO2, 3%
O2, and 0.5% CO. Determine
also the mass of the wet
combustion products per
unit mass of natural gas
consumed.
 CH4+2O2CO2+2H2O
 C2H4+3O22CO2+2H2O
 2C2H6+7O24CO2+6H2O
 2H2+O22H2O
 2CO+O22CO2
 16. Determine the carbon component
of the ultimate analysis, the
theoretical mass and mole air-fuel
ratios, and the molecular weight
of the Ohio natural gas.
Determine the true air-fuel ratio
and percentage of excess air if the
flue gas Orsat analysis is 10% CO2,
2% O2, and 0.5% CO. Determine
also the mass of the wet
combustion products per unit
mass of natural gas consumed.

17. The heat-pipe air heater has an airflow of 360,800 lbm/hr

and a flue gas flow rate of 319,000 lbm/hr. The flue gas
enters at 705°F and leaves at 241°F; the combustion air
enters at 84°F. What is the rate of energy recovery from the
flue gas, and what is the air temperature entering the
windbox? Assume a flue gas & air heat capacity of 0.265 &
0.24 Btu/lbm-R.
 Solution
 The rate of heat recovery from the flue gas is
 mcp (Tout -Tin) = 319,000(0.265)(705 - 241) = 39,224,240
Btu/hr
 The air temperature is then
 84 °F + 39,224,240/[(0.24)(360,800)] = 537°F

Adiabatic Flame Temperature

18. What is the enthalpy of water vapor at 1800°R and 1 bar? What is the heat transfer in
the formation reaction of water from hydrogen and oxygen if the products are at 1800°R
and the reactants are (a) at the standard state, and (b) at 900°R?
 Hp = (1)h(H2O) = hf(536.7°R) + [h(1800°R)-h(536.7°R)]
 Hp = -103966 + 11185 = -92781 Btu/lb-mole
 Q = Hp - HR = -92781 Btu/lb-mole
 Reactants at 900°R HR = (1)h(H2) + (0.5)h(O2) = (1)[hH2(900°R)-
hH2(536.7°R)]+(0.5)[hN2(900°R)-hN2(536.7°R)]=(1)(2530)+(0.5)(2617)=3838.5 Btu/lbm.
  Q = Hp - HR = -92781- 3838.5 = -96619.5 Btu/lb-mole.

19. Methane and stoichiometric air enter a combustor at the standard state. Calculate the
heat transfer as a function of the exit (flame) temperature of the products of complete
combustion. Assume the water in the products remains a vapor.

20. A coal with a dry, ash-free composition of 0.89 C, 0.07 H2, 0.05 S, and 0.01 O2 is burned
with 20% excess air. The as-fired ash and moisture contents are 7% and 6%, respectively.
(a) What are the stoichiometric and actual air-fuel ratios?
(b) What is the flue gas composition?
21. C2H4 and 20% excess air enter a combustor at the standard state. Calculate C 2H4 heat
transfer at flame temperature of 1000K. Assume the water in the products remains a
vapor.
22. Illinois no.6 raw coal has the following dry mass composition; 61.6% C, 4.2% H2, 9.7% O2,
1.3% N2, 4.6% S, and 18.5% ash. Using heats of formation, determine the higher and
lower heating values in kJ/kg, of the as-fired coal with 10% moisture.

1-A-M=1-0-0.1 = 0.9

Product with hf:

H2 + 0.5O2  H2O

C + O2 CO2

S + O2  SO2

From data

HV : 23,745 kJ/kg.
 23.

Excess air reaction (30%, F = 1.3):

𝑎C + 𝑏H2 + 𝑐O2 + 𝑑N2 + 𝑒S + 𝐹𝑓O2 + 3.76𝐹𝑓N2

→ 𝑎CO2 + 𝑏H2 O + (3.76𝐹𝑓 + 𝑑)N2 + 𝑒SO2 + (𝐹 − 1)𝑓O2

Heat of Combustion
 C + O2 CO2 : (393.522)(0.48)/12 = 15740.88 kJ/kg Coal

S + O2  SO2 : (296.842)(0.006)/32 = 55.66kJ/kg Coal

H2 + 0.5O2  H2O : (241.826)(0.033)/2 = 3990.13kJ/kg Coal

: (285.830)(0.033)/2 = 4716.195 kJ/kg

Coal

LHV = 19786.7 kJ/kg Coal = 8506.7 Btu/lbm (dry)

HHV = 20462.7 kJ/kg Coal = 8797.4 Btu/lbm (dry)

Heat transfer

𝑄 = 𝐻𝑝 − 𝐻𝑟 = 𝑎[ℎ𝑓 + 𝑑ℎ(𝑇)]CO + 𝑏[ℎ𝑓 + 𝑑ℎ(𝑇)]H + (3.76𝐹𝑓 + 𝑑)[𝑑ℎ(𝑇)]N2

2 2O
+ 𝑒[ℎ𝑓 + 𝑑ℎ(𝑇)]SO + (𝐹 − 1)𝑓[𝑑ℎ(𝑇)]O2
2

COST OF COMPUND
24. What uniform annual payments are required for forty years at 12% interest to retire the
debt associated with the purchase of a $500,000,000 power plant?

Solution
[𝑖(1+𝑖)𝑛] [0.12(1+0.12)40 ]
𝑅 = 𝑃 [(1+𝑖)𝑛−1] = 5 × 108 [(1+0.12)40 −1]
= $60,651,813

This sum may be regarded as part of the annual operating expense of the plant. It must
be recovered annually by the returns from the sale of power.

25. Consider the design of a 500-megawatt steam power plant with a heat rate of 10,000
Btu/kW-hr and a water-cooled condenser with a 20°F cooling-water temperature rise
produced by heat transfer from the condensing steam. The plant uses coal with a
heating value of 10,000 Btu/lbm. Let us estimate the magnitude of some of the
parameters that characterize the design of the plant.
 Annual electricity production : 500,000 x 365 x 24 = 4.38 × 109 kW-hr
 Head addition rate : 500,000 x 10,000 = 5 × 109 Btu/hr
  Coal supply : 5 × 109 / 10,000 = 500,000 lbm/hr or 250 tons/hr
 A coal car carries 100 tons, then it need 250 / 100 = 2.5 coal cars per hour
 A coal train unit contain 100 cars, then it needs 2.5 x 24 / 100 = 0.6 coal train unit per
day
 If coal cost $30 per ton, annual fuel cost : 30 x 250 x 24 x 365 = $65,700,000
 Cost of fuel per kWh (100% plant capacity) : 65,700,000/(500,000 x 365 x 24) =
$0.015/kW-hr  1.5 cents/kW-hr
 If it is not 100% plant capacity, there will be annual plant factor/annual capacity factor
(example : 80% annual capacity factor)
 If the coal has 10% ash, the plant will produce 250 x 0.1 = 25 tons of ash per hour 
Ash for cement/paving
 If the coal has 2% sulfur and half of it is removed, 2.5 tons of sulfur per hour  sulfur
for industrial chemical
 With AFR 14, air flow rate is 14 x 500,000 = 7,000,000 lbm/hr  determining the size
of the induced- and forced-draft fans, that of their driving motors or turbines, and of
the plant’s gas path flow passages.
 If 1 kW = 3413 Btu/h, thermal efficiency for heat rate of 10,000 Btu/kW-hr : 3413/
10,000 = 34.13%
 If the heat of vaporization of water is 1000 Btu/lbm, throttle steam flow rate
(saturated vapor) : 10,000 x 500,000 / 1000 = 5,000,000 lbm/hr  determines feed
water pump & water path passage’
 Heat rejected in condenser (100% rejected): (1 - 0.3413)(5 × 109) = 3.29 × 109 Btu/hr
 With 20° water temperature rise in the condenser (cp = 1.0 Btu/lbm °F), this rate of
cooling requires a cooling-water flow rate to the condenser : 3.29 × 109/(1.0 × 20) =
1.65 × 108 lbm/hr  design sizing of cooling-water lines, cooling towers, and water
pump capacities.
 If the capital cost is $500,000,000 determine the capital cost per kW of generation
capacity and estimate the minimum cost of generation for the plant if it is predicted
to have an annual plant factor of 80% and maintenance and administrative costs of
$0.007 /kW-hr.
26. For the power plant design discussed earlier, estimate the horsepower of a motor
required to drive the fans used to overcome a steam generator gas-path pressure drop
of 1 psia. Assume a fan efficiency of 80%. What is the fractional and percentage
reduction in power plant output due to the fans?
27. Estimate the horsepower required by the feedwater pumps in the earlier design if the
HP-turbine throttle pressure is 3200 psia. Assume a pump efficiency of 70%. What
fractional and percentage reduction of the power plant output does this represent?
28. What are the annual savings in fuel costs in the earlier plant design if the plant heat rate
can be reduced to 8500 Btu/kW-hr?
29. If the total capital cost of the earlier plant design is $600,000,000 and the annual
administrative and maintenance costs are one cent per kW-hr, what is the minimum
cost of electricity per kW-hr, assuming an annual interest rate of 9% and an expected
plant lifetime of thirty-five years?