CH # 09

GAS POWER CYCLES

Lecture # 13
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GAS-TURBINE ENGINES
The two major application areas of gas-turbine engines are aircraft
propulsion and electric power generation. (See Video Link)

An open-cycle gas-turbine engine.

A closed-cycle gas-turbine engine.
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BRAYTON CYCLE: THE IDEAL CYCLE FOR

GAS-TURBINE ENGINES
The combustion process is replaced by a constant-pressure heat-addition
process from an external source, and the exhaust process is replaced by a
constant-pressure heat-rejection process to the ambient air.
1-2 Isentropic compression (in a compressor)
2-3 Constant-pressure heat addition
3-4 Isentropic expansion (in a turbine)
4-1 Constant-pressure heat rejection

An open-cycle gas-turbine engine. A closed-cycle gas-turbine engine.

 Efficiency of Brayton Cycle

Back Work Ratio

back work ratios

of gas turbines
range from 40 to
80%.

T-s and P-v diagrams for

the ideal Brayton cycle.
To find unknown Pressures in the Brayton cycle
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For Cold-Air Standard Assumptions

constant Cp, and thus constant specific heat ratio k

Pressure
ratio

T-s and P-v diagrams for

the ideal Brayton cycle.
Cycle A has a greater compressor
pressure ratio than cycle B and thus
the greater thermal efficiency.
However, cycle B has a larger
enclosed area and thus the greater
net work developed per unit of
mass flow. Accordingly, for cycle A
to develop the same net power
output as cycle B, a larger mass
flow rate would be required, which
might dictate a larger system

How to determine
compressor pressure ratio
for maximum net work per
unit of mass ?
To determine the pressure ratio that maximizes the net work output per unit of
mass flow, first form the derivative
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Development of Gas Turbines

1. Increasing the turbine inlet (or firing) temperatures
2. Increasing the efficiencies of turbomachinery components (turbines,
compressors):
3. Adding modifications to the basic cycle (intercooling, regeneration or
recuperation, and reheating).

Deviation of Actual Gas-

Turbine Cycles from Idealized
Ones
Reasons: Irreversibilities in turbine and
compressors, pressure drops, heat losses

Isentropic efficiencies of the compressor

and turbine

The deviation of an actual gas-

turbine cycle from the ideal
Brayton cycle as a result of
irreversibilities.