Question

Consider a regenerative gas-turbine power plant with two stages of compression and two stages of expansion. The overall pressure ratio of the cycle is 9. The air enters each stage of the compressor at 300 K and each stage of the turbine at 1200 K. Accounting for the variation of specific heats with temperature, determine the minimum mass flow rate of air needed to develop a net power output of 105 MW.

Answer 1

Answer: the minimum mass flow rate of air required to generate a power output of 105 MW is 238.2 kg/s

Explanation:

from the T-S diagram, we get the overall pressure ratio of the cycle is 9

Calculate the pressure ratio in each stage of compression and expansion. P1/P2 = P4/P3  = √9 = 3

P5/P6 = P7/P8  = √9 =3  

get the properties of air from, "TABLE A-17 Ideal-gas properties of air", in the text book.

At temperature T1 =300K

Specific enthalpy of air h1 = 300.19 kJ/kg

Relative pressure pr1 = 1.3860  

At temperature T5 = 1200 K

Specific enthalpy h5 = 1277.79 kJ/kg

Relative pressure pr5 = 238  

Calculate the relative pressure at state 2

Pr2 = (P2/P1) Pr5

Pr2 =3 x 1.3860 = 4.158  

get the two values of relative pressure between which the relative pressure at state 2 lies and take the corresponding values of specific enthalpy from, "TABLE A-17 Ideal-gas properties of air", in the text book.  

Relative pressure pr = 4.153

The corresponding specific enthalpy h = 411.12 kJ/kg  

Relative pressure pr = 4.522

The corresponding specific enthalpy h = 421.26 kJ/kg  

Find the specific enthalpy of state 2 by the method of interpolation

(h2 - 411.12) / ( 421.26 - 411.12) =  

(4.158 - 4.153) / (4.522 - 4.153 )

h2 - 411.12 = (421.26 - 411.12) ((4.158 - 4.153) / (4.522 - 4.153))  

h2 - 411.12 = 0.137

h2 = 411.257kJ/kg  

Calculate the relative pressure at state 6.

Pr6 = (P6/P5) Pr5

Pr6 = 1/3 x 238 = 79.33  

Obtain the two values of relative pressure between which the relative pressure at state 6 lies and take the corresponding values of specific enthalpy from, "TABLE A-17 Ideal-gas properties of air", in the text book.  

Relative pressure Pr = 75.29

The corresponding specific enthalpy h = 932.93 kJ/kg  

Relative pressure pr = 82.05

The corresponding specific enthalpy h = 955.38 kJ/kg  

Find the specific enthalpy of state 6 by the method of interpolation.

(h6 - 932.93) / ( 955.38 - 932.93) =  

(79.33 - 75.29) / ( 82.05 - 75.29 )

(h6 - 932.93) = ( 955.38 - 932.93) ((79.33 - 75.29) / ( 82.05 - 75.29 )

h6 - 932.93 = 13.427

h6 = 946.357 kJ/kg

Calculate the total work input of the first and second stage compressors

(Wcomp)in = 2(h2 - h1 ) = 2( 411.257 - 300.19 )

= 222.134 kJ/kg  

Calculate the total work output of the first and second stage turbines.

(Wturb)out = 2(h5 - h6) = 2( 1277.79 - 946.357 )

= 662.866 kJ/kg  

Calculate the net work done

Wnet = (Wturb)out  - (Wcomp)in

= 662.866 - 222.134

= 440.732 kJ/kg  

Calculate the minimum mass flow rate of air required to generate a power output of 105 MW

W = m × Wnet

(105 x 10³) kW = m(440.732 kJ/kg)

m = (105 x 10³) / 440.732

m = 238.2 kg/s

therefore the minimum mass flow rate of air required to generate a power output of 105 MW is 238.2 kg/s