Question

[3] (25%) Superheated steam at 9 MPa and 480oC leaves the steam generator of a vapor power plant. Heat transfer and frictional effects in the line connecting the steam generator and the turbine reduce the pressure and temperature at the turbine inlet to 8.6 MPa and 440oC, respectively. The pressure at the exit of the turbine is 10 kPa, and the turbine operates adiabatically. Liquid leaves the condenser at 8 kPa, 35 oC. The pressure is increased to 9.6 MPa across the pump. The turbine and pump isentropic efficiencies are 85%. The mass flow rate of steam is 80 kg/s. Determine (a) the net power output, in kW. (b) the thermal efficiency (c) the rate of heat transfer from the line connecting the steam generator and the turbine, in kW. (d) the mass flow rate of the condenser cooling water, in kg/s, if the cooling water enters at 15oC and exits at 35oC with negligible pressure change.

Answer 1

The condenser is a device which is used thermal power plants to change the phase of the steam to liquid by releasing the latent heat to the surroundings.

The condenser in the Rankine cycle rejects heat to the surrounding or the flowing fluid at the constant pressure