Ideal Thermodynamic Cycles

Rankine Cycle

qin

qout
1 2 : isobaric heat addition
2 3 : isentropic, adiabatic expansion
3 4 : isobaric heat rejection
4 1 : isentropic, isochoric, adiabatic compression
2

Brayton Cycle
1 2 : isentropic compression
2 3 : isobaric heat addition
3 4 : isentropic expansion
4 1 : isobaric heat rejection

open-cycle

closed-cycle
3

Thermal efficiency
Based on the 2nd Thermodynamic Law (Kelvin-Planck Postulat), no heat engine
has 100 % efficiency.

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