Thermodynamics - II

Lecture 15 & 16
BRAYTON CYCLE: The Ideal Cycle For
Gas Turbines (Ch-9)

Zia Ud Din

BRAYTON CYCLE: THE IDEAL CYCLE FOR

GAS-TURBINE ENGINES
1) Air as an ideal gas is the working fluid.
2) 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.

Air-Standard BRAYTON Cycle:

(Constant Pressure Cycle)

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

Areas on T-s Diagram

2-3-a-b-2 = Heat Addition
1-4-a-b-1= Heat Rejection
Areas on P-v Diagram
1-2-a-b-1 = Work Input
3-4-b-a-3 = Work Done

Air-Standard BRAYTON Cycle Analysis:

(Constant Pressure Cycle)

Using Control Volume mass & energy rate balance:

W 12

h1 h2

W 34

Q 41

h3 h4

m
Back Work Ratio for Cycle:

Q 23

Thermal Efficiency:

h3 h2

h1 h4

Air-Standard BRAYTON Cycle Analysis:

(Considering variable specific heats)

is the ratio of network of cycle to Qin:

(for variable specific heats)

When air table data are used to conduct an

analysis involving ideal Brayton Cycle the
following relationship apply for isentropic
processes 1-2 and 3-4

Where, p4/p3 = p1/p2

Air-Standard BRAYTON Cycle Analysis:

(Considering constant specific heats)

On constant specific heats basis, following expressions used for

isentropic processes
Eq. 9.23
Eq. 9.24
On a cold air-standard basis, Thermal
efficiency is:

Air-Standard BRAYTON Cycle Analysis:

(Considering constant specific heats)

Thermal efficiency of the ideal Brayton

cycle is a function of pressure ratio
across the compressor

Thermal
efficiency of the
ideal Brayton
cycle as a
function of the
pressure ratio.

The two major application areas of gas- The highest temperature in the cycle is
limited by the maximum temperature that
turbine engines are aircraft propulsion
the turbine blades can withstand. This
and electric power generation.

also limits the pressure ratios that can be

used in the cycle.
The air in gas turbines supplies the
necessary oxidant for the combustion of
the fuel, and it serves as a coolant to
keep the temperature of various
components within safe limits. An airfuel
ratio of 50 or above is not uncommon.

For fixed values of Tmin and Tmax, the net

work of the Brayton cycle first increases
with the pressure ratio, then reaches a
maximum at rp = (Tmax/Tmin)k/[2(k - 1)], and
finally decreases.

The fraction of the turbine work

used to drive the compressor is
called the back work ratio.

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 gasturbine cycle from the ideal

Brayton cycle as a result of
irreversibilities.

Example 9-5

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Example 9-5

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Example 9-5

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Example 9-5

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Example 9-6

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Example 9-6

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Example 9-6

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Example 9-6

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