Joule - Brayton cycle

Heat Engines & Boilers

Contents

Joule - Brayton cycle

Optimal pressure ratio
Difference in between theoretical and real cycles
Real open gasturbine cycle
Gas turbines with inner heat-exchanger
Intercooling and reheat
Two and three shaft gas turbine
Turboprop engine
Jet-engine
Intercooled regenerative split shaft gas turbine
Steam injection (Cheng) cycle
Deratings
Inlet air cooling solutions

Joule - Brayton cycle

The 'Brayton cycle' is a constant-pressure cycle that describes the
workings of the gas turbine engine, basis of the jet engine and
others. It is named after George Brayton (18301892), the
American engineer who developed it, although it was originally
proposed and patented by Englishman John Barber in 1791.
It is also sometimes known as the Joule cycle. Named after James
Prescott Joule (1818 1889), who was an English physicist.
The Joule - Brayton cycle is used for gas turbines only where both
the compression and expansion processes take place in rotating
machinery.
The two major application areas of gas-turbine engines are aircraft
propulsion and electric power generation.
Gas turbines are used as stationary power plants to generate
electricity as stand-alone units or in conjunction with steam power
plants on the high-temperature side. In these plants, the exhaust
gases serve as a heat source for the steam.

Air-standard Joule Brayton cycle in P-V and in T-S chart

Processes in Joule Brayton gas turbine cycle

C Compressor, T - Turbine
Useful power:

PGT = PT PC

Power supplied by the turbine:

.

PT= m h34 = m c p (T3

T4 ) = m c pT3 1

T3
p3
=
T4
p4
P3
=
P4

1
T3
T4

PT= m c p T3 1
.

PT= f m, T3 ,

Processes in Joule Brayton gas turbine cycle

Power consumed by the compressor:
.

PC= m h21 = m c p (T2

T2
T1 ) = m c pT1
T1
.

T2
P2
=
T1
P1
p2
=
p1

PC= m c p T1
.

PC=f m, T1 ,

Processes in Joule Brayton gas turbine cycle

Heat addition:
.

Q in = m h32 = m c p (T3
Efficiency of the air-standard cycle:

PGT

GT

=1

GT

= f( ,

T2 )
1

Q in

Useful power calculation:

PGT=cpT3 1

k 1
k

cpT1

k 1
k

Optimal pressure ratio

There is no fundamental limit to the temperatures which can be used
in the Joule-Brayton cycle,
but practical limits are imposed by the steel alloys used in turbine and
combustion chamber.
So T3 temperature level is limited.
In this case there is an optimal pressure ratio belonging to actual
temperature limit.

Ph

cpT3

=0

1
2k 1
k

opt is

searched.

c p T1 = 0

0 pt

T3
=
T1

k
2 (k 1)

Optimal pressure ratio determination in T-S chart

Joule Brayton cycle efficiency and

specific power variation against pressure ratio

Difference in between theoretical and real cycles

Losses may be observed in the cycle:
compression and expansion is not isentropic
there are some pressure drop at heat addition
and removal caused by friction
variation of medium parameters
(caused mainly by temperature variation)
Mechanical losses:
Bearing friction
Drive power of auxiliary equipments

Isentropic and real process of compression and expansion

Pressure drop at heat addition and removal caused by friction

in

fc

out

in

p1
p0

- pressure drop at air inlet (filter, silencer)

p3,
=
p3
p
= 0
p4
fc

where:

- pressure drop in fire chamber

- pressure drop at outlet section (stack , silencer)

out

=
- pressure ratio of the turbine
- pressure ratio of the compressor

Real open gas turbine cycle

Main differences from air-standard cycle:
Compessor compresses ambient air
Heat is fed by combustion of fuel
(not via heat exchanger)
In turbine flue gas expansion happens
(different medium)
Flue-gas goes to ambient
There is not direct connection
in between exhaust and intake

Real open gas turbine cycle

1 Compressor
2 Generator
3 Fuel flow
control
4 Combustion
chamber
5 Fuel nozzle
6 Mixing tube
7 - Electric
starter
8 - Turbine

Real open gas turbine process in T-S chart

Specific heat variation with temperature and pressure

1200

1150
cp1b
cp5b
1100
cp10b
cp20b

[J/kgK]
1050

1000

200

200

400
t [C]

600

800

1000

Specific heat ratio variation with temperature and pressure

1.4

1.39

1.38
1.37
1b
5b 1.36
10b

1.35

20b

1.34
1.33

1.32

1.31

200

200

400
t [C]

600

800

1000

Efficiency variation of real gas turbines

Efficiency variation of real gas turbines

Gas turbines with inner heat-exchanger

regenerative gas turbine
In case of comparatively low pressure rate
outlet flue-gas temperature is higher than
compression end temperature.
In this case flue gas can be used for
preheating compressed air.
This solution can increase significantly
efficiency of the gas turbine
and reduce fuel consumption for the same
power generation.

Gas turbines with inner heat-exchanger

Gas turbines with inner heat-exchanger

Q in = m c p (T3

m c p (T3
.

,
4

T4' )

Q in = m c p (T3
.

instead of

) < m c (T
.

T2

T2 ) at the same useful power PGT

Efficiency is increasing:

Efficiency of the heat exchanger:

GT

PGT
.

Q in
HE

c p (T4, T2 )

c p (T4

T2 )

Efficiency and power variation of a

regenerative gas turbine

Inter cooling and reheat

It is possible to increase power of a gas turbine at
the same minimal and maximal temperature with
application of inter cooling at compression and
with reheat at expansion.
These solutions increase power,
but decrease efficiency,
because these amended cycle parts have smaller
different in between inlet and outlet level
comparing with original cycle.
(See Carnot cycle efficiency)

Inter cooling and reheat

Two shaft gas turbine

Three-shaft gas turbine principal

Inter cooled regenerative split shaft gas turbine

Steam injection (Cheng) cycle

Evaporative regenerative cycle

Externally fired gas turbine

Externally fired gas turbine

Externally fired gas turbine

Back pressure derating

Ambient temperature derating

Inlet air evaporative cooling

Mechanical refrigerated inlet air system

Absorption refrigerated inlet air cooling

Evaporative and refrigerated inlet system

Effects of power enhancement options

Turboprop engine

Jet-engine

Ramjet/Scramjet engine

A ramjet has no moving parts and achieves compression of intake

air by the forward speed of the air vehicle.
Air entering the intake of a supersonic aircraft is slowed by
aerodynamic diffusion created by the inlet and diffuser to
velocities comparable to those in a turbojet augmentor.
The expansion of hot gases after fuel injection and combustion
accelerates the exhaust air to a velocity higher than that at the
inlet and creates positive push.

Ramjet/Scramjet engine

Ramjets require considerable forward speed to operate well, and

as a class work most efficiently at speeds around Mach 3, and
this type of jet can operate up to speeds of at least Mach 5.
Ramjets can be particularly useful in applications requiring a
small and simple engine for high speed use; such as missiles.

Ramjet/Scramjet engine

Summary
You are already familiar with

Joule - Brayton cycle

Optimal pressure ratio
Difference in between theoretical and real cycles
Real open gasturbine cycle
Gas turbines with inner heat-exchanger
Intercooling and reheat
Two and three shaft gasturbine
Turboprop engine
Jet-engine
Intercooled regenerative split shaft gasturbine
Steam injection (Cheng) cycle
Deratings
Inlet air cooling solutions

Thank You for Your Attention !