3. • The impracticalities associated with Carnot cycle can be eliminated by
superheating the steam in the boiler and condensing it completely in
the condenser.
• This cycle that results is the Rankine cycle, which is the ideal cycle for
vapor power plants.
• The ideal Rankine cycle dose not involve any internal irreversibilities
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4. 1.2 Deviation of Actual Vapor Power Cycle
from Idealized Ones
• Fluid friction and heat loss to the surroundings are the two common
sources of irreversibilites.
• Fluid friction causes pressure drop in the boiler, the condenser and the
piping between various components.
• To compensate for these pressure drops, the water must be pumped
to a sufficiently higher pressure than the ideal cycle.
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5. 1.3 How can We Increase the Efficiency of the
Rankine cycle?
• Lowering the condenser pressure
• Superheating the steam to high temperatures
• Increasing the boiler pressure
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6. 1.4 Steam Generator
• Steam is an important medium of producing mechanical energy.
• Steam has the advantage that it does not react much with the
materials of the equipment of power plant.
• Steam is stable at the temperature required in the plant. Steam is
used to drive steam engines, steam turbines etc.
• Steam power station is most suitable where coal is available in
abundance.
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7. 1.5 Essentials of Steam Power Plant
Equipment
A steam power plant must have following equipment :
• A furnace to burn the fuel.
• Steam generator or boiler containing water. Heat generated in the
furnace is utilized to convert water into steam.
• Main power unit such as an engine or turbine to use the heat energy of
steam and perform work.
• Piping system to convey steam and water
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11. 1.8 Major components of a Boiler
The boiler itself is a main component of a generation system that also
includes the fuel supply, combustion air system, feed water system, and
exhaust gases venting system. Major components are given as follows:
• Deaerator
• Economizer
• Heat Exchanger
• Soot blower
• Super heater
• Air pre-heater
• Condenser
• Cooling Tower
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