Effect of reheating cycle on efficiency of Rankine cycle and its practical significance

Abstract

The Rankine cycle performance and efficiency can be improved with the reheat cycle as well as by regenerative cycle. It can be improved by increasing the thermodynamic properties of the steam entering into the turbine. At the initial stage, increased pressure results in increased expansion ratio. But as gradually progressing almost at the end of expansion wet steam is observed. This observation is due to increased moisture content of the steam. This is not desirable because it leads to wearing away of turbine blades and its loss which finally results in reduction of efficiency of nozzle and blade. Reheating cycle play a role in solving these problems. This paper discusses in briefly about methodology, basic principles in reheating cycle and comparison of heat rate and steam flow is made between ideal cycle and practical cycle.