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MATLAB as a tool for the teaching of rankine cycle with simulation of a simple
steam power plant

Article  in  Jurnal Teknologi · December 2015

DOI: 10.11113/jt.v77.6781

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Jurnal
Full Paper
Teknologi
MATLAB AS A TOOL FOR THE TEACHING OF RANKINE Article history
Received
CYCLE WITH SIMULATION OF A SIMPLE STEAM POWER 1 June 2015
Received in revised form
PLANT 13 August 2015
Accepted
Marwan Affandia*, Ilmi Abdullahb, Nurul Syahirah Khalida 29 September 2015

aSchool of Mechatronics Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, *Corresponding author

02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia [email protected]
bInstitut Teknologi Medan, Medan 20217, Indonesia

Graphical abstract Abstract

Rankine cycle is one example of vapor power cycles. One important application is in steam
Thermodyna power plants. Properties of the important points in the cycle can be found from steam
Steam power Thermal
plant Efficiency
mic
properties
tables. However, reading values from a steam table is rather inconvenient particularly when
there are many values to be read such in a simulation. Interpolation must often be done
since the table only provides values of properties at determined points. Using equations of
Calculation
using
Equation of
state
states for steam is very convenient since values can be computed quickly. Unfortunately,
equations of states for steam are very complicated. A program written in MATLAB to assist
MATLAB

the teaching of Rankine cycle using steam has been developed. MATLAB is used since it is
widely available. Using this program, a lecturer can easily modify a problem and get the
answer quickly. Students can also benefit from the program where they can solve problems
and compare the results that they will get manually.

Keywords: Rankine cycle, steam power plant, equation of states, MATLAB

Abstrak
Kitar Rankine adalah salah satu contoh kitar kuasa wap. Satu penggunaan penting adalah
pada loji kuasa stim. Sifat-sifat daripada titik-titik penting pada kitar dapat didapatkan dari
jadual stim. Namun pembacaan nilai-nilai dari jadual stim agak susah terutamanya jika
banyak nilai yang harus dibaca sperti pada sebuah simulasi. Penentudalaman sering harus
dibuat kerana jadual hanya memberikan nilai-nilai sifat pada titik-titik tertentu saja.
Pemakaian persamaan keadaan untuk stim sangat mudah kerana nilai-nilai dapat dikira
dengan pantas. Malangnya, persamaan keadaan untuk stim sangat rumit. Satu program
yang ditulis dalam MATLAB untuk membantu pengajaran kitar Rankine yang menggunakan
stim telah dibuat. Dengan menggunakan program ini, pensyarah boleh mengubahsuai
satu masalah dan mendapatkan jawaban dengan pantas. Pelajar juga boleh mendapat
manfaat dari program dimana mereka boleh menyelesaikan masalah dan
membandingkan hasil-hasil dengan yang mereka dapat secara manual.

Kata kunci: Kitar Rankine, loji kuasa stim, persamaan keadaan, MATLAB

© 2015 Penerbit UTM Press. All rights reserved

77:28 (2015) 23–26 | www.jurnalteknologi.utm.my | eISSN 2180–3722 |

24 Marwan Affandi, Ilmi Abdullah & Nurul Syahiral / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 77:28 (2015) 23–26

1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 THERMAL EFICIENCY OF THE CYCLE

Thermodynamics is one of core subjects taught at the For the calculation of the thermal efficiency, we
School of Mechatronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia asume that the mass flow rate of the steam is 1 kg/s.
Perlis (UniMAP). One of the topics taught in Also we assume that the pump and the turbine are
thermodynamics is Rankine cycle. One important adiabatic with adiabatic efficiencies of η P and ηT,
application of the cycle is in steam power plants. The respectively. Thermal efficiency of the cycle can be
performance of a steam power plant is measured by found from
its thermal efficiency, which needs values at important
points of the cycle. A simple steam power plant is 𝜂𝑡ℎ =
𝑊𝑁
=
𝑊𝑇 −𝑊𝑃
(1)
𝑄𝐵 𝑄𝐵
shown in Figure 1.
The T-s diagram of the cycle is shown in Figure 2.
where
Processes in the Rankine cycle can be briefly
WN = net power, kW,
explained as follow. For more detailed, see [1-2] or any
WT = power developed by the turbine, kW
other engineering thermodynamics textbooks. Water
WP = power needed by the pump, kW
enters the pump as saturated liquid at t1 and pumped
QB = heat absorbed by the boiler, kJ/s or kW.
isentropically to t1’ at p2. The water is then preheated
to t2 before entering the boiler where it is converted
Power developed by the turbine is given by WT =
into superheated steam at p4 and t4. For an ideal
𝑚̇(h4−h5) where WT = 𝑚̇(h4−h5s)/ηT. Power needed by
cycle, we assume there is no pressure loss in the heat
the pump is given by WP = 𝑚̇(h1‘−h1) but this can be
exchanger (boiler and condenser) so p2=p3=p4 and approximated as 𝑚̇v1‘(p2−p1) since the temperature
p1 = p6. The steam enters the turbine which develops increase in the pump is quite small. Heat absorbed by
power and then flows to the condenser where the the boiler is given by QB = 𝑚̇(h4−h2). All formulas
pressure and the temperature decrease. In Figure 2, mentioned here are given in most thermodynamics
the water which exits from the turbine is a mixture of textbooks; see [1-2], for example.
saturated liquid and vapor. However, it can be
saturated vapor or superheated steam, depends on
the condenser’s pressure. Ideally, the steam is 3.0 EQUATIONS OF STATES FOR STEAM
expanded isentropically (shown as 4−5s). In practice,
there is loss so the actual process is shown as 4−5. Values of properties needed for the formulas in the
previous section can be found from steam tables
which are given in most thermodynamics textbooks.
More complete tables can be seen in [3−5].
However, reading values from a steam table is
rather inconvenient particularly when there are many
values to be read such in a simulation. Interpolation
must often be done since the table only provides
values of properties at determined points. Also,
properties in steam table are given as a function of
pressure or temperature (saturated liquid and vapor),
or as a function of temperature and pressure
(superheat steam or subcooled water). As example,
suppose we want to find the temperature of superheat
Figure 1 A simple steam power plant steam if the pressure and enthalpy is given. We must
interpolate the superheat steam to find the
temperature and often we must do the double
interpolation.
Using equations of states for steam is very
convenient since values can be computed quickly.
Unfortunately, equations of states for steam are very
complicated [5-8]. Simplified formulas at for water
properties at 0.1 MPa are given in [9]. Calculators to
find the steam properties are avalaible in the internet
but the user must calculate formulas separately. Here,
a program written in MATLAB to assist the teaching of
Rankine cycle using steam has been developed.
MATLAB is chosen since it is widely available and
writing a program with it is not difficult; see [10-11], for
example. The formulas for equations of states for
Figure 2 T-s diagram for the cycle steam for this program are taken from [5] and called
IAPWS Industrial Formulation 1997 or IAPWS-IF97 for
25 Marwan Affandi, Ilmi Abdullah & Nurul Syahiral / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 77:28 (2015) 23–26

short. The formulas are also available in the website: Coefficients A to G are given as follow:
www.iapws.org. The formulas in IAPWS-IF97 are divided
into five regions which cover the following range of 𝐷=
2𝐺
−𝐹−√𝐹 2 −4𝐸𝐺
validity:
A = υ2 + n1υ + n2; B = n3υ2 + n4υ + n5; C = n6υ2 + n7υ + n8;
273.15 K ≤ T ≤1073.15 K, 0 < p ≤100 MPa
1073.15 K < T ≤2273.15 K, 0 < p ≤50 MPa
E = ͠β2 + n3β + n6; B = n1 β 2 + n4β + n7; C = n2β2 + n5β +
n8.
However, this paper only considers three regions which
are important for the teaching of Rankine cycle.
x υ and β are defined as
First region covers the liquid state of water;
properties for first region can be derived from (2): 𝑇𝑠 𝑛9 𝑝 0.25
𝜐= + (𝑇 ⁄ ; 𝛽 = ( 𝑠)
𝑇∗ 𝑠 𝑇∗)−𝑛10 𝑝∗
𝑔1 (𝑝,𝑇)
= 𝛾(𝜋, 𝜏) = ∑34 𝐼𝑖
𝑖=1 𝑛𝑖 (7.1 − 𝜋) (𝜏 − 1.22)
𝐽𝑖 (2)
𝑅𝑇
Coefficients of n1 to n10 are given in [5].

Here, π=p/p*, τ=T*/T where p* = 16.53 MPa, T*=1386 K

and R = 0.461526 kJ/kg.K. γ is dimensionless Gibbs free 4.0 SIMULATION OF THE RANKINE CYCLE
energy function. Coefficients of n i, Ii and Ji are given in
[5]. Thermodynamic properties are given in terms of γ Simulation of the Rankine cycle is done by taking the
as follow: following values. Efficiencies of the turbine and pump
are taken to be 0.87 and 0.80, respectively.
𝑝 ℎ(𝜋,𝜏) 𝑠(𝜋,𝜏)
𝑣(𝜋, 𝜏) = 𝜋𝛾𝜋 ; = 𝜏𝛾𝜏 ; = 𝜏𝛾𝜏 − 𝛾 (3) Condenser’s temperatures, boiler’s pressure and
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇 𝑅
superheat temperatures are varied. The results are
Here, γπ = (∂γ/∂π)τ and γτ =(∂γ/∂τ)π. shown in Tables 1 to 4.
Second region covers superheat steam; properties
for second region can be derived from (4):
Table 1 Thermal efficiency at (40°C, 10 bar), t4 from 300 to
𝑔1 (𝑝,𝑇) 500°C
= 𝛾(𝜋, 𝜏) = 𝛾 0 (𝜋, 𝜏) + 𝛾 𝑟 (𝜋, 𝜏) (4)
𝑅𝑇
t1 = 40°C (p1 = 0.0738 p2 = 10 bar (t2 = 179.89°C)
Here, γ0 is the ideal-gas part and γr is the residual part. bar) t4, °C
The dimensionless ideal-gas part γ0 and residual part γr 300 350 400 450 500
are given by(5) and (6), respectively: WP 1.2598 1.2598 1.2598 1.2598 1.2598
0
WT 724.1176 768.2173 815.9603 867.1860 921.7111
𝛾 0 (𝜋, 𝜏) = ln(𝜋) + ∑9𝑖=1 𝑛𝑖 𝜏 𝐽𝑖 (5) QB 2289.0 2.3955 2.5017 2.6085 2.7163
𝛾 𝑟 (𝜋, 𝜏) = ∑43 𝐼𝑖
𝑖=1 𝑛𝑖 𝜋 (𝜏 − 0.5)
𝐽𝑖
(6) ηth 0.3158 0.3202 0.3257 0.3320 0.3389

Coefficients for both equations are given in [5]. Here,

π=p/p*, τ=T*/T where p* = 1 MPa and T* = 1 K. Table 2 Thermal efficiency at (40°C, 15 bar), t4 from 300 to
Thermodynamic properties are given in terms of γ 0 and 500°C
γr as follow:
t1 = 40°C (p1 = 0.0738 p2 = 15 bar (t2 = 198.30°)
𝑝
𝑣(𝜋, 𝜏) = 𝜋(𝛾𝜋0 + 𝛾𝜋𝑟 ) (7) bar) t4, °C
𝑅𝑇
ℎ(𝜋,𝜏)
= 𝜏(𝛾𝜏0 + 𝛾𝜏𝑟 ) (8) 300 350 400 450 500
𝑅𝑇 WP 1.8898 1.8898 1.8898 1.8898 1.8898
(9)
𝑠(𝜋,𝜏)
= 𝜏(𝛾𝜏0 + 𝛾𝜏𝑟 ) − (𝛾 0 + 𝛾 𝑟 ) WT 768.2290 813.6913 862.3830 914.3180 969.3990
𝑅
QB 2.1935 2.3033 2.4116 2.5199 2.6288
Third region covers saturated steam that is liquid and ηth 0.3494 0.3524 0.3568 0.3621 0.3680
vapor. Properties for third region can be derived from
(2) for saturated liquid and from (4) for saturated
vapor. Saturation pressure and temperature are Table 3 Thermal efficiency at (45°C, 10 bar), t4 from 300 to
computed from (10) and (11): 490°C

𝑝𝑠 2𝐶 4 t1 = 45°C (p1 = 0.0959 p2 = 10 bar (t2 = 179.89°C)

= [ ] (10) bar) t4, °C
𝑝∗ −𝐵+√𝐵2 −4𝐴𝐶
𝑇𝑠 𝑛10 +𝐷−√(𝑛10 +𝐷)2 −4(𝑛9 +𝐷) 300 350 400 450 490
= (11) WP 1.2624 1.2624 1.2624 1.2624 1.2624
𝑇∗ 2
WT 695.7565 768.2173 786.1113 836.6712 879.5314
QB 2289.0 2.3955 2.5017 2.6085 2.7163
ηth 0.3034 0.3080 0.3137 0.3203 0.3259
 26 Marwan Affandi, Ilmi Abdullah & Nurul Syahiral / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 77:28 (2015) 23–26

Table 4 Thermal efficiency at (45°C, 15 bar), t4 from 300 to References

500°C
[1] Annamalai, K., Ikapuri, I. K. 2002. Advanced Engineering
t1 = 45°C (p1 = 0.0959 p2 = 15 bar (t2 = 198.30°C) Thermodynamics. CRC Press.
bar) t4, °C [2] Massoud, M. 2005. Engineering Thermofluids. Springer-
Verlag.
300 350 400 450 500
[3] Keenan, J. H., Keyes, F. G., Hill, P. G., Moore, J. G. 1969.
WP 1.8936 1.8936 1.8936 1.8936 1.8936 Steam Tables−Thermodynamic Properties of Water Including
WT 740.7590 785.4225 833.3867 884.6467 939.0941 Vapor, Liquid and Solid Phases. John Wiley.
QB 2.1935 2.3033 2.4116 2.5199 2.6288 [4] ASME Research and Technology Committee on Water and
Steam in Thermal Systems, Subcommittee on Properties of
ηth 0.3368 0.3402 0.3448 0.3503 0.3565
Steam. 2006. ASME Steam Tables. ASME.
[5] Wagner, W., Kretzschmar, H. J. 2008. International Steam
Tables. Springer-Verlag.
5.0 CONCLUSION [6] Reynolds, W. C. 1979. Thermodynamic Properties in SI.
Stanford University.
[7] Sato, H., Uematsu, M. Watanabe, K., Saul, A., Wagner. 1988.
Various programs to compute property values of water New International Skeleton Tables for the Thermodynamic
at three regions have been developed using MATLAB. Properties of Ordinary Water Substance. Journal of Physical
Those programs are then used by another program and Chemical Reference Data. 17(4): 1439-1540.
that can simulate a Rankine cycle. This program should [8] Hill, P. G. 1990. A Unified Fundamental Equation for the
Thermodynamic Properties of H2O. Journal of Physical and
be useful for lecturers for the teaching of Rankine Chemical Reference Data. 9(5): 1233-1274.
cycle as a part of thermodynamics subject. Students [9] Patek, J., Hruby, J., Klomfar, J., Souckova, M., Harvey, A.
can also benefit from the program as well. 2009. Compilations for Thermophysical Properties of Liquid
Water at 0.1 MPa. Journal of Physical and Chemical
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[10] Magrab, E. B., Azarm, S., Balachandran, B., Duncan, J. H.,
Acknowledgement Herold, K. E. and Walsh, G. C. 2005. An Engineer’s Guide to
MATLAB. Pearson Prentice Hall.
The first author thanked the Dean of School of [11] Quarteroni, A., Saleri, F. and Gervasio, P. 2014. Scientific
Mechatronics Engineering, UniMAP and the Vice Computing MATLAB and Octave. Springer-Verlag.
Chancellor of UniMAP who had supported him to
present this paper.

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