In: Physics
Another type of external combustion steam engine in the Rankine cycle engine. You are told a Rankine engine will be operated in the following manner. The engine will use 0.46 kilomoles of water vapor. The water vapor is initially at 1.5 atm in a 10 m3 vessel. The water vapor is compressed isobarically to 1/10th of its original volume. The water vapor is then isochorically pressurized to 5 atm. The water is then isobarically expanded to a volume of 4.23 m3. Finally the water vapor is allowed to adiabatically expand back to its original pressure and volume. Treat the water vapor as a diatomic gas.
(R = 8314 J/(kilomole K); 1 atm = 101325 Pa)
a.) Draw the PV diagram for the Rankine cycle.
b.) Calculate the work done by the engine for one complete cycle.
c.) Calculate the heat absorbed by the engine.
d.) Calculate the efficiency of the heat engine.
e.) Compare this efficiency to a Carnot cycle operating between the two most extreme temperatures achieved by the engine.