Gas Cycles (chapter 10)

ERICSSON CYCLE
A. Brayton cycle with multistage compression with perfect intercooling
between stages and multistage expansion with perfect reheating
between stages.
B. Ericsson Cycle: It has similar thermodynamic cycle and it presents
the maximum efficiency that Brayto cycle can achieve since it has
thermal efficiency similar to Carnot cycle:
TH TL TL
1
TL TH
 ERICSSON CYCLE
Process 1-2: Isothermal (constant temperature)
compression.
Process 2-3: Isobaric (constant pressure) heat
addition.
Process 3-4: Isothermal (constant temperature)
expansion.
Process 4-1: Isobaric (constant pressure) heat
removal.
Erricsson developed his externally coal fired heat engine before
brayton, and one of the designs was successfully used to power
a ship. However, it had a very low power/mass ratio (even lower
than Stirling engine), thus, It was never commercialized.
Gas Cycles (chapter 10)

STIRLING CYCLE
STIRLING IDEAL CYCLE

It has similar maximum thermodynamic efficiency such as in

Carnot and Ericsson cycles: T T T
H L
1 L
TL TH
 STIRLING CYCLE
Process 1-2: Isothermal (constant temperature)
compression.
Process 2-3: Isochoric (constant volume) heat
addition.
Process 3-4: Isothermal (constant temperature)
expansion.
Process 4-1: Isochoric (constant volume) heat
removal.
Stirling engine is a reciprocating piston (closed cycle externally
fired) engine. Three main designs (Alfa, Beta & gamma) are
available commercially for power generation. However, it has
lower power/mass ratio compared to I.C. engine.
GAS REFRIGERATION

Brayton refrigeration cycle (chapter 11)

 BRAYTON REFRIGERATION CYCLE
It is a reversed Brayton (GT)
power cycle.
Air is used as the refrigerant in
open cycle.
C.O.P. is very low.
This system can be used for
air conditioning applications
only (not for freezing).
Requires very low condensing
temp. to work effectively and
to get low evaporator temp.
This system is mostly used in
aircraft air-con. System as
shown in the figure.
ACTUAL CYCLE
ACTUAL CYCLE
Low turbine power can be generated:

However this power is not enough to run the

compressor, thus, external electrical power is
required:

Cooling load:

C.O.P. :
 REGENERATIVE BRAYTON REFRIGERATION

Hex effectiveness = (hah3)/(hahb).

Cooling load = m(hbh4)
Sheet 8: on chapter 10 (Brayton refrigeration cycle)

Questions: (10.34)

FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING
THERMODYNAMICS (MORAN J.)