Revista Mexicana de Física

ISSN: 0035-001X
rmf@ciencias.unam.mx
Sociedad Mexicana de Física A.C.
México

Aragón González, Gerardo; Canales Palma, Aurelio; León Galicia, Alejandro; Morales-Gómez, J. R.
A regenerator can fit into an internally irreversible Brayton cycle when operating in maximum work or
efficiency
Revista Mexicana de Física, vol. 59, núm. 1, febrero-, 2013, pp. 212-217
Sociedad Mexicana de Física A.C.
Distrito Federal, México

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THERMODYNAMICS Revista Mexicana de Fı́sica 59 (1) 212–217 FEBRUARY 2013

A regenerator can fit into an internally irreversible Brayton cycle when operating
in maximum work or efficiency
Gerardo Aragón González∗ , Aurelio Canales Palma† , Alejandro León Galicia, and J. R. Morales-Gómez
PDPA. UAM-Azcapotzalco.
Av. San Pablo # 180. Col. Reynosa. Azcapotzalco, 02200, D.F.
Teléfono y FAX: (55) 5318-9057.
Received 30 de junio de 2011; accepted 25 de agosto de 2011

A Brayton cycle with internal irreversibilities due to isentropic efficiencies of the turbine and compressor, is analyzed using two criterions.
One was developed by the authors [1] to obtain the maximum efficiency with respect to the isentropic temperature ratio. Another was
obtained in [2] and gives the conditions to obtain a better cycle if a heat exchanger for regeneration is coupled. If the operation regime of the
cycle is maximum work or efficiency, then, a regenerator can always be coupled. The conditions of regeneration for other operation regimes
are also shown. The numerical optimization of a regenerative cycle is performed.

Keywords: Brayton cycle; efficiency; máximum; work.

Mediante dos criterios se analiza un ciclo Brayton con irreversibilidades internas debidas a las eficiencias isentrópicas de la turbina y
compresor. Uno fue desarrollado por los autores [1] para obtener la eficiencia máxima respecto a la razón de temperaturas isoentrópicas. El
otro, fue obtenido en [2] y proporciona condiciones para obtener un mejor ciclo cuando un intercambiador de calor puede acoplarse como
regenerador. Cuando el régimen de operación del ciclo es trabajo máximo o máxima eficiencia, siempre se puede acoplar un regenerador.
Se muestran también las condiciones de regeneración para otros regı́menes de operación. Se realiza la optimización numérica de un ciclo
Brayton regenerativo.

Descriptores: Ciclo Brayton; eficiencia; máximo; trabajo.

PACS: 0140G; 44.60; 44.90

1. Introduction the compressor output temperature reaches its upper limit.

These results show that there is no heat transferred in the hot
A gas turbine is modeled as an isentropic Brayton cycle (Fig- side and as a consequence the work is zero [7]. The limit
ure 1) with a working substance that behaves as an ideal gas: occurs when the inlet temperature of the compressor equals
the inlet temperature of the turbine [8]; as result no heat is
pv = RT (1) added in the heating/combustor; then, the net work is van-
ished if εp = 1. Therefore at some intermediate point the
the equation (1) was first stated by Clapeyron in 1839 [3]. It
work reaches a maximum and this point is located close to
is also supposed that the specific heat, cp , at constant pres-
the economical optimum [6]-[8]. In such condition, the outlet
sure is constant in all the stages of the cycle. The flow rates
temperature of the compressor and the outlet temperature of
of source and sink fluids have to be exactly matched to the
the turbine are equal (T2s = T4s ; Figure 1). If this condition
circulation rate of the working substance, so that the prod-
is not fulfilled (T2s 6= T4s ), it is advisable to couple a heat
ucts of mass rate of flow and specific heat will be equal to
regeneration in order to improve the efficiency of the system
ṁcp . Although the components may differ [4], this will be
if T2s < T4s [8]. A similar condition is presented when in-
employed as a symbol for these matched products. In Figure
ternal irreversibilities due to the isentropic efficiencies of the
1, an isentropic Brayton cycle is shown including internal ir-
turbine (η1 ) and compressor (η2 ), are taken into account (non
reversibilities due to the isentropic efficiencies of the turbine
isentropic cycle): T2 < T4 (see Figure 1 and equation (20) of
and compressor. In the ideal case the thermal efficiency could
[2]). Furthermore, if this condition is fulfilled, the following
be written as a pressure rate as follows [5]:
inequality for the pressure ratio is obtained [2]:
1−γ

η = 1 − εp γ (2)
√
where εp = p2s /p1 = p3 /p4s is the pressure ratio, −B + B + η1 η2 T1 T3
γ = cp /cv , cp is the constant-volume specific heat and 2s εp < (εp )max = (3)
2η2−1 T1
and 4s are the isentropic outles.
Lewins [6] has recognized that the extreme temperatures
are subject to limits: a) the environmental temperature and; ¡ ¢ ¡ ¢
b) in function of the limits on the adiabatic flame or for metal- where B = 1 − η2−1 T1 + 1 − η1−1 T3 and (εp )max is the
lurgical reasons. The thermal efficiency is maximized with- maximum value of the pressure ratio of the cycle analyzed
out losses, if the pressure ratio grows up to the point that in [2].
 A REGENERATOR CAN FIT INTO AN INTERNALLY IRREVERSIBLE BRAYTON CYCLE WHEN OPERATING. . . 213

and from the equation of the isentropic:

µ ¶ 1−γ 1−γ
T4s T1 p2s γ
= = = εp γ =x (6)
T3 T2s p1

where x is the isentropic temperature ratio of the cycle.

The thermal efficiency is defined as the relation between
the net work and the transferred heat or by the First Law:

w |qL | xT3 − T1
η= =1− =1− =1−x (7)
qH qH T3 − Tx1

where w, qH and |qL | correspond to the dimensionless work

( cW ) and heats ( c QM ), respectively. The efficiency
m T1 m T1 ; M =H, L
p p
of the isentropic cycle can be maximized by the following
criterion [1].

F IGURE 1. Bayton cycles: isentropic and non isentropic. Criterion 1.

2 2
On the other hand, since the theory of thermodynamic Let η = qwH = 1− qqHL . Suppose that ∂∂xq2H < 0 and ∂∂xq2L = 0,
optimization (or finite-time thermodynamics (FTT), or en- for some x. Then, the maximum efficiency ηmax is given by:
doreversible thermodynamics, or entropy generation mini-
mization (EGM)) has advanced, Brayton cycles has been ∂w ∂qL
also analyzed and optimized for the power, specific power, ∂x |x=xme ∂x |x=xme
ηmax = .
∂ qH
=1− ∂qH
(8)
power density, efficiency, and ecological optimization objec- ∂x |x=xme ∂x |x=xme
tives with the heat transfer irreversibility and/or internal irre-
versibilities (more details are found in [9-20]). where xme is the value for which the efficiency reaches its
In this work, the efficiency to maximum work and the maximum.
maximum efficiency for the isentropic and non-isentropic cy- For the isentropic cycle:
cles are presented. This work also shows an inequality for the µ ¶
1 1
isentropic temperature ratio (x) which was adapted of the Eq. w = (1 − x) − −1 (9)
(3). And if it is applied to maximum work of the non isen- µ x
tropic cycle, then, a regenerator can couple in order to obtain
a better cycle. In the section of conclusions a numerical opti- 1 1 x
mization of a regenerative cycle is performed. qH = − ; qL = − 1 (10)
µ x µ
T1
2. Isentropic cycle with µ = T3 . The hypotheses of this criterion are clearly sat-
2
∂ qH ∂ 2 qL
isfied: ∂x2 < 0 and ∂x2 = 0 for some x (Figure 2, where
A Brayton cycle with two coupled reversible counterflow E is energy).
heat exchangers is shown in Fig. 1. The supposition of
heat being reversibly exchanged (that is with a vanishingly
small temperature difference in a balanced counterflow heat
exchanger) is an equivalent idealization to the supposed heat
transfer at constant temperature between the working sub-
stance of a Carnot (or Stirling) isentropic cycle and a reser-
voir of infinite heat capacity [3].
From Fig. 1 , the thermodynamic analysis for the cycle
1 − 2s − 3 − 4s is given by:
RT
dh = cp dT = sdT + vdp = sdT + dp (4)
p
For an ideal gas, the Poisson’s equation for the adiabatic pro-
cess is [5]:
F IGURE 2. Heats and net work qualitative behaviors for µ = 0.25.
pV γ = constant (5)

Rev. Mex. Fis. 59 (1) (2013) 212–217

214 G. ARAGÓN GONZÁLEZ, A. CANALES PALMA, A. LEÓN GALICIA, AND J.R. MORALES-GÓMEZ

Thus, the maximum efficiency is given by the Eq. (10): where wT and wC are the specific work for turbine and com-
1
pressor respectively. When the work is a maximum, the effi-
µ x2me ciency is given by:
ηmax = 1 − 1 =1− (11)
x2me
µ

Solving wC
ηmw = 1 − (18)
xme wT
x2me µ −1
= 1 1 (12)
µ µ − xme
Finally, the following additional corollary has been ob-
then, tained:

xme = µ; ηmax = 1 − µ (13)

which corresponds to the Carnot efficiency; the other root

xme = 0 is ignored. As a result, the work is null for xme = µ, Corollary 4.
as a consequence the added heat is also null (Fig. 2).
From a historical point of view [5] the result above For other types of operation regimes is appropriated to fit a
tells that the maximum efficiency corresponds exactly to the heat exchanger between the turbine and compressor outlets
Carnotian efficiency, and it was obtained without Second as long as the isentropic temperatures fulfill: T4s ≥ T2s .
Law; because of the Eq. (5) was first found by S. Poisson in
1823, before of the work of S. Carnot (1824), which together
with the Eq. (1), the Eq. (6) is obtained. Of course, this con-
clusion is only valid if the working substance has ideal gas 3. Non isentropic cycle
behavior. On the other hand, Eq. (5) is a consequence of the
Second Law; it is really the equation of an isentropic process. By considering the losses effect in the turbine and compres-
Accordingly to the aforementioned: the best condition for sor (Figure 2, cycle 1 - 2 - 3 - 4) and taking into account the
operation of this cycle is maximum work. Figure 2 shows the isentropic efficiencies η1 , η2 , respectively [22]; the tempera-
existence of this maximum. Thus, if Eq. (9) is derived: tures are given by [1]:
dw µ − x2
=0= (14) µ ¶
dx x2 µ 1−x
T2 = T1 1 + ; T4 = T3 (1 − η1 (1 − x)) (19)
then xη2
√ √
xmw = µ and ηmw = 1 − µ (15)
Thus, that the net work for this cycle (same notation for
The same result was obtained in [6-8] and [21]. More- both cycles, using the Eq. (19) and the structure of the Eq.
over, [6] has obtained the following corollaries (see also [7]): (9)), wnet is given by:

Corollary 2.
µ ¶
η1 1 1
For maximum work, then: wnet = (1 − x) − −1 (20)
µ η2 x

T1 T1 T1 T3 x2
= xmw ; = = mw = xmw (16) From the Eq. (20), the following corollaries are easily
T2s T4s T3 T4s xmw obtained:
i.e. the temperatures at the outlet of both compressor and
turbine are the same.
Corollary 5.
Corollary 3.

For maximum work. The work done on the (ideal) compres- For maximum work:
sor equals the heat rejected and the heat accepted in the
(combustor) heat exchanger equals the produce work in the
turbine: 1
η1 T4s = T2s ; or T4s = IT2s (21)
η2

wC = qL and wT = qH (17) where I = 1

η1 η2 .

Rev. Mex. Fis. 59 (1) (2013) 212–217

 A REGENERATOR CAN FIT INTO AN INTERNALLY IRREVERSIBLE BRAYTON CYCLE WHEN OPERATING. . . 215
T4s
And, as T2s = I ≥ 1, then:

Corollary 6.

The inefficiencies in the components increase the non isen-

tropic temperature in the turbine outlet as compared from the
corresponding compressor outlet.
For maximum work, the efficiency is given by [6]:

√
η2 (1 − η1 ) + µη1 η2 − µη2
ηmw = 1 − √ (22)
η2 (1 − µ) + µ − µη1 η2
with an extremum value at:

p
xmw = Iµ (23) F IGURE 3. Behaviour of ηmax , ηmw and ηCI = 1 − Iµ versus µ,
if η1 = η2 = 90%.
Similarly, the maximum efficiency is obtained as follows
[1]. It is clear, On the other hand, the regenerative criterion (Eq. (3)) can
be applied. In terms of x:
·
µ ¶¸
1 (1 − x) Criterion 7.
qH = − 1+ (24)
µ η2 x
If
then, the hypothesis from the criterion 1 of the first section
are fulfilled (the qualitative behavior of Fig. 2 is preserved).
Thus the maximum efficiency is given by: x > xmin (29)

∂w with
∂x x2me
ηmax = ∂q
=1− (25)
∂x
Iµ p
−β + β 2 + 4Iµ
and, solving the following cubic equation: xmin = (30)
2
³ ´ ³ ´
where β = η11 − 1 + I − η11 µ > 0. Then a regenerator
x2me w|xme
1− = can be used to obtain a better cycle.
Iµ qH |xme
³ ´ Following [6], only if the temperature of the exhaust
η1 working substance leaving the turbine is higher than the exit
µ (1 − xme ) − η12 xme
1
−1
= ³ ´ (26) temperature (T4 > T2 ) of the working substance in the com-
1 (1−xme )
µ − 1 + η2 xme pressor for the Brayton cycle, a regenerator is used. Oth-
erwise, heat will flow in the reverse direction and decrease
it is sufficient to obtain the maximum efficiency which is: the efficiency of the cycle. This point can be directly seen
when T4 < T2 , because the regenerative rate is smaller than
η2 zero and consequently the regenerator does not have a posi-
ηmax = 1 − tive role.
η1 µ
à p !2 From Eqs. (19) the following relation is obtained:
µη1+ η1 µ (1−µ) (µ (1−η2 )+η2 (1−η1 ))
× (27) µ ¶
(µ (1 − η2 ) + η2 ) 1−x
T2 = T1 1 + < T4 = T3 (1 − η1 (1 − x)) (31)
with an extremun value at: xη2
which corresponds to a temperature criterion which is equiv-
p alent to the inequality (29). ³Indeed,´ from
µη1 + η1 µ (1−µ) (µ (1−η2 ) + η2 (1−η1 )) ³ the Eq.´ (3):
xme = (28) x2 + βx − Iµ > 0; with β = η11 − 1 + I − η11 µ > 0
η1 (µ (1 − η2 ) + η2 )
(since I > η11 ). Thus, the minimum value of x results be:
The extreme value, xme , is bounded by [1]: Iµ ≤ xme ≤
xmw . p
The behaviors of ηmax , ηmw and ηCI = 1 − Iµ versus µ, −β + β 2 + 4Iµ
xmin = >0 (32)
if η1 = η2 = 90% are shown in the Fig. 3. 2

Rev. Mex. Fis. 59 (1) (2013) 212–217

216 G. ARAGÓN GONZÁLEZ, A. CANALES PALMA, A. LEÓN GALICIA, AND J.R. MORALES-GÓMEZ
p
since β 2 + 4Iµ > β. The other root is ignored because it Applying (36), then:
is negative. Therefore, if x ≤ xmin , then a regenerator cannot
be used. Thus, the inequality (29) is fulfilled. p p
β 2 + 4Iµ η1 µ (1−µ) ((1−η2 ) µ+η2 (1−η1 )
> (39)
Criterion 8. 2 η1 (µ (1 − η2 ) + η2 )

If the cycle operates to maximum work or efficiency a coun-

terflow heat exchanger (regenerator) between the turbine and 4. Conclusions
compressor outlet is favorable to obtain a better cycle.
If the operation regime of the Brayton cycle is maximum In this work, if the operation regime is maximum work or ef-
work, then, the value xmw of the Eq. (23) fulfills the inequal- ficiency then a regenerator can be coupled to obtain a better
ity (29): xmw > xmin . Indeed cycle. In general, if x satisfies the inequality (29) for a Bray-
ton cycle a regenerator can also be coupled. As illustration, if
p a regenerator is coupled to the non isentropic Brayton cycle,
p β β 2 + 4Iµ
xmw − xmin = Iµ + − (33) the efficiency is given by [24]:
2 2
But ¡ ¢
reg
η1 (1 − x) − ηµ2 x1 − 1
µ ¶2 η = ³ ´ (40)
p β β 2 + 4Iµ (1 − ε) 1 − µ(1 + 1−x
Iµ + − xη2 ) + εη1 (1 − x)
2 4
p
=I Iµ (η2 (1 − η1 ) + µ (1 − η2 )) > 0 (34) where ε corresponds to the effectiveness of the regenerator
[7].
Now, as the terms between parentheses are positive then: For the isentropic cycle, an additional corollary can be
obtained:
p
p β β 2 + 4Iµ
Iµ + > (35)
2 2 Corollary 9.
where the following elementary inequality has been ap-
plied [23]: If the cycle is isentropic then:

If a, b > 0, then a < b ⇔ a2 < b2 (36) reg √

ηmax = ηmw = 1 − µ (41)
Therefore, for maximum power the inequality (29) is ful-
reg
filled. where ηmax is the maximum efficiency of the cycle with regen-
Now, if the operation regime of Brayton heat engine is erator. In this case, the inequality (29) becomes to equality:
maximum efficiency. Also, xme (Eq. (28)) satisfies the in-
equality: xme > xmin is fulfilled; because of:
√
xme = xmin = µ (42)
Ãp
β 2 + 4Iµ
xme − xmin = η1 µ + β + −
2
p !
η1 µ (1 − µ) (1 − η2 ) µ + η2 (1 − η1 )
(37)
η1 (µ (1 − η2 ) + η2 )

to see that the term betwen parenthesis is positive, we calcu-

late:

Ãp !2 Ã p !2
β 2 + 4Iµ η1 µ (1−µ) (1−η2 ) µ+η2 (1−η1 )
−
2 η1 (µ (1−η2 )+η2 )

= η12 ((η2 (1 − µ) + µ) reg

¡ ¢ ¢ F IGURE 4. Behaviour of ηmw , ηmax and ηmax versus µ, if η1 =
× β 2 (η2 (1−µ)+µ) + 4Iµ2 + 4η2 µ (1 − µ) > 0 (38) η2 = 90%.

Rev. Mex. Fis. 59 (1) (2013) 212–217

 A REGENERATOR CAN FIT INTO AN INTERNALLY IRREVERSIBLE BRAYTON CYCLE WHEN OPERATING. . .
For a non-isentropic Brayton cycle: by optimizing,
η reg = η reg (x, ε), for some realistic values [25]: η1 =
reg
η2 = 90%, the behaviors of ηmw ,ηmax and ηmax versus µ
are found (see Fig. 4); which fulfill the following inequality:
ηmw < ηmaxreg
< ηmax .
The optimization of Eq. (40) gives equations for ε and x
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