Gas turbine cycle with compression, combustion and expansion.
Cycle: isentropic compression, constant-pressure heat addition, isentropic expansion, constant-pressure heat rejection. η=1-1/r_p^{(γ-1)/γ}. Back-work ratio is high (40–60%). Regeneration, intercooling and reheating improve performance.
Jet engines and gas turbine plants use Brayton cycles.
The Brayton cycle describes gas turbines used in aircraft and power stations, so it governs their efficiency and power output.
Gas turbine cycle with compression, combustion and expansion.
The Brayton cycle describes gas turbines used in aircraft and power stations, so it governs their efficiency and power output.
Compression, constant-pressure heat addition, expansion in a turbine and constant-pressure heat rejection.
Higher pressure ratio increases ideal efficiency, but turbine inlet temperature and material limits restrict how far it can go.
Typical applications include estimating the efficiency of a jet engine core, designing a gas turbine for a peaking power plant and comparing the pressure ratio needed for a microturbine in a combined heat and power unit.
Study "Diesel cycle" first (topic 31 of 105 in Thermodynamics & Fluids). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
Pressure ratio r_p. Open vs closed. Turbine inlet temperature limits.
Jet engines and gas turbine plants use Brayton cycles.
The next topic is "Rankine cycle", which builds directly on this one.
It is classed as Beginner in Thermodynamics & Fluids (topic 32 of 105). It is an entry-level topic. It relies only on basic school mathematics and the ideas introduced earlier in this discipline.
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