Understanding Rankine Cycle Pressures: Should P2 Equal P3?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the Rankine cycle, specifically the relationship between pressures P2 and P3. In this cycle, P2 is the pressure after the pump, while P3 is the pressure before the steam enters the turbine. The user is confused about whether P2 should equal P3, given that P3 is defined by a temperature of 25°C. The Rankine cycle parameters include a turbine inlet pressure of 18 MPa, a turbine exit pressure of 6 kPa, and a pump discharge pressure of 18.5 MPa. The user seeks clarification on the pump's role in compressing the condensate and the subsequent heating process in the steam generator.

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Kamuna
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Homework Statement
determine:
a) Electrical power output of the plant if mechanical efficiency & generator efficiency
are 88 % & 92 %, respectively.
b) Heat added in the steam generator if boiler efficiency is 85 %
c) Plant thermal efficiency
Relevant Equations
Rankine cycle
Is this the right path in solving this problem? Am i finding the correct enthalpies? I am also having difficulty understanding so what I've understood is that in a rankine cycle P2=P3 but here P2 is given and P3 has a given variable which is T=25 C too so should I neglect P2=P3?

Heres my problem set and the attempt to solve it:

In a Rankine cycle power plant superheated steam enters the turbine at 18 MPa and 580 C. Steam expands through a single stage turbine and discharges at 6 kPa with stage efficiency of 82 %. The condensate leaves the condenser at 25 C and pumped to 18.5 MPa going to the steam generator. The pump efficiency is 77 %. For steam flow of 9,000 kg/hr, determine:

  • Electrical power output of the plant if mechanical efficiency & generator efficiency
  • are 88 % & 92 %, respectively.
  • Heat added in the steam generator if boiler efficiency is 85 %
  • Plant thermal efficiency
Any help would be much appreciated, thanks

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I don't quite understand this part: "The condensate leaves the condenser at 25 C and pumped to 18.5 MPa going to the steam generator. Does this mean the pump compresses the steam at 25C and 6 kPa to a pressure of 18.5 MPa and then that steam/hot water is heated in the steam generator at constant volume? If so, how does this result in steam exiting the steam generator at 18 MPa?

AM
 

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