Project 2 - Rankine cycle Simulator
Aim:
Creation of Rankine cycle simulator from given input and reading the data from standard thermodynamic library of steam table.
Objective:
- To create a Rankine Cycle simulator in MATLAB.
- To calculate the state point using function XSteam.
- To plot the T-S and H-S curve for given input in Rankine Cycle.
- To get output in the command window for each state point in cycle.
Description:
The Rankine cycle is one of the vapor powered cycle. This cycle is somewhat different than gas powered cycle in which working fluid remained gas throughout the entire cycle. In vapor powered cycle the working fluid is steam because of its many desirable characteristics such as low cost of production, availability and high enthalpy of vaporization. There are many impracticalities associated with Carnot cycle which can be eliminated by superheating the steam and condense in condenser which makes it best for nuclear power plants and other steam related power generation sources.
The process in Rankine cycle are given as:
- Isentropic Compression in Pump.
- Constant pressure heat addition in boiler.
- Isentropic expansion in a turbine.
- Constant pressure heat rejection in condenser.
Errors:

This error is mostly coming because of entering wrong keywords for saturated entropy and enthalpy from XSteam function file.
Conclusion:
So, we have created the Rankine cycle simulator for the given input, in which we have taken the data from XSteam function file.

Water enters the pump at state 1 as saturated liquid and is compressed isentropically to the operating pressure of the boiler. The water temperature increases somewhat during this isentropic compression process due to a slight decrease in the specific volume of water. The vertical distance between states 1 and 2 on the T-s diagram is greatly exaggerated for clarity.
Water enters the boiler as a compressed liquid at state 2 and leaves as a superheated vapor at state 3. The boiler is basically a large heat exchanger where the heat originating from combustion gases, nuclear reactors, or other sources is transferred to the water essentially at constant pressure. The
boiler, together with the section where the steam is superheated (the superheater), is often called the steam generator.
The superheated vapor at state 3 enters the turbine, where it expands isentropically and produces work by rotating the shaft connected to an electric generator. The pressure and the temperature of steam drop during this process to the values at state 4, where steam enters the condenser. At this
state, steam is usually a saturated liquid–vapor mixture with a high quality. Steam is condensed at constant pressure in the condenser, which is basically a large heat exchanger, by rejecting heat to a cooling medium such as a lake, a river, or the atmosphere. Steam leaves the condenser as saturated liquid and enters the pump, completing the cycle. In areas where water is precious, the power plants are cooled by air instead of water. This method of cooling, which is also used in car engines, is called dry cooling.
Remembering that the area under the process curve on a T-s diagram represents the heat transfer for internally reversible processes, we see that the area under process curve 2-3 represents the heat transferred to the water in the boiler and the area under the process curve 4-1 represents the heat rejected in the condenser. The difference between these two is the net work produced during the cycle.
All the four components of Rankine cycle are steady flow devices hence the process regarding this device can be evaluated as steady state process. The steady state flow energy equation per unit mass of steam reduces to:
(qIn−qout)+(WIn−Wout)=he−hi(The boiler and condenser are not involved in any mechanical work whereas pump and turbine are assumed to isentropic in nature while working throughout the cycle, then conservation of energy relation for each device can be expressed as:
Wpump=h2−h1=ℎ2-ℎ1
Where,
h1=hfatP1andv1=vfatP1ℎ1=The heat added in boiler can be given as:
qIn=h3−h2=ℎ3-ℎ2
The work which can be taken out of cycle from turbine is given as:
Wout=h3−h=ℎ3-ℎ4
The heat removed from the condenser is given as:
qout=h4−h=ℎ4-ℎ1
The thermal efficiency of Rankine cycle is given as:
ηth=WNetqIn=1−qoutqInηℎ=
Where,
WNet=qIn−qout=Wturb−Wpum
Code Explanation:
- The creation of Rankine cycle simulator starts with some input value which are required to calculate the other state point in cycle eventually.
- The Rankine cycle process is displayed in the command window and then inputs are entered which are inlet pressure for turbine, temperature at turbine inlet and pressure at condenser.
- Then we are using XSteam function file for reading state point. First, we get the value of enthalpy and entropy at state point 1 from the XSteam function file.
- As process from 1-2 is isentropic compression the entropy at point 1 is equal to point 2. The term ‘(s_pT, p1, T1)’ refers to entropy at pressure and temperature point 1.
- The term ‘sg’ and ‘sf’ are referred to saturated liquid and saturated vapor entropy respectively. This value is used to calculate other function according to mathematical relations.
- Similarly, other points are taken from XSteam function file which are necessary to calculate other parameters. After that work done in turbine and pump are calculated for further getting the net work done Rankine cycle.
- After calculating the net work done the efficiency of the Rankine cycle is calculated along with specific steam consumption which is steam consumed by a locomotive cylinders per unit of output of work done.
- Then temperature at each point of cycle is calculated using input taken from start of the program and data taken from XSteam file. For given temperature range from lower to higher entropy points are calculated to create the T-S plot. Similarly, another for loop is used to create the saturation curve in each plot.
- Then plotting is done respectively for T-s and H-s graph in Rankine cycle and each state point value has been put in command window.
CODING LOGIC :-
clear all
close all
clc
% Rankine Cycle Simulator
fprintf(' Rankine Cycle\n ')
fprintf('1-2 is Isentropic Expansion in Turbine\n')
fprintf(' 2-3 is constant pressure heat removal\n')
fprintf(' 3-4 is Isentropic Compression in Pump \n')
fprintf(' 4-1 Constant pressure Heat addition in Boiler\n')
% Entering the input data for calculation of state points
p1 = 50; %Pressure at Turbine Inlet
T1 = 500; %Temperature at Turbine Inlet
p2 = 5; %Pressure at Condenser
% Taking data from Xsteam file for State point 1
h1 = XSteam('h_pT', p1, T1); % Enthaply at pressure and Temp 1
s1 = XSteam('s_pT', p1, T1); % Entropy at pressure and Temp 1
% Taking data from Xsteam file for State point 2
s2 = s1; % Because of Isentropic Expansion
sf2 = XSteam('sL_p', p2); % Saturated liquid entropy at pressure 2
sg2 = XSteam('sV_p', p2); % Saturated vapour entropy at pressure 2
x2 = (s2-sf2)/(sg2-sf2); % Vapour Fraction at state point 2
hf2 = XSteam('hL_p', p2); % Saturated liquid Enthalpy at pressure 2
hg2 = XSteam('hV_p', p2); % Saturated vapour Enthalpy at pressure 2
h2 = hf2 + (x2*(hg2-hf2)); % Enthalpy at state point 2
% Taking data from Xsteam file for state point 3
p3 = p2; % Constant Pressure heat removal process
s3 = XSteam('sL_p', p3); % Saturated liquid entropy at Pressure 3
h3 = XSteam('hL_p', p3); % Saturated liquid Enthalpy at Pressure 3
% Taking data from Xsteam file for State point 4
s4 = s3; % Isentropic Compression process
p4 = p1; % Constant Pressure heat rejection
% Work done in Turbine for the rankine cycle
W_T = h1-h2;
% Work done required for pump
v3 = XSteam('vL_p',p3); % Saturated Liquid Vapour at pressure 3
W_P = v3*(p4-p3)*100; % Work done for pump
h4 = h3 - W_P; % Enthalpy at State point 4
% Net work done for Rankine Cycle
W_net = W_T - W_P;
% Heat Addition to System
Q_in = h1-h4;
% Heat Rejection from System
Q_out = h2-h3;
% Thermal Efficiency of Rankine Cycle
T_eff = (W_net/Q_in)*100;
Sp_S = (3600/W_net);
% Calculation of Temperature at All state Point 2, 3 and 4
T3 = XSteam('Tsat_p',p3); % Saturation Temperature at Pressure 3
T2 = T3; % Becuase of Constant Pressure Heat addition
Cp4 = XSteam('Cp_ps',p4,s4); % Specific isobaric heat capacity
Cv4 = XSteam('Cv_ps',p4,s4); % Specific isochoric heat capacity
k = Cp4/Cv4;
T4 = T3/((p3/p4)^((k-1)/k)); % Temperature at State point 4
% Calculation of Other constant for saturated liquid and Vapour
T6 = XSteam('Tsat_p', p1); % Saturated Temperature at Pressure 1
s5 = XSteam('sL_p', p1); % Saturated Liquid entropy at pressure 1
s6 = XSteam('sV_p', p1); % Saturated Vapour entropy at Pressure 1
h5 = XSteam('hL_p', p1); % Saturated Liquid Enthalpy at Pressure 1
h6 = XSteam('hV_p', p1); % Saturated Vapour Enthalpy at pressure 1
T5 = T6;
%Plotting for Saturation Line
T = linspace(1,560,1000);
for i = 1:length(T)
sf(i) = XSteam('sL_T' ,T(i)); % Saturated Liquid Entropy
sg(i) = XSteam('sV_T' ,T(i)); % Saturated Vapour Entropy
hf(i) = XSteam('hL_T' ,T(i)); % Saturated Liquid Enthalpy
hg(i) = XSteam('hV_T' ,T(i)); % Saturated Vapour Enthalpy
end
%specific steam consumption = (Mass flow rate / Net work done)
% Calculation of Temperature at All state Point 2, 3 and 4
T3 = XSteam('Tsat_p',p3); % Saturation Temperature at Pressure 3
T2 = T3; % Becuase of Constant Pressure Heat addition
Cp4 = XSteam('Cp_ps',p4,s4); % Specific isobaric heat capacity
Cv4 = XSteam('Cv_ps',p4,s4); % Specific isochoric heat capacity
k = Cp4/Cv4;
T4 = T3/((p3/p4)^((k-1)/k)); % Temperature at State point 4
% Calculation of Other constant for saturated liquid and Vapour
T6 = XSteam('Tsat_p', p1); % Saturated Temperature at Pressure 1
s5 = XSteam('sL_p', p1); % Saturated Liquid entropy at pressure 1
s6 = XSteam('sV_p', p1); % Saturated Vapour entropy at Pressure 1
h5 = XSteam('hL_p', p1); % Saturated Liquid Enthalpy at Pressure 1
h6 = XSteam('hV_p', p1); % Saturated Vapour Enthalpy at pressure 1
T5 = T6;
%Plotting for Saturation Line
T = linspace(1,560,1000);
for i = 1:length(T)
sf(i) = XSteam('sL_T' ,T(i)); % Saturated Liquid Entropy
sg(i) = XSteam('sV_T' ,T(i)); % Saturated Vapour Entropy
hf(i) = XSteam('hL_T' ,T(i)); % Saturated Liquid Enthalpy
hg(i) = XSteam('hV_T' ,T(i)); % Saturated Vapour Enthalpy
end
% Plotting T-S Diagram for Rankine Cycle
figure(1)
hold on
plot(sf,T,'color','b','linewidth',2)
plot(sg,T,'color','b','linewidth',2)
plot([s1 s2],[T1 T2], 'color', 'r', 'linewidth',3)
plot([s2 s3],[T2 T3], 'color', 'r', 'linewidth',3)
plot([s3 s4],[T3 T4], 'color', 'r', 'linewidth',3)
plot([s4 s5],[T4 T5], 'color', 'r', 'linewidth',3)
plot([s5 s6],[T5 T6], 'color', 'r', 'linewidth',3)
s_1 = linspace(s6,s1,1000);
for j = 1:length(s_1)
Tc(j) = XSteam('T_ps',p1,s_1(j));
end
plot(s_1,Tc,'color','r','linewidth',3)
text(s1+0.1, T1, '1')
text(s2+0.1, T2, '2')
text(s3, T3-20, '3')
text(s4, T4+20, '4')
title('Temperature Vs Entropy')
xlabel('Entropy (Kj/kg-k)')
ylabel('Temeperature (Deg. Celcius)')
legend('Saturation Curve')
% Plotting H-S Diagram for Rankine Cycle
figure(2)
hold on
plot(sf,hf,'color','b','linewidth',2)
plot(sg,hg,'color','b','linewidth',2)
plot([s1 s2],[h1 h2],'color','r','linewidth',3)
plot([s2 s3],[h2 h3],'color','r','linewidth',3)
plot([s3 s4],[h3 h4],'color','r','linewidth',3)
hc = linspace(h4,h5,100);
for k = 1:length(hc)
s_c(k) = XSteam('s_ph',p1,hc(k));
end
plot(s_c,hc,'color','r','linewidth',3)
plot([s5 s6],[h5 h6],'color','r','linewidth',3)
for l = 1:length(s_1)
h_c(l) = XSteam('h_ps',p1,s_1(l));
end
plot(s_1,h_c,'color','r','linewidth',3)
text(s1+0.1,h1,'1')
text(s2+0.1,h2,'2')
text(s3,h3-100,'3')
text(s4,h4+200,'4')
title('Enthalpy Vs Entropy')
xlabel('Entropy (Kj/kg-k)')
ylabel('Enthalpy (KJ/Kg)')
legend('Saturation Curve')
% Displaying Results in Command window
disp('Results of Rankine Cycle')
fprintf('At state point 1\t\t\t\t\t')
fprintf('At state Point 2\n')
fprintf('P1 = %10f in Bar\t\t\t\t',p1);
fprintf('P2 = %10f in Bar\n',p2);
fprintf('T1 = %11f in Deg.Celcius\t\t',T1);
fprintf('T2 = %11f in Deg.Celcius\n',T2);
fprintf('H1 = %12f in KJ/Kg\t\t\t',h1);
fprintf('H2 = %12f in KJ/Kg\n',h2);
fprintf('S1 = %9f in KJ/Kg-k\t\t\t',s1);
fprintf('S2 = %9f in KJ/Kg-k\n',s2);
fprintf('\n')
fprintf('At state point 3\t\t\t\t\t')
fprintf('At state Point 4\n')
fprintf('P3 = %10f in Bar\t\t\t\t',p3);
fprintf('P4 = %10f in Bar\n',p4);
fprintf('T3 = %11f in Deg.Celcius\t\t',T3);
fprintf('T4 = %11f in Deg.Celcius\n',T4);
fprintf('H3 = %12f in KJ/Kg\t\t\t',h3);
fprintf('H4 = %12f in KJ/Kg\n',h4);
fprintf('S3 = %9f in KJ/Kg-k\t\t\t',s3);
fprintf('S4 = %9f in KJ/Kg-k\n',s4);
fprintf('\n')
fprintf('Turbine Work Done = %14f in KJ/Kg\n',W_T)
fprintf('Pump Work Done = %15f in KJ/Kg\n',W_P)
fprintf('Net Work Done = %17f in KJ/Kg\n',W_net)
fprintf('Thermal Efficiency = %13f in percent\n',T_eff)
fprintf('Sp. Steam Consumption = %f in KJ/Kw\n',Sp_S)
Errors:

This error is mostly coming because of entering wrong keywords for saturated entropy and enthalpy from XSteam function file.
Conclusion:
So, we have created the Rankine cycle simulator for the given input, in which we have taken the data from XSteam function file.