Anil Rao
Independent Researcher
India
Abstract
The regenerative Brayton cycle is an advanced thermodynamic cycle used in gas turbine power plants to improve thermal efficiency by recovering waste heat from the turbine exhaust and preheating the compressed air before combustion. This paper presents a comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of the regenerative Brayton cycle, including detailed mathematical modeling, performance evaluation, and comparative assessment with the simple Brayton cycle. The study investigates the effects of key parameters such as pressure ratio, turbine inlet temperature, and regenerator effectiveness on overall cycle efficiency and specific work output. Analytical results reveal significant improvements in thermal efficiency through regeneration, especially at moderate pressure ratios. The paper further discusses practical considerations, including regenerator design challenges and operational limitations. The findings underscore the importance of regeneration in enhancing the sustainability and economic viability of gas turbine power plants.
Keywords
Regenerative Brayton cycle, thermal efficiency, gas turbine, regeneration, pressure ratio, turbine inlet temperature, regenerator effectiveness
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