Thermal Power Plant in 3D: Rankine Cycle Cut-away (Boiler, Turbine, Condenser, Cooling Tower)

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Thermal Power PlantRankine cycle cut-away in 3D

Power vs demand (MW)

Pressure (red), level (blue)

Condenser (kPa)

T-s diagram

Each check compares the in-page model with a value computed outside it (IAPWS-IF97 reference library) or a closed-form formula.

Rankine cycle (per kg) w_t = sum(h_in - h_out), h_out = h_in - eta_t (h_in - h_out,s) Pump work w_p = v_f (p_boiler - p_cond) / eta_p Thermal efficiency eta = (w_t - w_p) / (q_boiler + q_reheat) Open feed heater y = (h_f,x - h_pump) / (h_x - h_pump) Throttle flow m = M0 * valve * p / p0 Drum energy balance C_b dp/dt = eta_B Q_fuel - (m + m_sv + m_leak) q_in Condenser (eps-NTU) eps = 1 - exp(-UA/(m_cw c_p)), T_sat = T_in + Q_c/(eps m_cw c_p), p_c = p_sat(T_sat) Swing equation (island) 2 H dn/dt = (P_shaft - P_loss) / n Tower make-up m_evap = 0.85 Q_c / h_fg

Steam properties are tabulated from IAPWS-IF97 (bilinear in ln p and superheat, about 0.1 % accurate). Simplifications: one lumped boiler drum, one open feed heater, one isentropic efficiency (88 %) for every expansion segment, quasi-steady condenser with a first-order lag, constant boiler and generator efficiencies, no grid-frequency model (the breaker is open or closed), no combustion chemistry. The plant is generic and not modelled on any real station. The 3D cut-away is not to scale in every detail.