Ideal Rankine cycle thermal efficiency from the four cycle enthalpies - the steam-plant / WHR / ORC benchmark.
Formula
$$ \eta_\text{Rankine} = \frac{(h_1 - h_2) - (h_4 - h_3)}{h_1 - h_4} $$
Symbol legend
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| $h_1$ | Turbine inlet (sup-heated steam) | kJ/kg | IAPWS |
| $h_2$ | Turbine exit (wet steam) | kJ/kg | IAPWS |
| $h_3$ | Condensate at pump suction | kJ/kg | IAPWS |
| $h_4$ | Compressed feedwater | kJ/kg | IAPWS |
Sources
- Cengel & Boles - Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach.