Analysis of turbine cycle performance losses using entropy balance techniques

The first and second laws of thermodynamics find universal application in steady-state modeling and performance analysis of power plant cycles. While the first law deals with mass and energy balances and the use of enthalpy, the second law deals with the effectiveness of energy utilization and the concept of entropy in analyzing and evaluating losses occurring in power plant cycles. Performance losses are accompanied by increases in entropy. This paper examines the application of entropy balance in evaluating and quantifying losses occurring in a sample turbine cycle. While there are many sources of losses in a power plant cycle, the sources examined in this paper include the boiler, turbine, feedwater heaters, piping and, boiler feed pump. The methodology may be used to analyze and evaluate performance losses occurring in any power plant cycle.