Question

Advantages and disadvantages of rankine cycle with superheat and reheat

Answer 1

Advantages: 
• cheap, widely available 
• non-toxic 
• high heat capacity: excellent medium for heat transport 
• chemical stable: less material requirements 
• low viscosity: low friction losses 
Disadvantages: 
• very low pressure, high specific volume, big installations needed (turbine, condensor, etc) 
• high pressure drop to become a high enthalpy drop: expensive multi-stage turbines needed 
• expansion has to start in the superheated area to avoid too much moisture content after expansion 
• efficiency loss and limited suitability to waste heat recovery