Analysis of thermal power cycles for use in space

Abstract

This analysis focuses on the evaluation and analysis of thermal Brayton, Ericsson, and Rankine cycle. Under the examined conditions, the thermal efficiency, the exergy efficiency and power produced for each cycle should be calculated and analyzed. Production of power in space for terrestrial use is of great interest in view of the rapidly rising power demand. Space can be the most interesting area that can be discovered because space can offer very low temperature that cannot be offered by the earth surface. This analysis also used different types of fluids for all cycles which is argon(Ar), nitrogen(N2), argon-xenon(Ar-Xe), helium(He), helium-xenon(He-Xe), and hydrogen(H2). Only the first two fluids which is argon and nitrogen were considered for Rankine cycle.