Ways to increase the efficiencyof the absorption in a rankine steam-power cycle

This article presents a schematic diagram and the principle of operation of a modernized Rankine steam-power cycle, in which the condensation of the steam exhaust after the turbine is replaced by steam absorption. It also presents a schematic diagram of an absorption transformer in which similar processes occur and which is taken as the basis for the development of the modernized cycle. In order to develop an optimized circuit for a modernized Rankine cycle, the article shows the thermodynamic analysis of various circuit solutions for absorption cycles with a water-ammonia solution (a circuit with regeneration in a thermochemical compressor, with heat recovery in the main process, and with steam reflux). The results showed that the optimal technical solution for an absorption thermo-transformer (ATT) in terms of simplicity and efficiency is with steam reflux and solution heat recovery. In order to optimize the efficiency of the cycle, a combination of these circuit solutions was carried out and the efficiency of the solution was investigated. Based on the most efficient options for the cycles of ATT, further research will develop optimized circuit solutions for the steam power cycle, while taking into account the features of the operation of absorption and steam-power cycles.