What is p-h diagram [p is pressure and h is enthalpy] in thermodynamics?

Application
of p-h diagram in thermal efficiency calculation of a power plant.
Recap: What is enthalpy? Enthalpy is the total energy of a thermodynamic system. This is
expressed as, h = u + pv, u is internal energy.

What is internal energy? Internal energy is the sum of potential and kinetic energy contained in a
system.

What is pv? pv is work done on the system or by the system. In a given system, when system does
work on surrounding like expansion of gas, pv consumes energy from internal energy in adiabatic
process, h = u – pv, so pv has negative sign, h decreases. When surrounding does work on a system,
like compression of a gas, pv has positive sign, surrounding adds energy to internal energy, h = u +
pv, h increases. In adiabatic system, dQ =0. As the pressure increases (dP>0), so does enthalpy, and
vice versa. In isothermal system, dT=0, the energy for work is met by surrounding. Because the
temperature stays constant in an isothermal process and because the internal energy for an ideal
gas equals (3/2) nRT, the internal energy doesn't change, du = 0. Therefore, for a heat engine in
isothermal process, enthalpy gain is Work-in and enthalpy out is Work-out. (Work-out)/ (Work-in)
= Efficiency

p-h diagram
p-h diagram explanation – It gives all information that steam table provides

On p-h diagram, pressure is on Y axis and enthalpy is on X axis. There are three regions in the
diagram. Left side of the Bell is liquid region. Right side of the Bell is superheated steam region. The
region within the Bell is the phase transition region where water converts to steam. Within Bell
both water and steam coexist. The left vertical boundary curve of the Bell is saturated water line.
The right vertical boundary curve of the Bell is saturated steam line. The horizontal straight lines
within Bell are constant temperature lines when water converts to steam. There are also upward
sloping curves which indicate dryness fraction or quality. Quality is a measure of the ratio of vapor
mass to total mass. For example quality of 0.1 or 10% dryness, which is located near the saturated
water, describes point that has 10% vapor by mass. Saturated water line and saturated steam line
converge into a point [red dot] at the top of Bell, this is critical point. Above critical point, no
additional pressure will change the vapor into a liquid.

Application of p-h diagram for power plant thermal efficiency calculation

Imagine a typical power plant energy cycle consisting of a boiler feeding steam at 8 kg/sec at 500
degc into a turbine working adiabatically. Steam leaves turbine at 20 KPa and at quality at 0.9 and
enters into condenser, where it cools to 40 degc at 20KPa. Condensed water at 40 degc enters
into feed pump. Feed pump feeds the water at 10 MPa back to boiler. Ignore all loses. Consider
turbine adiabatic. [Source of all data: Internet]

Let’s look at p-h diagram, [4] – [1] is the boiler line. Water enters boiler at 10 Mpa [1Mpa=10 bar] at
point [4] and gets superheated to 500 degc [point 1]. Saturation temperature of steam at 10 Mpa is
about 311 degc [image]. Enthalpy gain by boiler is the difference in enthalpy between point [1] and
[4], [3375-167.5] kj/kg [see image]. In terms of MW = 8x [3375-167.5]/1000 = 25.6 MW [1 MW =
1000 kj/sec]

Steam enters turbine at point [1] at 500 degc with enthalpy 3375 kj/kg , does adiabatic mechanical
work by expanding itself [dQ=0] at the expense of its internal energy to a pressure of 20 Kpa. In the
process, steam cools to 60 degc [point 2 in image] and drops its enthalpy down to 2373 kj/kg.
Enthalpy used up in turbine = [3375-2373] = 1002 kj/kg. In terms of power in MW consumed by
turbine = 8 x 1002/1000 = 8 MW [1 MW = 1000 kj/sec]. Steam leaves turbine at point [2]

In the third step, the steam ex turbine enters condenser at point [2]. It releases its latent heat at 60
degc and sub cools to 40 degc by losing little sensible heat. While sub cooling [below saturation
temperature] steam becomes wet, dryness fraction drops to 90%. Steam condenses to water in the
condenser between point [2] and [3] at constant temperature [dT=0], 60 degc, isothermally, by
rejecting its latent heat 167.5 kj/kg to cooling tower. Heat rejection by condenser in MW =[[2373-
167.5] x8]/1000 = 17.6 MW

In the final point water at 40 degc enters at feed pump and leaves feed pump at [4] at 10 Mpa to
feed boiler. Feed pump line is a vertical line with practically no loss or gain in enthalpy, dQ=0,
[adiabatic] since water is not compressible.

Summary: Boiler generates = 25.7 MW, Turbine consumes = 8 MW, Condenser rejects = 17.6 MW
69%], Pump = very small enthalpy change, ignored,

Power plant efficiency, 8/25.6x100 = 31% [MW loses via condenser, [17.6/25.6] *100 = 69%]