Brayton Cycle Efficiency Calculator
Calculate the thermal efficiency of an ideal Brayton cycle using the pressure ratio and specific heat ratio. Step-by-step solutions for gas turbines and jet engines.
Brayton cycle efficiency calculator:
This Brayton Cycle Efficiency Calculator is used to calculate the thermal efficiency of an ideal gas turbine. This program is used to calculate efficiently, turbine work, compressor work, heat input and net work by entering the compressor pressure ratio and specific heat ratio step-by-step.
Brayton cycle efficiency Tool Formula:
\[ \eta =1- \frac{1}{(\gamma - 1)_{PR}} \]
(where PR = pressure ratio, γ = specific heat ratio)
Brayton Cycle Efficiency Calculator is a calculator that assists engineers, students, and other enthusiasts in the aerospace industry to calculate the thermal efficiency of a hypothetical gas turbine cycle, also referred to as the jet engines and power plants. The Brayton cycle includes isentropic compression, constant-pressure heat addition, and isentropic expansion and constant-pressure heat rejection.
The compressor pressure ratio (r p ) and specific heat ratio ( ) can be entered by the user. The calculator uses the standard formulae of Brayton cycle to calculate thermal efficiency ( ), the amount of work done by the turbine, and compressor, heat added (Qin) and net work (Wn):
The solutions are described step by step, explaining that efficiency is dependent upon pressure ratio and specific heat ratio, which makes it simple to explain the process of energy conversion in a gas turbine and in a jet engine. SI units are assisted: kPa, kJ/kg, o C, K. This tool is very suitable to mechanical engineers, aerospace engineers, students, and researchers, which can effectively achieve the energy analysis and the performance interpretation of Brayton cycles.
⚡ Work & Installation Input to Output:
Input:
- Compressor pressure ratio (r_p)
- Specific heat ratio (γ)
- Optional: heat added (Q_in) for work calculation
- Units: dimensionless (r_p), energy in kJ/kg
Processing:
- Compute thermal efficiency: η = 1 – 1 / r_p^((γ – 1)/γ)
- Compute work output of turbine and compressor if Q_in provided
- Compute net work: W_net = W_turbine – W_compressor
- Validate input values and units
Output:
- Thermal efficiency (η)
- Turbine work output (W_turbine)
- Compressor work (W_compressor)
- Heat added (Q_in)
- Net work output (W_net)
- Step-by-step formulas and calculations
Testing and Final Adjustments
Test common scenarios:
- Pressure ratio r_p = 10, γ = 1.4 → η ≈ 50%
- Heat input Q_in = 500 kJ/kg → compute W_turbine, W_compressor, and W_net
- Edge cases: r_p = 1 (η = 0%), very high pressure ratio
- Units validation: °C ↔ K, kPa ↔ MPa, kJ/kg ↔ MJ/kg
- Step-by-step clarity for students and engineers
- Mobile/desktop UX: numeric keypad, labels, dropdowns for units
- Include examples: jet engines, industrial gas turbines
- SEO metadata: "Brayton Cycle Efficiency Calculator," "Gas Turbine Tool," "Pressure Ratio Efficiency Calculator," schema markup
Frequently Asked Questions - Brayton Cycle Efficiency Calculator:
What is the Brayton cycle?
The Brayton cycle is an ideal thermodynamic cycle for gas turbines, consisting of isentropic compression, constant-pressure heat addition, isentropic expansion, and constant-pressure heat rejection.
How do I calculate Brayton cycle efficiency?
η = 1 – 1 / r_p^((γ – 1)/γ), where r_p is the compressor pressure ratio and γ is the specific heat ratio.
What is compressor pressure ratio?
The ratio of compressor outlet pressure to inlet pressure in the gas turbine.
What is specific heat ratio?
Specific heat ratio (γ) is the ratio of specific heat at constant pressure (Cp) to specific heat at constant volume (Cv) for the working gas.
Can I calculate net work output?
Yes, W_net = W_turbine – W_compressor, using turbine and compressor work.
Which units are supported?
Energy in kJ/kg, temperature in °C or K, pressure ratio is dimensionless.
Who should use this calculator?
Mechanical and aerospace engineers, students, and researchers analyzing gas turbine efficiency.
Does it show step-by-step calculations?
Yes, all formulas and intermediate steps are displayed for clarity.
Why is Brayton cycle efficiency important?
It determines how effectively a gas turbine or jet engine converts heat into mechanical work.
Does the calculator account for real turbine losses?
No, it assumes an ideal Brayton cycle without friction, heat loss, or other inefficiencies.
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