Question { BARC, 20679 }

Why is a condensor used in a rankine cycle?

Answer

Unless there is a condenser cycle violates the second law of thermodynamics.(violate kelvin plank statement.)
second law -  consist of 2 statements
          1. kelvin plank statement - It is impossible for any device to operate on a cycle to receive heat from a single reservoir(e.g-boiler) and produce work.(this means cycle should dissipate heat to another lower temperature body. it is a condenser in rankine cycle.)
          2. Clausius statement - It is impossible for any device to operate on a cycle and produce no effect other than transfer heat from lower temperature body to higher temperature body.(means heat pumping cannot be done without a compressor).


this is a law. not a theorem.(difference between a theorem and a law is a theorem can be proved and a law isn't.) This law is based on practice.