Rankine cycle
Ciclo de Rankine
- Date
- 1859 · confidence low
- Place
- University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- William John Macquorn Rankine
- Field
- Matter & energy
What was discovered
Scottish engineer and thermodynamicist Rankine formalized the thermodynamic cycle describing the conversion of heat into work via a fluid that evaporates and condenses, published in his influential 'Manual of the Steam Engine' of 1859. It became the standard theoretical model of steam thermal power plants.
The source consulted does not precisely confirm the year of formulation; 1859 is taken as the publication year of his reference treatise on the steam engine.
What it led to
- Standard theoretical model of steam thermal power plants
- Design of modern steam turbines
Built on
- Classical thermodynamics of Carnot and Clausius