Ångvätskecykel

Ångvätskecykel refers to a thermodynamic cycle that uses a working fluid that undergoes phase changes between liquid and vapor. This is in contrast to gas cycles where the working fluid remains in a gaseous state throughout the cycle. The most common example of an ångvätskecykel is the Rankine cycle, which is the basis for most thermal power plants.

In a typical ångvätskecykel, the working fluid is heated in a boiler, converting it from a liquid to a high-pressure, high-temperature vapor. This vapor then expands through a turbine, doing work and producing mechanical energy. After passing through the turbine, the vapor is condensed back into a liquid in a condenser, typically by rejecting heat to a cooling medium. The liquid is then pumped back to the boiler at high pressure, completing the cycle.

The efficiency of an ångvätskecykel is influenced by factors such as the boiler pressure and temperature, the condenser pressure, and the efficiency of the turbine and pump. While ångvätskecykler are fundamental to power generation, they can also be applied in refrigeration and heat pump systems, where the direction of heat transfer is reversed. Water is a common working fluid in many ångvätskecykler due to its favorable thermodynamic properties and availability, but other fluids like refrigerants are used in specialized applications. The term itself is Swedish and directly translates to "steam liquid cycle" or "vapor liquid cycle."