Performance analysis of a modified regenerative Brayton and inverse Brayton cycle

Regenerative Brayton and inverse Brayton cycle may particularly increase thermal efficiency compared to the corresponding non-regenerative one, while decreases the net output power. In this study, regenerative Brayton and inverse Brayton cycle has been modified by partially bypassing the airflow entering the regenerator. The influence of the bypass mass flow ratio on thermal efficiency and net output power of the modified cycle has been studied for varieties of compressors' pressure ratios. Results show that from operational point of view, more favorable output power with reasonable thermal efficiency can be generated with adjusting the bypass mass flow ratio. Meanwhile, for each compressor pressure ratio of the direct Brayton cycle, there is a particular bypass mass flow ratio, which results thermal efficiency and net output power independent of the compressor pressure ratio of the inverse Brayton cycle.