Abstract
In this paper the author discusses the influence of amounts of energy added in reheating, number of reheating stages, and points in expansion at which reheating should begin. A comparison is made of reheating, regenerative, and combination cycles combining both reheating and bleeding stages, and it is shown that, because of the influence on the internal machine efficiency thereby, reheating properly applied may lead to higher efficiencies than bleeding. It is furthermore shown that the combination cycles give promise of realization in practice of appreciably higher efficiencies than would be the case for the other cycles investigated. The analysis also indicates that for a limiting steam temperature of 750 deg. fahr., the maximum efficiency is attained at initial pressures varying between 600 and 900 lb., the exact optimum depending upon cycle, fuel, and steam generator used; and that if pressures are increased beyond these points there will result an actual reduction in overall efficiency.
