Σύγκριση μεθόδων

	Κύκλος Rankine	Brayton Cycle	Κύκλος Συμπίεσης Ατμών
Πεδίο	Θερμοδυναμική	Θερμοδυναμική	Θερμοδυναμική
Οικογένεια	Process / pipeline	Process / pipeline	Process / pipeline
Έτος προέλευσης	1859	1873	1834
Δημιουργός	William John Macquorn Rankine	George Brayton	Jacob Perkins
Τύπος	Thermodynamic cycle	Thermodynamic cycle	Thermodynamic cycle
Θεμελιώδης πηγή	Smith, J. M., Van Ness, H. C., & Abbott, M. M. (2005). Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 978-0071247009	Moran, M. J., Shapiro, H. N., Boettner, D. D., & Bailey, M. B. (2014). Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics (8th ed.). Wiley. ISBN: 978-1118412947	Stoecker, W. F., Jones, J. W., & Sunnam, B. A. (1998). Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 978-0070613638
Εναλλακτικές ονομασίες	Clausius-Rankine cycle, steam cycle, vapor power cycle	Joule cycle, gas turbine cycle	refrigeration cycle, heat pump cycle
Συναφείς	3	3	3
Σύνοψη	The Rankine Cycle is the fundamental thermodynamic cycle for steam power plants. It describes how thermal energy from burning fuel or concentrated solar radiation is converted to mechanical work and ultimately electricity. The cycle consists of four processes: isobaric heat addition in the boiler, isentropic expansion through the turbine, isobaric heat rejection in the condenser, and isentropic compression by the pump.	The Brayton Cycle (also called Joule Cycle) describes the thermodynamic process in gas turbines and jet engines. It consists of four processes: isentropic compression in a compressor, isobaric combustion (heat addition), isentropic expansion in a turbine, and isobaric heat rejection. The Brayton Cycle is the foundation for analyzing aircraft propulsion, ground-based power generation, and simple-cycle gas turbine plants.	The Vapor Compression Cycle is the fundamental thermodynamic cycle for refrigeration systems and heat pumps. It describes how mechanical work is used to transfer heat from a cold space (evaporator) to a warm space (condenser), operating against the natural temperature gradient. The cycle consists of four processes: isentropic compression, isobaric condensation, isenthalpic throttling, and isobaric evaporation.