Rankine Cycle MCQ – Objective Questions with Answers
Mechanical Engineering › Thermodynamics | Free practice MCQs with detailed explanations
Last Updated: June 2026
📌 About this MCQ Set
The Rankine cycle is the ideal cycle for steam power plants, using water as the working fluid with phase change.
These MCQs cover its components, processes, and ways to improve efficiency.
8 questions • every answer comes with a worked explanation. Click Show Answer to check yourself.
📖 New to this topic? Read the full concept guide: Rankine Cycle →
Rankine Cycle MCQs
Q1. The Rankine cycle is the ideal cycle for:
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Answer: B. Steam (vapour) power plants
It is the ideal cycle for vapour power (steam) plants.
Q2. The four main components of a Rankine cycle are boiler, turbine, condenser and:
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Answer: B. Pump
Boiler, turbine, condenser and feed pump make up the basic Rankine cycle.
Q3. In the ideal Rankine cycle, the turbine process is assumed to be:
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Answer: B. Isentropic (reversible adiabatic)
Expansion in the turbine is ideally isentropic.
Q4. Heat addition in the Rankine cycle occurs in the:
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Answer: C. Boiler
The boiler adds heat at (approximately) constant pressure to generate steam.
Q5. Superheating the steam before the turbine:
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Answer: B. Raises efficiency and reduces turbine moisture
Superheating increases cycle efficiency and reduces moisture at the turbine exit, protecting the blades.
Q6. Reheating in a Rankine cycle is used to:
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Answer: B. Improve efficiency and limit turbine-exit moisture
Reheat raises the average temperature of heat addition and keeps turbine-exit steam quality high.
Q7. Regeneration in a Rankine cycle uses:
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Answer: B. Feedwater heating with extracted steam
Feedwater heaters use steam bled from the turbine to preheat the feedwater, raising efficiency.
Q8. Compared with turbine work, pump work in a Rankine cycle is:
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Answer: C. Very small
Pumping a liquid takes far less work than the steam turbine produces, so pump work is small (often neglected in basic analysis).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rankine cycle?
The ideal thermodynamic cycle for steam power plants, using water/steam with a boiler, turbine, condenser and pump.
How is Rankine cycle efficiency improved?
By superheating, reheating, regeneration (feedwater heating), raising boiler pressure, and lowering condenser pressure.
Why is pump work small in the Rankine cycle?
Because the pump compresses a liquid (water), which requires far less work than the turbine extracts from expanding steam.