In gas turbine cycles, an open cycle implies

• A. Exhaust is recirculated back to combustor
• B. Exhaust is not recirculated back to combustor
• C. The cycle uses regenerative heating
• D. It uses a closed loop

Answer: (B)

Open cycle means the working fluid is not kept in a loop. In a gas turbine, air is drawn from the atmosphere, compressed, combusted, expands through the turbine, and then the exhaust is released to the atmosphere. No portion of that exhaust is returned to the combustor. Some plants use the exhaust heat for recovery (regenerative or heat-recovery), but that doesn’t turn the cycle into a closed loop—the turbine itself remains open. That’s why the statement that exhaust is not recirculated back to the combustor is the correct description.