Using EES (or other) software, determine the effect of the number of compression and expansion stages on the thermal efficiency of an ideal regenerative Brayton cycle with multistage compression and expansion. Assume that the overall pressure ratio of the cycle is 18, and the air enters each stage of the compressor at 300 K and each stage of the turbine at 1200 K. Using constant specific heats for air at room temperature, determine the thermal efficiency of the cycle by varying the number of stages from 1 to 22 in increments of 3. Plot the thermal efficiency versus the number of stages. Compare your results to the efficiency of an Ericsson cycle operating between the same temperature limits.