Advanced Exergetic Analysis of Simple Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle
Introduction
Exergy analysis is without a doubt a powerful tool for developing, evaluating and improving thermal systems, particularly when this analysis is part of an exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental analysis.
The exergetic analysis identifies the location, the magnitude and the causes of thermodynamic inefficiencies, assists in better understanding the operations in energy conversion processes, and enhances the creativity of engineers dealing with the improvement of such systems and processes.
Today it is not sufficient any more to just present the results of an exergy analysis without using them to improve the system being considered. A so called conventional exergetic analysis cannot satisfactorily evaluate the mutual interdependencies among the system components, and does not consider the real potential for improving the system components [1].
An advanced exergetic analysis converts the most important limitations of the conventional analysis into strengths. An advanced analysis provides options to estimate (a) the real potential for improving the components (splitting the exergy destruction into unavoidable and avoidable parts); and (b) the mutual interdependencies among the exergy destructions within the components of a system (splitting the exergy destruction into endogenous and exogenous parts). Distinctions between avoidable and unavoidable exergy destruction on one side and endogenous and exogenous exergy destruction on the other side (with a further splitting of the exogenous exergy destruction) allow engineers to focus on the thermodynamic inefficiencies that can be avoided by simultaneously considering the interactions among system components. The avoidable endogenous and the avoidable exogenous exergy destructions provide the best guidance for improving the thermodynamic performance of energy conversion systems.
The drawbacks associated with the advanced exergetic analysis are the need for simulating some non-standard cycles (e.g., so-called hybrid cycles), the large number of required simulations and the associated engineering time.
Within this Maple-aided analysis, the potential for improving the thermodynamic efficiency of components and the overall vapor-compression refrigeration system as well as the interactions among components and their effect on the exergy destruction within each component can be estimated.
Reference:
Tsatsaronis G., 1999. Strengths and limitations of exergy analysis”. A. Bejan and E.Mamut, eds. “Thermodynamic Optimization of Complex Energy Systems”, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 93-100.
Morosuk T., Tsatsaronis G. Strengths and limitations of advanced exergetic analyses. Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition IMECE2013, November 15-21, 2013, San Diego, California
Morosuk T, Tsatsaronis G. Splitting the exergy destruction into endogenous and exogenous parts application to refrigeration machines. In: Frangopoulos C, Rakopoulos C, Tsatsaronis G, editors. Proceedings of the 19th international conference on efficiency, cost, optimization, simulation and environmental impact of energy systems, July 12–14; 2006, National Technical University of Athens, Greece, vol. 1; 2006. p. 165–172.
Morosuk T, Tsatsaronis G. The ‘''Cycle Method’'' used in the exergy analysis of refrigeration machines: from education to research. In: Frangopoulos C, Rakopoulos C, Tsatsaronis G, editors. Proceedings of the 19th international conference on efficiency, cost, optimization, simulation and environmental impact of energy systems, July 12–14; 2006, National Technical University of Athens, Greece, vol. 1; 2006. p. 157–163.
Kelly S, Tsatsaronis G, Morosuk T. Advanced exergetic analysis: approaches for splitting the exergy destruction into endogenous and exogenous parts. Energy Int J, 2009;34:384–391.
Morosuk T., Tsatsaronis G. Advanced Exergetic Evaluation of Refrigeration Machines Using Different Working Fluids // Energy –The International Journal. – 2009. – Vol. 34 – P. 2248-2258.
Morosuk T., Tsatsaronis G. New approach to the exergy analysis of absorption refrigeration machines // Energy – The International Journal. – 2008. – Vol. 33 – P. 890-907.
Fig. 1. Scheme of a Simple Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle
Creation functions on properties and processes of working fluids
Pressure in the saturated region as a function of temperature, quality and working fluid
Temperature in the saturated region as a function of pressure, quality and working fluid
Specific enthalpy in the saturated region as a function of temperature, quality and working fluid
Specific enthalpy in the saturated region as a function of pressure, quality and working fluid
Specific entropy in the saturated region as a function of temperature, quality and working fluid
Specific entropy in the saturated region as a function of pressure, quality and working fluid
Density in the saturated region as a function of temperature, quality and working fluid
Density in the saturated region as a function of pressure, quality and working fluid
Temperature as a function of pressure, specific entropy and working fluid
Temperature as a function of pressure, specific enthalpy and working fluid
Specific enthalpy as a function of pressure, temperature and working fluid
Specific entropy as a function of pressure, temperature and working fluid
Density as a function of pressure, temperature and working fluid
Specific entropy as function of pressure and specific enthalpy and working fluid
Density as function of pressure and specific enthalpy and working fluid
Critical temperature as a function of working fluid
Critical pressure as a function of working fluid
Initial Data
Type of the machine (in case of heat pump set Type as 1, in case of refrigerator set Type as 2)
Capacity of the product
Temperature of heat source fluid at evaporator inlet
Pressure of heat source fluid at evaporator inlet
Temperature of heat source fluid at evaporator outlet
Pressure of heat source fluid at evaporator outlet
Temperature of heat consumption fluid at condenser inlet
Pressure of heat consumption fluid at condenser inlet
Temperature of heat consumption fluid at condenser outlet
Pressure of heat consumption fluid at condenser outlet
Temperature difference at the cold end of the evaporator
Temperature difference at the cold end of the evaporator which is possible due to technological limitations
Temperature difference at the hot end of the condenser
Temperature difference at the hot end of the condenser which is possible due to technological limitations
Isentropic efficiency of the compressor
Max. isentropic efficiency of compressor which is possible due to technological limitations
Working fluid
Reference temperature for exergy analysis
Reference pressure for exergy analysis
Working fluid of the heat source
Working fluid of the heat consumption
Calculation
Specific enthalpy of working fluid at reference state
Specific entropy of working fluid at reference state
Specific enthalpy of heat source fluid at reference state
Specific entropy of the heat source fluid at reference state
Specific enthalpy of the heat consumption fluid at reference state
Specific entropy of the heat consumption fluid at reference state
Specific enthalpy of heat source fluid at evaporator inlet
Specific enthalpy of heat source fluid at evaporator outlet
Specific enthalpy of heat consumption fluid at condenser inlet
Specific entropy of heat consumption fluid at condenser inlet
Specific enthalpy of heat consumption fluid at condenser outlet
Specific physical exergy of heat source fluid at evaporator inlet
Specific physical exergy of heat source fluid at evaporator outlet
Specific physical exergy of heat source fluid at condenser inlet
Specific physical exergy of heat source fluid at condenser outlet
1. Real cycle
Temperature of the working fluid at the compressor outlet
Pressure of the working fluid at the compressor outlet
Pressure of the working fluid at the condenser outlet
Specific enthalpy of the working fluid at the condenser outlet
Specific entropy of the working fluid at the condenser outlet
Specific volume of the working fluid at the condenser outlet
Specific exergy of the working fluid at the condenser outlet
Auxiliary values
Specific mechanical exergy of the working fluid at the condenser outlet
Specific thermal exergy of the working fluid at the condenser outlet
Specific enthalpy of the working fluid at the evaporator intlet
Pressure of the working fluid at the evaporator intlet
Specific enthalpy of saturated liquid of the working fluid in the evaporator
Specific enthalpy of saturated vapor of the working fluid in the evaporator
Quality of the working fluid at the evaporator intlet
Specific entropy of saturated liquid of the working fluid in the evaporator
Specific entropy of saturated vapor of the working fluid in the evaporator
Specific entropy of the working fluid at the evaporator inlet
Specific volume of saturated liquid of the working fluid in the evaporator
Specific volume of the working fluid at the evaporator inlet
Specific exergy of the working fluid at the evaporator inlet
Specific mechanical exergy of the working fluid at the evaporator inlet
Specific thermal exergy of the working fluid at the evaporator inlet
Pressure of the working fluid at the compressor inlet
Temperature of the working fluid at the compressor inlet
Specific enthalpy of the working fluid at the compressor inlet
Specific entropy of the working fluid at the compressor inlet
Specific volume of the working fluid at the compressor inlet
Specific exergy of the working fluid at the compressor inlet
Specific enthalpy of the working fluid at the compressor outlet after actual compression
Enhtalpy change in the compressor 1 after actual compression
Specific entropy of the working fluid at the compressor outlet after actual compression
Specific volume of the working fluid at the compressor outlet after actual compression
Specific heat rejection in the condenser
Specific heat addition in the evaporator
Coefficent of performance of a refrigerator
Coefficent of performance of a heat pump
Mass rate of the working fluid
Total heat addition in the evaporator
Total heat rejection in the condenser
Mass rate of the heat source fluid
Mass rate of the heat consumption fluid
Total exergy used in the compressor
Total physical exergy at the compressor intlet
Total physical exergy at the compressor outlet
Total physical exergy at the condenser outlet
Total mechanical exergy at the condenser outlet
Total thermal exergy at the condenser outlet
Total physical exergy at the evaporator inlet
Total mechanical exergy at the evaporator inlet
Total thermal exergy at the evaporator inlet
Total physical exergy of heat consumption fluid at the evaporator intlet
Total physical exergy of heat consumption fluid at the evaporator outlet
Total physical exergy of heat consumption fluid at the condenser intlet
Total physical exergy of heat consumption fluid at the condenser outlet
Exergy of fuel in the compressor
Exergy of product in the compressor
Exergy destruction in the compressor
Exergetic efficiency in the compressor
Exergy of fuel in the condenser
Exergy of product in the condenser
Exergy destruction in the condenser
Exergetic efficiency in the condenser
Exergy of fuel in the throttling valve
Exergy of product in the throttling valve
Exergy destruction in the throttling valve
Exergetic efficiency in the throttling valve
Exergy of fuel in the evaporator
Exergy of product in the evaporator
Exergy destruction in the evaporator
Exergetic efficiency in the evaporator
Exergy of fuel of the overall system
Exergy of product of the overall system
Exergy destruction of the overall system
Exergetic efficiency of the overall system
Exergy destruction ratio in the compressor related to the exergy of total fuel
Exergy destruction ratio in the condenser related to the exergy of total fuel
Exergy destruction ratio in the throttling valve related to the exergy of total fuel
Exergy destruction ratio in the evaporator related to the exergy of total fuel
Exergy destruction ratio in the system overall related to the exergy of total fuel
Exergy destruction ratio in the compressor related to the total exergy destruction
Exergy destruction ratio in the condenser related to the total exergy destruction
Exergy destruction ratio in the throttling valve related to the total exergy destruction
Exergy destruction ratio in the evaporator related to the total exergy destruction
Exergy destruction ratio in the system overall related to the total exergy destruction
2. Unavoidable cycle
3. Theoretical cycle
Specific entropy of the working fluid at the evaporator intlet
4. Hybrid cycle with irreversible component - Compressor
5. Hybrid cycle with irreversible component - Condenser
6. Hybrid cycle with irreversible component - Throttling Valve
7. Hybrid cycle with irreversible component - Evaporator
Specific enthalpy of the working fluid at the evaporator inlet
Endogenous exergy destruction of the overall system
Defining function for computing endogenous unavoidable exergy destructions of the system componens using the proc command
Endogenous unaviodable exergy destruction of the overall system
Component
Exergy of fuel
Exergy of product
Exergy destruction
Exergetic efficiency
Exergy destruction related to the total exergy fuel
Exergy destruction related to the total exergy destruction
Compressor,kW
-
%
Condenser, kW
Throttling valve, kW
Evaporator, kW
Overall system, kW
Total in Real Cycle
Theoretical
Unavoidable
Avoidable
Endogenous
Exogenous
Unavoidable Endogenous
Functions for plotting Ts-diagram
Critical temperature
Critical pressure
Ploting the Refrigeration Cycle on a Ts-diagram