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A performance evaluation of the ejector refrigeration system based on thermo-economic criteria through multi-objective approach

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Abstract

This work investigates an exhaust heat-driven ejector refrigeration system with the thermo-economic considerations. The system is thermally modelled and is optimized considering the performance coefficient and the total annual cost as two objectives using heat transfer search algorithm. Generator temperature, evaporator temperature and condenser temperature are considered as design variables. A 2-D shock circle model is used to simulate the ejector component with R245fa refrigerant. The results of multi-objective optimization are discussed using the Pareto frontier obtained between both conflicting objective functions. The effect of varying the nozzle throat diameter and the ecological function on the thermo-economic objectives is presented and discussed. The sensitivity analysis of the objective functions to the decision variables is investigated. Further, the exergo-economic results at the optimal point are also presented and discussed. The results reveal that the ejector and the generator are the leading contributors to the exergy destruction and hence to the total annual cost. The coefficient of performance and total annual cost at the best optimal point are 0.3 and 25,903 $/year, respectively. The optimized product unit cost of the system is 53.8 $/GJ with 10.5% exergy efficiency.

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Abbreviations

A :

Area (m2)

\(C_{{\text{p}}}\) :

Specific heat (J/kg K)

COP:

Coefficient of performance (–)

CRF:

Capital recovery factor (year−1)

\(\dot{C}\) :

Exergy cost rate ($/year)

\(\dot{C}_{Q}\) :

Exergy cost rate associated with heat transfer ($/year)

\(\dot{C}_{W}\) :

Exergy cost rate associated with work transfer ($/year)

D :

Diameter (m)

\(\dot{E}\) :

Exergy rate (W)

h :

Specific enthalpy (J/kg K)

H :

Pump energy head (m)

M :

Mach number (–)

MF:

Maintenance factor (–)

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

N :

Velocity distribution exponent (-)

P :

Pressure (Pa)

\(\dot{Q}\) :

Heat transfer rate (W)

R :

Radius (m)

\(R_{{{\text{gas}}}}\) :

Gas constant (J/kg K)

s :

Specific entropy (J/kg K)

T :

Temperature (K)

TAC:

Total annual cost ($/ywar)

u :

Unit cost ($/GJ)

v :

Specific volume (m3/kg)

V :

Velocity (m/s)

\(\overline{V}\) :

Mean velocity (m/s)

\(\dot{W}\) :

Work transfer rate (W)

Z :

Component cost value ($)

\(\dot{Z}\) :

Component cost rate ($/year

\(\eta\) :

Efficiency

\(\eta_{{{\text{s}},{\text{p}}}}\) :

Pump isentropic efficiency

\(\eta_{{{\text{m}},{\text{p}}}}\) :

Pump mechanical efficiency

Γ :

Adiabatic index

Cr:

Condenser

Evap:

Evaporator

g:

Generator

p:

Primary flow

s:

Secondary flow

d:

Diffuser

D:

Destruction

F:

Fuel

t:

Nozzle throat

\(e1\) :

Primary nozzle exit

\(e2\) :

Constant area section

pa:

Primary flow at a–a

sa:

Secondary flow at a-a

m:

Mixed flow

i, in:

Inlet

e, ex:

Exit

O:

Reference state

K:

Component

ECF:

Ecological function

HTS:

Heat transfer search

IC:

Internal combustion engine

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

    Kiran Mansuriya & Vivek K. Patel

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

    Nishith B. Desai

  3. Application Engineer, Compression Technologies and Services, Ingersoll Rand (India) Limited, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

    Nilesh M. Vora

  4. Mechanical Engineering Department, Adani Institute of Infrastructure Engineering, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

    Kiran Mansuriya

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  1. Kiran Mansuriya
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  2. Vivek K. Patel
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  3. Nishith B. Desai
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  4. Nilesh M. Vora
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Correspondence to Vivek K. Patel.

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Mansuriya, K., Patel, V.K., Desai, N.B. et al. A performance evaluation of the ejector refrigeration system based on thermo-economic criteria through multi-objective approach. Clean Techn Environ Policy 23, 1087–1103 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-020-01884-1

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