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3E analysis and multi-objective optimization of a trans-critical ejector-assisted Co2 refrigeration cycle combined with thermo-electric generator

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Abstract

Conserving energy is an important factor in industry which could lead to reduce the operating costs of the system. Improving energy efficiency is a serious concern to many researchers and numerous studies have been conducted on this goal. A valuable method to locate the inefficient system components is the conventional exergy analysis. Furthermore, to estimate the cost efficiency of a thermodynamic system, exergo-economic analysis is indispensable. This study evaluates the ejector trans-critical \({{\text{CO}}}_{2}\) refrigeration cycle from exergo-economic viewpoint. The thermodynamic system was modeled using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software. In order to utilize the waste heat of the gas cooler, a thermo-electric generator is introduced. Energy, exergy, and exergo-economic (3E) analysis has been performed. A parametric study was conducted of gas cooler pressure, low-pressure compressor outlet pressure, and evaporator pressure. Multi-criteria optimization has been conducted to optimize COP and refrigeration cost rate using NSGA-II (non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm). The results showed the system could provide a COP of 1.593 for the base case of the cycle operation. The high-priority components to improve were expansion valve, thermo-electric generator, and low-pressure compressor which had the highest exergy destruction ratio as 0.211, 0.180, and 0.158 respectively. The refrigeration cost rate was 2.898 $ h−1 for the base case of the system. Optimization results showed that the exergy efficiency and the exergy destruction ratio of the optimum design point are 0.284 and 0.574.

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Abbreviations

e:

Specific exergy (kJ kg−1)

\(\dot{E}\) :

Exergy rate \((kW)\)

\(h\) :

Specific enthalpy \((kJ \, kg^{-1})\)

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate \((kg \, s^{-1})\)

\(P\) :

Pressure \((kPa)\)

\(P\) :

Power \((kW)\)

\(\dot{W}\) :

Work \((kW)\)

\(\dot{Q}\) :

Heat transfer \((kW)\)

\(s\) :

Specific entropy \((kJ\, kg^{-1} \,K^{-1})\)

\(T\) :

Temperature \((K)-(^\circ C)\)

\(v\) :

Velocity \((m\,s^{-1})\)

\(x\) :

Quality

\(\dot{C}\) :

Cost rate ($ h−1)

\(c\) :

Specific exergy cost ($ GJ−1)

\(Z\) :

Investment cost of component \((\mathrm{\$})\)

\(\dot{Z}\) :

Investment cost rate of component ($ h−1)

\(\alpha\) :

Seebeck coefficient \((V \,K^{-1})\)

\(\sigma\) :

Electrical conductivity \((S\,m^{-1})\)

\(\lambda\) :

Thermal conductivity \((W\,m^{-1}\,K^{-1})\)

\(\omega\) :

Entrainment ratio of ejector

\(\eta\) :

Efficiency

\(\delta\) :

Exergy destruction ratio

\(T\) :

Thermal

\(M\) :

Mechanical

\(\text{do}\) :

Diffuser outlet

\(\text{D}\) :

Destruction

\(\text{hpc}\) :

High-pressure compressor

\(\text{lpc}\) :

Low-pressure compressor

\(\text{ex}\) :

Exergy

\(\text{F}\) :

Fuel

\(\text{P}\) :

Product

\(\text{L}\) :

Loss

\(\text{is}\) :

Isentropic

\(\text{n}\) :

Nozzle

\(\text{d}\) :

Diffuser

\(\text{m}\) :

Mixing chamber

\(\text{high}\) :

High-pressure stage

\(\text{low}\) :

Low-pressure stage

\(\text{in}\) :

Inlet

\(\text{out}\) :

Outlet

\(\text{teg}\) :

Thermo-electric generator

\(0\) :

Reference parameter

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of Kermanshah University of Technology for this research under grant number S/T/P/1430.

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  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kermanshah University of Technology, Kermanshah, Iran

    Shoaib Khanmohammadi & Mohammad Reza Sharifinasab

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  1. Shoaib Khanmohammadi
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Correspondence to Shoaib Khanmohammadi.

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Khanmohammadi, S., Sharifinasab, M.R. 3E analysis and multi-objective optimization of a trans-critical ejector-assisted Co2 refrigeration cycle combined with thermo-electric generator. J Therm Anal Calorim 149, 3951–3964 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-024-12968-1

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