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Irreversible three-heat-source refrigerator with heat transfer law of QαΔ(T −1) and its performance optimization based on ECOP criterion

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Abstract

The new thermo-ecological optimization of an absorption system for cooling applications operating between three temperature levels with the linear phenomenological heat transfer law of \(\dot{Q}\alpha\Delta( T^{ - 1} )\) has been performed by taking account the losses of heat resistance, internal irreversibility and leakage. The considered objective function is the ecological coefficient of performance (ECOP) and is defined as the cooling load per unit loss rate of availability. The comparative analysis with the ecological optimization criterion (E) defined in the literature and also with the cooling load optimization criterion (R) has been carried out to prove the utility of the new thermo-ecological optimization criterion (ECOP) for three-heat-source refrigerators with linear phenomenological heat transfer law. The results show that the three-heat-source refrigeration cycle working at maximum ECOP conditions has a significant advantage in terms of entropy production rate and coefficient of performance over the maximum E and maximum R conditions. The obtained results may provide a general theoretical tool for the thermo-ecological design of absorption refrigerator.

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Abbreviations

A :

Total heat-transfer area (m2)

A A :

Heat-transfer area of absorber (m2)

A C :

Heat-transfer area of condenser (m2)

A CA :

=A A +A C

A E :

Heat-transfer area of evaporator (m2)

A G :

Heat-transfer area of generator (m2)

COP :

Coefficient of performance

ECOP :

Ecological coefficient of performance

I :

Internal irreversibility parameter

K L :

Heat leak coefficient (W K)

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

Heat reject load from absorber to heat sink (W)

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

Heat reject load from condenser to heat sink (W)

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

\(= \dot{Q}_{C} +\dot{Q}_{A}\)

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

Heat input load from cooled space to evaporator (W)

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

Heat input load from heat source to generator (W)

R :

Cooling load (W)

T 1 :

Temperature of working fluid in generator (K)

T 2 :

Temperature of working fluid in evaporator (K)

T 3 :

Temperature of working fluid in absorber and condenser (K)

T A :

Temperature of the absorber-side heat sink (K)

T C :

Temperature of the condenser-side heat sink (K)

T CA :

=T A =T C

T E :

Temperature of the evaporator-side heat source (K)

T G :

Temperature of the generator-side heat source (K)

U CA :

Overall heat-transfer coefficient of absorber and condenser (W K/m2)

U E :

Overall heat-transfer coefficient of evaporator (W K/m2)

U G :

Overall heat-transfer coefficient of generator (W K/m2)

λ :

Dissipation coefficient of cooling rate

σ :

Entropy generation rate (W/K)

τ 1 :

Source temperature ratio (T G /T CA )

τ 2 :

Source temperature ratio (T E /T CA )

ε r :

Coefficient of performance for reversible three-heat-source refrigerator

max:

Maximum

me :

Maximum ecological-function condition

mr :

Maximum cooling load condition

∗:

Maximum ecological coefficient of performance condition

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. L2MSP, Department of Physics, University of Dschang, PO Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon

    Paiguy Armand Ngouateu Wouagfack

  2. LISIE, University Institute of Technology Fotso Victor, University of Dschang, PO Box 134, Bandjoun, Cameroon

    Réné Tchinda

Authors
  1. Paiguy Armand Ngouateu Wouagfack
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  2. Réné Tchinda
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Correspondence to Paiguy Armand Ngouateu Wouagfack.

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Ngouateu Wouagfack, P.A., Tchinda, R. Irreversible three-heat-source refrigerator with heat transfer law of QαΔ(T −1) and its performance optimization based on ECOP criterion. Energy Syst 2, 359–376 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12667-011-0040-y

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