Performance analysis of a two-stage irreversible heat pump under maximum heating load per unit total cost conditions

A performance optimization of a two-stage irreversible combined heat-pump system has been carried out. The irreversibility of heat transfer across finite temperature differences, the heat-leak loss between the external heat reservoirs and the internal dissipation of the working fluids are considered. The heating load per unit total cost is taken as an objective function for the optimization. The maximum of the objective function and the corresponding optimal performance and design parameters have been derived analytically. The global and the optimal performance characteristics curves are presented in terms of technical and economical parameters. The irreversibility effects and economical aspects on the general and optimal performances have been investigated.     

Effects of unequal finite piston speeds on the optimal performances of endoreversible Carnot refrigeration and heat pump cycles

The performances of endoreversible Carnot refrigeration and heat pump cycles with loss of heat resistance and finite piston speeds are analysed and optimized by using the combination of finite time thermodynamics, finite speed thermodynamics and direct method. The unequal finite piston speed model on four branches is adopted. Expressions of cooling load of endoreversible Carnot refrigeration cycle and of heating load of endoreversible Carnot heat pump cycle are derived with a fixed cycle period and unequal finite piston speeds on the four branches. Numerical examples show that there exist optimal expansion ratios, which lead to maximum cooling load and maximum heating load for the fixed coefficient of performance (COP), respectively. The maximum cooling load, maximum heating load, optimal ratios of finite piston speeds and optimal hot- and cold-side working fluid temperatures versus COP characteristics for the endoreversible Carnot refrigeration and heat pump cycles are obtained. Moreover, the effects of design parameters on the performances of the two cycles are discussed.     

Performance analysis and optimization of heat exchangers: a new thermoeconomic approach

A thermoeconomic performance optimization has been carried out for a single pass counter-flow heat exchanger model. In the considered model, the irreversibilities due to heat transfer between the hot and cold stream are taken into account and other irreversibilities such as pressure drops and flow imbalance are ignored. The objective function is defined as the actual heat transfer rate per unit total cost considering lost exergy and investment costs. The optimal performance and design parameters which maximize the objective function have been investigated. The effects of the technical and economical parameters on the general and optimal thermoeconomical performances have been also discussed.     

Optimum allocation of heat exchanger inventory of irreversible air heat pump cycles

This study has determined the optimal ratios of heat conductance of a cold-side heat exchanger to that of a hot-side heat exchanger when the heating load and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the irreversible air heat pump cycles are taken as the optimization objectives. Both the optimum distributions of heat conductance corresponding to the maximum heating load and the maximum COP are less than 0.5 for the fixed total heat exchanger inventory. The influences of the heat reservoir temperature ratio, the total heat exchanger inventory, and the efficiencies of the compressor and expander on the optimum distribution of heat conductance and the maximum heating load and the maximum COP are analysed and shown by numerical examples.     

不可逆吸收式热泵循环的基本优化关系及性能分析

在恒温热源内可逆四热源吸收式热泵循环的基础上，建立了线性(牛顿)传热定律下考虑泵热空间到环境热源的热漏、工质的内部耗散以及工质与外部热源间的热阻损失的不可逆吸收式热泵循环模型。导出了总换热面积一定的条件下循环的泵热率和泵热系数的基本优化关系、最大泵热率和相应的泵热系数、最大泵热系数和相应的泵热率、以及循环中最佳工质工作温度和最佳换热面积分配关系；并通过数值算例分析了循环参数对循环最优性能的影响规律。     

地热热泵调峰供暖系统的热力及经济分析

着重分析了地热热泵调峰供暖系统的热力性能和经济性。对两种采暖终端暖气片和风机盘管，分析计算了地热热泵调峰供暖系统的供暖参数和热泵性能参考。对我国目前经济条件下地热热泵调峰供暖的经济性进行了探讨，并与常规地热锅炉调峰供暖和传统锅炉供暖进行了比较。     

Heating load,heating-load density and COP optimizations of an endoreversible air heat-pump

The finite-time thermodynamic performance has been studied of an endoreversible air heat-pump with constant-temperature heat-reservoirs. The heating load, the coefficient of performance (COP), and the heating-load density, i.e. the ratio of heating load to the maximum specific volume in the cycle, are the optimization objectives. The analytical formulae relating the heating load and pressure-ratio, between the COP and pressure-ratio, as well as between the heating-load density and pressure-ratio are derived assuming heat resistance losses occur in the hot- and cold-side heat-exchangers. The influences of the effectiveness of the heat-exchangers and the heat-reservoir temperature-ratio on the heating load, the COP and the heating-load density are analyzed. The cycle performance optimizations are performed by searching the optimal distribution of heat conductance of the hot- and cold-side heat-exchangers for the fixed total heat-exchanger inventory. The influences of some design parameters, including heat-capacity rate of the working fluid, heat-reservoir temperature-ratio and heat-exchanger inventory on the optimal distribution of heat conductance, the maximum heating load and the maximum heating-load density are indicated by numerical examples. The different results obtained from the heating-load optimization and the heating-load density optimization are shown. The air heat-pump design, with heat-loading density optimization, leads to smaller size equipment.     

Investigation of prototype thermoelectric domestic-ventilator

Applications of thermoelectrics had been enlarged from conventional single refrigeration or generation to waste heat recovery with tough energy consumption of the world. With improvement of living standard more and more domestic air-conditioners are used in Chinese families now. Percentage of power consumption of domestic air-conditioner caused by heat load of fresh air supply increased after SARS, which could be prevented efficiently with sufficient fresh air supply, broke out in China in 2003. A novel prototype thermoelectric domestic-ventilator with heat recovery of exhaust of air-conditioned room had been made in Hunan University thermoelectric lab. A thermoelectric heat exchanger and a flat-fin cross flow heat exchanger were integrated in this ventilator. This ventilator was investigated and its cooling (and heating) performance were evaluated in terms of the coefficient of performance, cooling and heating powers, and being handled temperature difference of fresh air. The coefficient of performance of this ventilator was found to be over 2.5 in the whole experiment. The optimal working parameters of this ventilator were studied in this paper. The potential improvements in performances and market prospects were also discussed in this work.     

Geometric optimization of trapezoidal thermoelectric heat pump considering contact resistances through genetic algorithm

An alternate option for improving the performance of the thermoelectric heat pump (TEHP) is the variation in thermoelectric leg configuration. In this paper, the thermodynamic model based on first and second law of thermodynamics for an exoreversible TEHP including influence of Thomson effect as well as leg geometry on the coefficient of performance and heating load of the device has been developed and optimized. Modified expressions have been derived analytically for dimensionless heating load, irreversibilities, figure of merit, energy, and exergy efficiency. The effects of operating and geometry parameters such as shape parameter (A_c/A_h), temperature ratio (T_c/T_h), Thomson effect, thermal and electrical contact resistances on the coefficient of performance, and heating load of the TEHP have been analysed. The results indicate that the Thomson effect has adverse effect on heating load of the system. The optimal parameters obtained through GA optimization process have been compared with the optimal parameters obtained through analytical method which proved the validity of GA optimization method for optimization of TEHP. After the testing, the GA optimization has been performed to determine the optimum parameters corresponding to maximum energy efficiency and maximum heating load. It was found that the GA population converges quickly after 20 runs only which proved the GA as time and cost‐effective optimization tool. This study will be useful for designing of practical TEHP systems of different leg geometries.     

Performance analysis and optimization of irreversible air refrigeration cycles based on ecological coefficient of performance criterion

In this paper, a performance optimization based on ecological coefficient of performance (ECOP) criterion has been carried out for an irreversible air refrigeration cycles. The considered model includes irreversibilities due to finite-rate heat transfer, heat leakage and internal dissipations. The ECOP objective function is defined as the ratio of cooling load to the loss rate of availability (or entropy generation rate). The maximum of the ecological performance criterion and the corresponding optimal conditions have been derived analytically. The effects of irreversibility parameters on the general and optimal performances discussed detailed. The obtained results may provide a general theoretical tool for the ecological design of air refrigerators.     

Finite size thermoeconomic optimization for irreversible heat engines

An optimization analysis for an irreversible heat engine has been carried out based on a new thermoeconomic optimization criterion. The thermoeconomical objective function has been taken as the power output per unit total cost. In the analysis, the irreversibility effects due to heat transfer across finite temperature differences, the heat leak loss between the external heat reservoirs and internal dissipation of the working fluid are taken into account. The maximum of the objective function and the corresponding optimal conditions has been derived analytically. The effects of technical and economical parameters on the global and optimal performances have been investigated.     

Optimal performance of an irreversible solar-assisted heat pump

The thermodynamic optimization of a mechanically driven solar heat pump is presented. A new expression to describe the optimal thermal performance under finite operating conditions considering the internal and external irreversibilities during actual operation is derived. The optimum ratio between the condenser and collector–evaporator conductances (UA) determines the coefficient of performance (COP) for the maximum heating load of the system. An experimental air-R22 heat pump was used to determine the traditional performance parameters (COP and second law efficiency) which are compared with those obtained using the expressions derived in this work. Results show that the new model very closely represents the performance of real systems.     

Optimum thermoeconomic and thermodynamic performance characteristics of an irreversible three-heat-source heat pump

The coefficient of performance and specific heating load of an irreversible three-heat-source heat pump are given by using a general cycle model affected by the finite-rate heat transfer, heat leak and internal irreversibility of the cyclic working fluid. The heat pumping load divided by the total cost per unit time is taken as a new objective function and used to investigate the performance of the heat pump. The thermoeconomic and thermodynamic performance characteristics of the heat pump are discussed in detail. Some important performance parameters such as the thermoeconomic objective function and coefficient of performance are optimized. The optimally operating regions of the heat pump and the bounds of several performance parameters are determined. Finally, it is pointed out that the Carnot heat pump may be taken as a special case of a three-heat-source heat pump and consequently its optimal performance can be directly derived from the results obtained here.     

Properties optimization for phase-change energy storage in air-based solar heating systems

A parametric study has been conducted to determine the optimum physical properties of phase-change energy storage materials for solar air-heating systems. Simulation techniques are used to determine the system performance over the entire heating season. Variations of the solar fraction of the load with melting temperature, latent heat, load characteristics, and control strategy have been determined. Air-heating systems with a wide range of hot water and space heating loads have been examined. The effect of semicongruent melting of the phase change material on system performance has also been investigated.     

Exergy analysis and experimental study of heat pump systems

Exergy analysis of heat pump—air conditioner systems has been carried out. The irreversibilities due to heat transfer and friction have been considered. The coefficient of performance based on the first law of thermodynamics as a function of various parameters, their optimum values, and the efficiency and coefficient of performance based on exergy analysis have been derived. Based on the exergy analysis, a simulation program has been developed to simulate and evaluate experimental systems. The simulation of a domestic heat pump—air conditioner of 959 W nominal power (Matsushita room air conditioner model CS-XG28M) is then carried out using experimental data. It is found that COP based on the first law varies from 7.40 to 3.85 and the exergy efficiency from 0.37 to 0.25 both a decreasing function of heating or cooling load. The exergy destructions in various components are determined for further study and improvement of its performance.     

Theoretical and experimental studies on optimum heat rejection pressure for a CO2 heat pump system

The experimental and simulation researches have been conducted to investigate the relationships between optimum heat rejection pressure and other related operating parameters for a transcritical CO₂ heat pump system with two throttle valves. It proved that it is relatively reliable to control the heat rejection pressure of the CO₂ system with two expansion valves in series. The experimental results also show similar trends with those from simulation, under widely different operating conditions. Thus both the simulation and experimental results meet here: for a transcritical CO₂ cycle, there exists an optimal heat rejection pressure, under which the system can reach the maximum heating coefficient of performance (COP). Furthermore, the research also reveals that the optimal heat rejection pressure mainly depends on the refrigerant outlet temperature of gas cooler whereas the evaporating temperature and the performance of the given compressor have smaller effect on the optimum heat rejection pressure. Based on the experimental data, a correlation of the optimal heat rejection pressure with respect to mainly involved parameters is obtained for specific conditions.     

内可逆四热源吸收式热变换器的基本优化关系及其性能分析

应用内可逆四热源吸收式热变化器循环模型，分析热变换器受传热不可逆性影响时的基本性能。导出了牛顿传热定律下循环的比泵热率和泵热系数的基本优化关系以及工质的最佳工作温度和传热面积的最佳分配关系。由此讨论了循环的各种优化性能，并通过数值算例，得出循环参数对循环特性的影响规律。所得结果对实际四热源吸收式热变换器的优化设计具有一定指导意义。     

Sensitivity analysis of optimal model on building cooling heating and power system

The optimization of building cooling heating and power (BCHP) system is helpful to improve its comprehensive performance including energetic, economic and environmental aspects. However, the optimal results are closely dependent on the initial setting parameters. This paper deduces the energy consumption of BCHP system following the electrical load and presents the optimization problem of BCHP system that includes the decision variables, the objective function, the constraint conditions and the solution method. The influences of the initial parameters, which include the technical, economic and environmental parameters, the building loads and the optimization setting parameters, on the optimal decision variables and the performances of BCHP system are analyzed and compared. The contour curves of the performances of BCHP system in comparison to the conventional separation production (SP) system, and the sensitivity of the optimal decision variables to the initial parameters are obtained.     

太阳能热泵供暖系统的热经济性分析

基于有限时间热力学理论和集热器线性热损失模型,建立了太阳能热泵供暖系统的热力学模型,并对该系统进行了热经济分析.研究在给定供热率和初投资的约束条件下,以系统的供热系数COHF,作为热经济性目标函数,得出了在目标函数取最大时系统最佳的运行性能系数和设计参数.同时还研究了初投资对系统运行以及设计参数的影响,得出了对应给定供热率系统的最佳初投资及其相应的设计参数.     

内可逆四热源吸收式热泵生态学最优性能

基于能量分析的观点,建立了反映四热源吸收式热泵泵热率与熵产率之间最佳折衷的生态学准则,分析了线性(牛顿)传热定律下内可逆四热源吸收式热泵的生态学最优性能,导出了生态学目标与泵热系数的优化关系和最大生态学目标值及其相对应的泵热系数、泵热率和熵产率,确定了循环主要参数的生态学优化选择范围。数值算例分析了泵热率目标和生态学目标的相互关系,计算表明生态学准则对吸收式热泵优化设计是一种具有长期效应的可选优化目标。