Title: Optimisation of an irreversible Carnot refrigerator working between two heat reservoirs

Authors: S.K. Tyagi, Qin Wang, P. Xia, G.M. Chen

Addresses: Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China; School of Infrastructure Technology and Resources Management, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra 182401 (J&K), India. ' Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China. ' Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China. ' Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China

Abstract: A model of finite-resources optimisation for irreversible refrigerators is presented in this paper. An irreversible Carnot refrigerator operating between two heat reservoirs is analysed. Several important optimum results, subject to different resource constraints have been obtained. The relations among these results are also discussed. The results obtained here shows that the finite-resources optimisation is a further extension of traditional finite-time and/or finite-material optimisation and can achieve better allocation of resources. The optimised performance of an irreversible refrigerator cycle will be close to the real performance, if the finite-resources optimisation method is applied.

Keywords: finite resources optimisation; irreversible Carnot refrigerator; heat sources; heat sink; heat reservoirs; resource allocation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2010.029616

International Journal of Exergy, 2010 Vol.7 No.1, pp.76 - 88

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

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