Title: Conventional and advanced exergy analyses of an air-conditioning system in a subway station

Authors: Hua Yin; Huafang Guo; Zhihua Tang; Junyan Yu; Haiyang Lu

Addresses: Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Science, No. 2 Nengyuan Road, Wushan, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of New and Renewable Energy Research and Development, No. 2 Nengyuan Road, Wushan, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China ' Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Science, No. 2 Nengyuan Road, Wushan, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of New and Renewable Energy Research and Development, No. 2 Nengyuan Road, Wushan, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China ' Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Science, No. 2 Nengyuan Road, Wushan, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of New and Renewable Energy Research and Development, No. 2 Nengyuan Road, Wushan, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China ' Guangzhou Metro Group Co. Ltd., Tower A, Wansheng Square, No. 1238 Xingang East Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510330, China ' School of Automated Institute, Guangdong University of Technology, Waihuan West Road, Guangzhou University City, Xiaoguwei Island, Panyu District, Guangzhou 5100006, China

Abstract: Air-conditioning systems in subway stations consume a large amount of energy. In this study, conventional and advanced exergy analyses were carried out to determine the energy-saving potential of an air-conditioning system in a subway station. Results show that air handling unit (AHU) should be improved for the highest values of relative irreversibility (RI) with conventional exergy analysis, whereas the compressor should have the highest improvement priority for the largest avoidable exergy destruction with advanced exergy analysis. Moreover, influences of compressor efficiency, condensation temperature, and evaporation temperature on avoidable exergy destruction of the air-conditioning system were also investigated. According to the findings, compressor efficiency significantly influences the system's total avoidable exergy destruction. The lower the compressor efficiency, the more rapidly the avoidable exergy destruction of the compressor increases. Furthermore, the avoidable exergy destruction of condenser, compressor, cooling tower (CT), and cooling water pump (CWP) increases with the rise of the condensation temperature, whereas that of the evaporator, throttling valve (TV), condenser, compressor, CT, and CWP decreases with the rise of the evaporation temperature.

Keywords: conventional and advanced exergy analyses; air-conditioning system; subway station.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2019.10022166

International Journal of Exergy, 2019 Vol.29 No.2/3/4, pp.236 - 262

Received: 27 Sep 2018
Accepted: 11 Mar 2019
Published online: 27 Jun 2019 *

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