Title: Thermoeconomic design optimisation of a refrigeration evaporator

Authors: Tahar Khir, Rahim K. Jassim, Galal M. Zaki

Addresses: Jeddah College of Technology, P.O. Box 42204, Jeddah 21 541, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' Yanbu Industrial College, Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, P.O. Box 30436, Yanbu Industrial City 21 477, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80204, Jeddah 21 587, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract: An exergoeconomic optimisation analysis is presented considering the main three component exergy destruction: the pressure losses I^ΔΡ, temperature difference I^ΔΤ and specific humidity gradient I^Δω. The sum of the annual capital cost, Z_ev, and the cost of compensation for the total exergy destruction is taken as the optimisation objective function. The tube diameter, the air velocity and the fin thickness are optimised using the Hooke and Jeeves method. The results show that the minimum cost of the optimum evaporator design parameters is obtained when the tube diameter, air velocity and fin thickness are 1/2||, 3 m/s and 0.1 mm respectively.

Keywords: exergy analysis; exergy destruction units; thermoeconomic optimisation; refrigeration evaporator; design optimisation; tube diameter; air velocity; fin thickness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2008.019114

International Journal of Exergy, 2008 Vol.5 No.4, pp.429 - 450

Published online: 29 Jun 2008 *

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