Title: Exergy analysis and thermoeconomic optimisation of double-effect ejector-absorption refrigeration cycle using genetic algorithm

Authors: Ramin Pourjahan; Ali Behbahaninia; Rasool Bahrampoury

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran 19395-1999, Iran ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran 19395-1999, Iran ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran 19395-1999, Iran

Abstract: Originally, absorption refrigeration cycles emerged in response to destructive environmental consequences of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFCs) and resulting world regulations to restrict utilising these materials as refrigerants. The fact that these cycles require heat instead of power attracted scientist attention; therefore, they have proposed and implemented different modifications to simple refrigeration cycles, including multi-effect systems and lately, ejectors. In this work, exergy analysis and thermoeconomic optimisation of a double-effect ejector-absorption refrigeration cycle is presented. In the first step, the exergy destruction of the whole cycle is studied based on thermodynamic parameters. In the next step, the thermoeconomic optimisation of the cycle is considered. In order to minimise the total annual cooling cost of the ejector-absorption cycle, an objective function including the energy cost and capital cost is defined. Design parameters of the system are optimised through genetic algorithm. This optimisation results in 16% reduction in the total annual cost in comparison with the base case.

Keywords: exergy analysis; thermoeconomic optimisation; ejector absorption refrigeration cycle; genetic algorithms; thermoeconomics; operating parameters; double effect; exergy destruction; energy cost; capital cost.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2015.072909

International Journal of Exergy, 2015 Vol.18 No.4, pp.423 - 442

Received: 24 Jun 2014
Accepted: 09 Nov 2014
Published online: 07 Nov 2015 *

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