Search results for "thermoeconomics"

On the reliability of thermoeconomic diagnosis of fouled evaporators: assessing the influence of geometries, operating conditions and reference state

2015

Thermoeconomic diagnosis of refrigeration systems is a pioneeristic approach, which has been proven to achieve good performances (under favorable conditions) for the detection of specific faults such as condenser and evaporator fouling and compressor valve leakage. In this paper the sensitivity of performance in detecting fouled Direct Expansion (DX) coils is investigated; the examined parameters are the temperature and relative humidity of coil inlet air and the sensible/latent heat ratio of the coil (varied by considering different numbers of rows). As the thermoeconomic model requires splitting the specific exergy of cooling air into “mechanical”, “thermal” and “chemical” fractions, and …

Formation structure of optimality by thermoeconomics: disassembling thermodynamic and external influences in energy systems’ design

2009

In this paper an original thermoeconomic approach for the optimization of complex energy systems is presented, based on a revitalized concept of “scope”, and therefore indicated as Scope Oriented Thermoeconomics (SOT). In plants including dissipative components, it allows to formulate non-arbitrary allocation criteria as concerns marginal costs; consequently, the optimization process is disassembled to recognize the Formation Structure of Optimality, i.e. the specific influences of thermodynamic and economic parameters in the path toward the optimal design. The method is applied to a very didascalic example, that is the optimization of the condensation temperature in a vapour compression ch…

INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS OF EXERGY ANALYSIS AND THERMOECONOMICS IN CHEMICAL, THERMAL AND COOLING ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS

Since 70s, the world has been becoming more and more concerned about energy and environmental issues. The need of meeting the current energy demand by guaranteeing the ability of future generation to satisfy theirs have been pushing research not only to exploit alternative energy sources such as renewable energies, but also to improve the efficiency of energy conversion systems. To this regard, developing systems that use efficiently energy is of paramount importance especially in those countries which rely on non-renewable energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal. In fact, the reduction of energy consumption will lead not only to the saving of unrestorable and limited energy resou…

Advanced energetics of a Multiple-Effects-Evaporation (MEE) desalination plant. Part II: Potential of the cost formation process and prospects for en…

2010

This paper represents the 2nd part of a paper in two parts. In part I a 2nd Principle analysis of a Multiple- Effects-Evaporation (MEE) process has been proposed. In this Part II perspectives for process improvement will be investigated, along two distinct research lines: the thermoeconomics-aided optimization of a new system and the increase of thermal efficiency for existing systems by a pinch-based plant retrofit. As concerns the first research line, a detailed productive structure for the plant stage (i.e. effect) examined in Part I is presented; the cost formation structure is then used to improve a simplified optimization process, revealing capable to properly reflect the interactions…

Optimal design of cogeneration plants for seawater desalination

2004

Multi-stage flash (MSF) and reverse osmosis (RO) are the most common techniques for seawater desalination. A significant difference between these methodologies consists of their different energy requirements, i.e., thermal energy for MSF and mechanical energy for RO plants. The presence of both desalination systems (MSF and RO) appears to be suitable for cogeneration plants. The reject heat from the power cycle can feed an MSF section, while some power feeds the RO section and the MSF auxiliary equipment; the rest is sold to the grid. A criterion for the optimal design of such tri-functional cogeneration plants is proposed, based on exergo-economics and on profit maximization. In particular…

Criteri e metodi per l'ottimizzazione di sistemi di poligenerazione di piccola e media taglia - Criteria and methodologies for the optimization of sm…

2011

L'Unione Europea ha individuato nella produzione combinata di energia elettrica e calore una delle tecnologie ad alta efficienza di maggior interesse, fissando per il 2010 il target del 18% della produzione elettrica totale dell'Unione da sistemi cogenerativi (COM/97/0514). Dati recenti rivelano la non attualità di tale target (al 2005 si è raggiunto il 12% di penetrazione); rimane tuttavia evidente la volontà, esistente sia a livello comunitario che in molti Stati Membri, di perseguire la via della promozione della poligenerazione. Le ragioni di questo interesse sono evidenti: l'elevata efficienza di conversione garantita dal recupero dei cascami termici di un ciclo diretto consente, a par…

Assessing the Robustness of Thermoeconomic Diagnosis of Fouled Evaporators: Sensitivity Analysis of the Exergetic Performance of Direct Expansion Coi…

2016

Thermoeconomic diagnosis of refrigeration systems is a pioneering approach to the diagnosis of malfunctions, which has been recently proven to achieve good performances for the detection of specific faults. Being an exergy-based diagnostic technique, its performance is influenced by the trends of exergy functions in the “design” and “abnormal” conditions. In this paper the sensitivity of performance of thermoeconomic diagnosis in detecting a fouled direct expansion coil and quantifying the additional consumption it induces is investigated; this fault is critical due to the simultaneous air cooling and dehumidification occurring in the coil, that induce variations in both the chemical and th…

Scope-Oriented Thermoeconomic analysis of energy systems. Part I: Looking for a non-postulated cost accounting for the dissipative devices of a vapou…

2010

Abstract The authors of the main thermoeconomic methodologies developed in the last two decades have recently focused their efforts on the analysis of dissipative devices, i.e. those components whose productive purpose is neither intuitive nor easy to define. Coherent and unanimously accepted cost structures have been identified for dissipative components, while ambiguities still exist as concerns the cost allocation principles to be adopted. Being this aspect evidently cost-influencing, accurate analyses focused on the subjectivity of results are needed. This paper is structured in two parts. In the Part I an in-depth study of some critical issues arising from the thermoeconomic analysis o…

A novel thermoeconomic analysis under dynamic operating conditions for space heating and cooling systems

2019

Abstract Thermoeconomic analysis allows for a deep understanding of the cost formation process within an energy system, providing insights into the possible routes for improvement. Several thermoeconomic approaches are well-established for application in systems with steady operating conditions, such as power plants, while a limited number of applications to air-conditioning systems in buildings have been proposed, due to the difficulties in dealing with very irregular load profiles and unsteady plant operating conditions. This study investigates the potential of Thermoeconomics as a support for decision making in building energy systems, proving its capability to identify trade-offs betwee…

Optimal design of CHCP plants in the civil sector by Thermoeconomics

2007

The optimization of design and operation of trigeneration plants for civil applications is a very complex task, because of the large number of internal and external variables affecting the energetic and economic results that may be achieved. Further, energy-saving and profit-oriented optimization processes usually lead to different solutions, in terms of plant lay-out, optimal size of components and operation strategy. Thermoeconomic methodologies are very effective theoretical structures for the optimization of industrial energy-systems characterised by regular energy-demand profiles; however, they are hard to use when approaching civil applications and energy systems in unsteady operating…