ABSTRACT
Cogeneration and trigeneration systems have been broadly employed as part of the strategies oriented toward rational energy use. The assessment of these systems must include simultaneous considerations of costs, irreversibility, energy losses, and their causes. This work presents a step-by-step thermoeconomic analysis of a microcogeneration unit, composed of an internal combustion engine and an NH3-water single-effect absorption refrigeration chiller. The research employed the Theory of Exergetic Cost method to determine monetary and energy costs and the exergy efficiency of equipment. It is therefore, possible to identify which pieces of equipment present the highest impact and focus on these to improve the overall performance of the energy system. Although not part of the Theory of Exergetic cost, exergoeconomic parameters can be calculated to expand the assessment further. The highest specific exergy cost is associated with the endothermic reaction inside the absorber (282 $/GJ), while the lowest specific exergy cost is due to electricity consumed by the pump of the refrigeration system (2.16 $/GJ). The highest exergy efficiency was identified at the condenser (almost 90%, while values under 40% were obtained for the engine, pump, and absorber. The combined analysis of exergoeconomic results indicates that the lowest performances are related to the generator, the absorber, the evaporator, and the regenerator.
KEYWORDS
PAPER SUBMITTED: 2022-08-06
PAPER REVISED: 2022-10-22
PAPER ACCEPTED: 2022-12-05
PUBLISHED ONLINE: 2023-02-11
THERMAL SCIENCE YEAR
2023, VOLUME
27, ISSUE
Issue 5, PAGES [3579 - 3589]
- Melo, F. M., et al.. Optimization and Sensitivity Analyses of a Combined Cooling, Heat and Power System for a Residential Building, Thermal Science, 25 (2021), 5B, pp. 3969-3986
- Yucer, C. T., Hepbasli, A., Improving the Performance of a Heating System through Energy Management by Using Exergy Parameters, Thermal Science, 24 (2020), 6A, pp.3771-3780
- Lozano, M. A., Valero, A, Theory of the Exergetic Cost, Energy, 18 (1993), 9, pp. 939-960
- Valero, A., et al., On-Line Monitoring of Power-Plant Performance Using Exergetic Cost Techniques, Applied Thermal Engineering, 16 (1996), 12, pp. 933-948
- Ochoa, A. A., et al., Techno-Economic and Exergoeconomic Analysis of a Microcogeneration System for a Residential Use, Acta Sci Technol, 38 (2016), 3, pp. 327-338
- Uysal, C., A New Approach to Advanced Exergoeconomic Analysis: The Unit Cost of Entropy Generation, Environ Prog Sustain Energy, 39 (2020), 1, pp. 1-15
- Yilmaz, C., Thermoeconomic Cost Analysis and Comparison of Methodologies for Dora II Binary Geothermal Power Plant, Geothermics, 75 (2018), Sept., pp. 48-57
- Haydargil, D., Abusoglu A., A Comparative Thermoeconomic Cost Accounting Analysis and Evaluation of Biogas Engine-powered Cogeneration, Energy, 159 (2018), Sept., pp. 97-114
- Yu, M., et al., Advanced Exergy and Exergoeconomic Analysis of Cascade Absorption Refrigeration System Driven by Low-Grade Waste Heat, A C S Sustainable Chem. Eng., 7 (2019), 19, pp. 16843-16857
- Yildiz, A., Thermoeconomic Analysis of Diffusion Absorption Refrigeration Systems, Applied Thermal Engineering, 99 (2016), Apr., pp. 23-31
- Misra, R. D., et al., Application of the Exergetic Cost Theory to the LiBr/H2O Vapour Absorption System, Energy, 27 (2002), 11, pp.1009-1025
- Rangel-Hernandez, V. H., et al., The Exergy Costs of Electrical Power, Cooling, and Waste Heat from a Hybrid System Based on a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and an Absorption Refrigeration System, Energies, 12 (2019), 18, 3476
- Yang, K., et al., Thermoeconomic Analysis of an Integrated Combined Cooling Heating and Power System with Biomass Gasification, Energy Convers and Manag, 171 (2018), Sept., pp. 671-682
- Valero, A., et al., Theory of Exergy Cost and Thermo-Ecological Cost, Thermodyn Sustain Manag Nat Resour, 01 (2017), May, pp. 167-202
- Torres, C., Valero, A., The Exergy Cost Theory Revisited, Energies, 14 (2021), 6, 1594
- Lazzaretto, A., Tsatsaronis, G., The SPECO: A Systematic and General Methodology for Calculating Efficiencies and Costs in Thermal Systems, Energy, 31(2006), 8-9, pp. 1257-1289
- Cavalcanti, E. J. C., Motta, H. P., Exergoeconomic Analysis of a Solar-Powered/Fuel Assisted Rankine Cycle for Power Generation, Energy, 88 (2015), Aug., pp. 555-562
- Cavalcanti, E. J. C., et al., Exergoeconomic and Exergoenvironmental Comparison of Diesel-Biodiesel Blends in a Direct Injection Engine at Variable Loads, Energy Convers Manag, 183 (2019), Mar., pp. 450-461
- Santos, R. G., et al., Thermoeconomic Modelling for CO2 Allocation in Steam and Gas Turbine Cogeneration Systems, Energy, 117 (2016), Part 2, pp. 590-603
- Aghbashlo, M., Rosen, M. A., Exergoecono Environmental Analysis as a New Concept for Developing Thermodynamically, Economically, and Environmentally Sound Energy Conversion Systems, Journal of Cleaner Production, 187 (2018), June, pp. 190-204
- Trindade, A. B., et al., Comparative Analysis of Different Cost Allocation Methodologies in LCA for Cogeneration Systems, Energy Convers Manag, 241 (2021), 114230
- Marques, A. S., et al., Exergoeconomic Assessment of a Compact Electricity-Cooling Cogeneration Unit, Energies, 13 (2020), 20, pp. 1-18
- ***, Ford Motor Company. Available at: www.ford.com.br/content/dam/Ford/website-assets/latam/br/servico-ao-cliente/manuais/2010/manuais-do-proprietario/Focus_2010.pdf (in Portuguese), 2022,
- ***, RoburCorp. Available at: www.robur.com, 2022
- Herold, K. E., et al., Absorption Chillers and Heat Pumps, CRC Press, Boca raton, Fla., USA, 2016
- Tsatsaronis, G., Definitions and Nomenclature in Exergy Analysis and Exergoeconomics, Energy, 32 (2007), 4, pp. 249-253
- Bejan A., et al.,. Thermal Design and Optimization, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., Hoboken, N. J., USA,1996
- Lazzaretto, A., Tsatsaronis G., Comparison Between SPECO and Functional Exergoeconomic Approaches, Proceedings, ASME Int. Mech. Eng. Congr. Expo. IMECE/AES-23656, New York, USA, 2001, pp. 463-478
