Unifying principles of irreversibility minimization for efficiency maximization in steady-flow chemically-reactive engines

Sankaran Ramakrishnan and Christopher F. Edwards

Energy, 2014, vol. 68, issue C, 844-853

Abstract: Systems research has led to the conception and development of various steady-flow, chemically-reactive, engine cycles for stationary power generation and propulsion. However, the question that remains unanswered is: What is the maximum-efficiency steady-flow chemically-reactive engine architecture permitted by physics? On the one hand the search for higher-efficiency cycles continues, often involving newer processes and devices (fuel cells, carbon separation, etc.); on the other hand the design parameters for existing cycles are continually optimized in response to improvements in device engineering. In this paper we establish that any variation in engine architecture—parametric change or process-sequence change—contributes to an efficiency increase via one of only two possible ways to minimize total irreversibility. These two principles help us unify our understanding from a large number of parametric analyses and cycle-optimization studies for any steady-flow chemically-reactive engine, and set a framework to systematically identify maximum-efficiency engine architectures.

Keywords: Irreversibility minimization; Maximum efficiency; Gas turbine engines; Exergy; Optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:68:y:2014:i:c:p:844-853

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.02.052

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