Finite Time Analysis of a Tri-Generation Cycle

Brian Agnew, Sara Walker, Bobo Ng and Ivan C. K. Tam
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Brian Agnew: School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Sara Walker: School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Bobo Ng: Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
Ivan C. K. Tam: School of Marine Sciences and Technology, Newcastle University International Singapore (NUIS), Singapore 599493

Energies, 2015, vol. 8, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: A review of the literature indicates that current tri-generation cycles show low thermal performance, even when optimised for maximum useful output. This paper presents a Finite Time analysis of a tri-generation cycle that is based upon coupled power and refrigeration Carnot cycles. The analysis applies equally well to Stirling cycles or any cycle that exhibits isothermal heat transfer with the environment and is internally reversible. It is shown that it is possible to obtain a significantly higher energy utilisation factor with this type of cycle by considering the energy transferred during the isothermal compression and expansion processes as useful products thus making the energy utilisation larger than the enthalpy drop of the working fluid of the power cycle. The cycle is shown to have the highest energy utilisation factor when energy is supplied from a low temperature heat source and in this case the output is biased towards heating and cooling.

Keywords: tri-generation; finite time; combined cooling heat and power cycles (CCHPC); Carnot cycle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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