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Thermoeconomic optimization of a refrigeration plant
In this paper, thermoeconomic theory is applied to the economic optimization of a conventional refrigeration plant, aimed at minimizing its overall operation and amortization cost. Thermal systems cannot always be optimized by means of mathematical or numerical techniques, because a complete model o...
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Published in: | International journal of refrigeration 1998, Vol.21 (1), p.42-54 |
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Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | In this paper, thermoeconomic theory is applied to the economic optimization of a conventional refrigeration plant, aimed at minimizing its overall operation and amortization cost.
Thermal systems cannot always be optimized by means of mathematical or numerical techniques, because a complete model of the plant is not always available, and, in any case, mathematical difficulties are often great, even for not particularly complex systems, and the help of computerized algorithms is needed.
In this paper, a simplified cost minimization methodology is applied, based on the so-called Theory of Exergetic Cost, here utilized to evaluate the economic costs of all the internal flows and products of the installation. As shown in the paper, once these costs have been calculated, a design configuration not far from the real global optimum can be obtained by means of a sequential, local optimization of the system, carried out unit by unit, that is, breaking down the global problem into a sequence of simpler problems.
In the paper, the case of a very simple plant is considered to develop a numerical example, and, in spite of the approximations introduced to simplify the optimization procedure, the results obtained show acceptable accuracy when compared with those provided by a conventional and more complex optimization methodology.
Dans cette communication, la théorie thermo-économique est appliquée à l'optimisation économique d'une installation frigorifique classique, dans le but de réduire ses coûts globaux de fonctionnement et d'amortissement. Il n'est pas toujours possible d'optimiser les installations thermiques par des techniques mathématiques ou numériques, car on ne dispose pas forcément d'un modèle complet de l'installation; d'ailleurs, les difficultés mathématiques sont considerables, même pour les systémes sans complexité particuliére, ce qui nécessite le recours à des algorithmes informatiques. Dans ce travail, on applique une méthodologie simplifiée de réduction des coûts, fondée sur la theorie dite “de coats exergitiques”, employée en l'occurrence pour évaluer les couts économiques de tous les flux internes et effets de l'installation. On montre qui, une fois des coûts calculés, on peut obtenir une configuration proche de l'optimum, grâce à une optimisation du systéme, composant par composant; on divise ainsi le problème global et une serie de problèmes plus simples. On a pris comme exemple le cas d'une installation très simple, afin d'élaborer une méthode |
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ISSN: | 0140-7007 1879-2081 |
DOI: | 10.1016/S0140-7007(97)00071-6 |