FINITE-TIME ANALYSIS OF A GEOTHERMAL HEAT ENGINE DRIVEN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM

A geothermally powered, low temperature Rankine cycle used to operate a conventional mechanical compression air conditioning cycle is analys ed using a finite-time thermodynamic approach to determine the optimum performance of such a system. The system is considered to be endoreve rsible. That is, the only irreversibilities are those associated with the heat transfers between the system and the surrounding thermal rese rvoirs. This approach provides a more conservative prediction of the p erformance than does the Carnot theoretical heat engine and air condit ioning unit. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd