THEORETICAL-ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF A REGENERATIVE CLOSED BRAYTON CYCLE WITH INTERNAL IRREVERSIBILITIES

Using the technique of finite-time thermodynamic analysis, the perform ance of a closed Brayton cycle with regeneration is assessed. Specific ally, analytical expressions for the power output and the thermal effi ciency, as functions of the pressure ratio and the reservoir temperatu res, are derived. The analysis also takes into account all the irrever sibilities associated with finite-time heat transfer processes. The pa per also shows that the power output can be maximized with judicious s election of parameters such as the heat exchanger surface areas and th e heat conductances. Maximum power is obtained when the effectivenesse s of the hot- and cold-side heat exchangers are related in a specific manner, and this power output is a strong function of the regenerator effectiveness. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.