EXERGONOMIC OPTIMIZATION OF AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM

In this paper, exergonomic theory is applied to an air-conditioning sy stem for optimization purposes. The investigation is addressed to an a ll-air system with air recirculation. The thermodynamic cycle includes a mixing plenum, a cooling and heating coil, chiller, and heater. The thermodynamic model is stated according to recent formulations of exe rgy for moist air streams, while the economic model is based on cost b alance equations and real cost data for mechanical equipment. The obje ctive function to minimize includes the following decision variables: fresh to total air rate, coefficient of performance for the chiller, i nlet temperature of water for the cooling and the heating coils, tempe rature difference of the same streams. For the exergonomic optimizatio n, the authors followed the approach proposed by Tsatsaronis (1984). T he optimum configuration is obtained through an iterative procedure ai med at the design improvement. The results show that there is consider able room for improvement with respect to a system based on typical de sign parameters.