Thermoeconomic optimization of simple refrigerators

Thermoeconomic optimization of simple refrigerators is formulated and appli ed to a specific case. Condenser and evaporator areas and compressor effici ency are selected as the independent design variables of the system compone nts. Exergy analysis is carried out to find local and total irreversibiliti es. Costs assigned for exergy losses are combined with capital and recovery costs, and equations for thermoeconomic optimum of components are derived. Finally, as a case study, the equations are solved to determine the thermo economic optimum refrigeration system of a domestic refrigerator whose cool ing load and operation temperatures (inner and outer) are specified. Copyri ght (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.