Effects of internal irreversibility and heat leakage on the finite time thermoeconomic performance of refrigerators and heat pumps

By using finite time thermodynamic theory, a performance analysis based on the thermoeconomic criterion has been performed for an irreversible refrige rator and a heat pump. The thermoeconomic objective function is defined as the cooling load for the refrigerator and the heating load for the heat pum p per unit total cost. The optimal performances and design parameters which maximize the objective functions are investigated. The design parameters u nder the optimal conditions have been derived analytically, and then, the e ffects of internal irreversibility, heat leakage and the economical paramet er on the global and optimal performances have been discussed. (C) 1999 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.