On intrinsic exergy efficiency and heat pumps

Exergy analysis provides an assessment of the degree of thermodynamic perfe ction of a process. Several exergy efficiency definitions have been propose d among which is the intrinsic efficiency which is based on the concept of transiting exergy. This method of analysis has been applied to absorption h eat pumps and the results are presented. It is shown that when the analysis is limited to heat fluxes, the intrinsic exergy efficiency becomes equival ent to a particular case of the well known thermodynamic efficiency based o n the second law analysis, which is simpler computationally and conceptuall y, and has a broader scope.