EXERGOECONOMIC OPTIMIZATION OF AN IRREVERSIBLE AIR REFRIGERATOR WITH CONSTANT-TEMPERATURE HEAT RESERVOIRS

Based on the Finite-time thermodynamic theory and method，the exergoeconomic optimization is carried out on an irreversible air refrigerator coupled with constant-temperature heat reservoirs and the analytical expression of the profit rate is derived.The effects of pressure ratio，heat source temperature ratio，and compressor as well as expander efficiencies on the profit rate are analyzed based on numerical examples.The pressure ratio and distribution of heat conductance between two heat exchangers are also optimized.By selecting particular price ratios，the optimization of profit rate can be converted to the optimizations of cooling load，entropy generation rate and ecological function objectives.The results obtained herein may provide some guidelines for the design of air refrigerating machines.