Exergo-economic analysis of a solar driven hybrid storage absorption refrigeration cycle

Abstract

This paper presents the exergo-economic analysis of a 5kW refrigeration cycle with hybrid storage system. The novel hybrid storage comprises a cold (ice) storage tank, an ammonia storage tank, a weak solution tank and a strong solution tank to suffice the nighttime cooling load. The exergo-economic analysis is performed to compare the components of the refrigeration cycle based on the costs of initial capital investment and the costs of irreversibilities. The components of the refrigeration cycle are evaluated and compared using exergo-economic variables such as the relative cost difference, exergy destruction cost rate and exergo-economic factor. The effect of generator temperature, condenser temperature and evaporator temperature on the exergetic efficiency of the system is also studied. The paper also presents a quasi-steady exergy and exergo-economic analysis for a representative summer day of Dhahran region. This study can be further used in the optimization of design variables of the studied refrigeration cycle.