Minimum entropy generation paths for generalized radiative heat transfer processes with heat leakage

Abstract

Heat transfer processes (HTPes) with generalized radiative heat transfer law (HTL) [q∝Δ(Tn)] and heat leakage (HL) are optimized. With net amount of heat transferred (NAHT) of working fluid at low-temperature side and given process period, optimal path, that is, optimal temperature configuration of reservoir (TCR), for entropy generation minimization (EGM) of HTP is derived. Universal result for optimal path is provided, and results for four special HTLs, that is, Newtonian, radiative, linear phenomenological, and mixed HTLs, are further provided. Optimal path with EGM is compared with traditional ones of constant heat flux rate (CHFR) and constant reservoir temperature (CRT). Effects of HL and NAHT on optimal results are analyzed. Results show that ratio of heat flux rates between reservoir and working fluid to (n1+1)/2 power of reservoir temperature for EGM of HTPes without HL is a constant, but the optimal relationship between temperatures of working fluid and reservoir with HL is significant different. The differences among TCRs with different heat transfer paths increase with increases of HL and NAHT. The path of CHFR is very close to that of EGM, and the two paths are superior to that of CRT.