Optimal heat conductance distribution and optimal intercooling pressure ratio for power optimisation of irreversible closed intercooled regenerated Brayton cycle

Abstract

In the present paper, power is optimised for an irreversible closed intercooled regenerated Brayton cycle coupled to constant temperature heat reservoirs in the viewpoint of finite time thermodynamics. The power optimisation is performed by searching the optimal heat conductance distributions among the four heat exchangers, namely the hot and cold side heat exchangers, the intercooler and the regenerator for fixed total heat exchanger inventory and by searching the optimal intercooling pressure ratio. When the optimisation is performed with respect to the total pressure ratio of the cycle, the maximum power is maximised twice and a double maximum power is obtained. During the analysis, the heat resistance losses in the four heat exchangers, the irreversible compression and expansion losses in the compressors and the turbine are taken into account.