The performance characteristics of an irreversible regenerative intercooled Brayton cycle at maximum thermoeconomic function

Abstract

SYNOPSIS The thermoeconomic objective function, which is defined as the power output per unit total cost, of an irreversible regenerative intercooled Brayton cycle, has been optimised with respect to cycle temperatures for a typical set of operating conditions. It is found that there are optimal values of the intercooling and cycle pressure ratios, power output and thermal efficiency at which the objective function attains its maximum for a typical set of operating conditions. Again, there are optimal values of the cycle and intercooling pressure ratios at which the cycle attains the maximum power output and thermal efficiency and the optimal values of both the pressure ratios are different for different parameters. The point of maximum objective function and the point of maximum power output exist but the power output at the maximum objective function is lower than that which can be attained. Similarly, the maximum power point and the maximum efficiency point exist but the power output at the maximum efficiency is lower than that which can be attained. Hence, the optimal operating region can be chosen, from the point of view of thermodynamics as well as from the point of view of economics, in order to obtain the best performance of the cycle for a typical set of operating parameters.