Thermoeconomic performance optimization of an irreversible Brayton refrigeration cycle using Gd, Gd0.95Dy0.05 or Gd0.95Er0.05 as the working substance

Abstract

An irreversible regenerative Brayton refrigerator cycle is established, in which the nonperfect regenerator, regenerative time, heat leak, and irreversible adiabatic processes are taken into account. The mathematical expressions of the refrigeration rate, coefficient of performance, and thermoeconomic function of the refrigeration cycle are derived and the thermoeconomic function is optimized. Moreover, choosing Gd, Gd0.95Dy0.05 and Gd0.95Er0.05 as the working substances respectively, we discussed in detail the influences of the thermoeconomic and thermodynamic parameters on the optimal thermoeconomic and thermodynamic performances. The results show that the thermoeconomic performance of the refrigeration cycle using Gd or Gd0.95Dy0.05 as the working substance is better than that using Gd0.95Er0.05 and the thermoeconomic performance of the refrigeration cycle using Gd0.95Dy0.05 as the working substance is better than that using Gd in the situation with the lower adiabatic magnetization.