Exergoeconomic optimal performance of an irreversible closed Brayton cycle combined cooling, heating and power plant

A combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) plant model composed of an irreversible closed Brayton cycle and an endoreversible four-heat-reservoir absorption refrigeration cycle is established by using finite time thermodynamics. The irreversibilities considered in the CCHP plant include heat-resistance losses in the hot-, cold-, thermal consumer-, generator-, absorber-, condenser- and evaporator-side heat exchangers as well as non-isentropic losses in the compression and expansion processes. Equations of exergy efficiency and profit rate of the CCHP plant are derived. Based on the finite time exergoeconomic analysis method, profit rate optimization is carried out by searching the optimal compressor pressure ratio and the optimal heat conductance distributions of the seven heat exchangers for a fixed total heat exchanger inventory and with the help of Powell arithmetic. The effects of some design parameters, including compressor and gas turbine efficiencies, ratio of heat demanded by the thermal consumer to power output, heat reservoir temperature ratios and price ratios on the optimal heat conductance distributions, optimal compressor pressure ratio, maximum profit rate and finite time exergoeconomic performance bound of the CCHP plant are discussed by numerical examples. The results obtained may provide some theoretical guidelines for the designs and operations of the practical CCHP plants.