Optimization on the performance characteristics of a three-source chemical pump affected by multi-irreversibilities

A three-source irreversible chemical pump model is established, in which three key irreversibilities usually existing in a real chemical pump system are taken into account. By using the new cyclic model, the influences of finite-rate mass transfer, mass leak, and internal dissipation of a cyclic working substance on the optimal performance of the chemical pump are revealed. The expression for optimal relation between the coefficient of performance and the rate of energy pumping is derived. Based on the optimal relationship, some new important performance bounds of the chemical pump, e.g., the maximum coefficient of performance and the corresponding rate of energy pumping, the maximum rate of energy pumping and the corresponding coefficient of performance, and so on, are obtained and the optimal operating region of the chemical pump is determined. Moreover, the optimal chemical potentials of the cyclic working substance and the optimal mass-exchange times in the three mass-exchange processes are further discussed. The results obtained in the present paper can provide some new theoretical guidance for the optimal design and development of a class of chemical pumps.