Exergy analysis of a heat transformer for water purification increasing heat source temperature

In the present study, the first and second laws of thermodynamic have been used to analyse in detail the performance of a heat transformer used for water purification. The heat delivered in the auxiliary condenser is recycled into the system increasing the heat source temperatures and therefore the coefficient of performance (COP) and the exergy coefficient of performance (ECOP). Plots of COP, ECOP, the improvement potential (IP) and the cycle irreversibility (ICYCLE) are shown against the main operating temperatures of the system, the gross temperature lift (GTL), the flow ratio (FR) and the effectiveness of the economiser (EFEC). In order to found the components of the system with the highest irreversibilities, plots of the irreversibilities for each one of the main components of the system are reported against the main temperatures and operating parameters of the heat transformer. The results showed that the highest irreversibilities occurred in the absorber contributing with more than the 30% of the irreversibilities of the entire system, followed by the auxiliary condenser with about the 25%. The lowest irreversibilities were found in the pumps which are almost negligible and in the economiser which were in general lower than 5%.