Analyses of the endoreversible Carnot cycle with entropy theory and entransy theory

The endoreversible Carnot cycle is analyzed based on the concepts of entropy generation, entropy generation number, entransy loss, and entransy loss coefficient. The relationships of the cycle output power and heat-work conversion efficiency with these parameters are discussed. For the numerical examples discussed, the preconditions of the application for these concepts are derived. When the inlet temperatures and heat capacity flow rates of hot streams and environment temperature are prescribed, the results show that the concepts of entropy generation and entransy loss are applicable. However, in the presence of various inlet temperatures of streams, larger entransy loss rate still leads to larger output power, while smaller entropy generation rate does not. When the heat capacity flow rates of hot streams are various, neither larger entransy loss rate nor smaller entropy generation rate always leads to larger output power. Larger entransy loss coefficient always leads to larger heat-work conversion efficiency for the cases discussed, while smaller entropy generation number does not always.

Entransy analyses of heat–work conversion systems with inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles

In this paper, we try to use the entransy theory to analyze the heat–work conversion systems with inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles. First, the inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles are analyzed. The influences of different inner irreversible factors on entransy loss are discussed. We find that the concept of entransy loss can be used to analyze the inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles. Then, we analyze the common heat–work conversion systems with inner irreversible thermodynamic cycles. As an example, the heat–work conversion system in which the working fluid of the thermodynamic cycles is heated and cooled by streams is analyzed. Our analyses show that larger entransy loss leads to larger output work when the total heat flow from the high temperature heat source and the corresponding equivalent temperature are fixed.Some numerical cases are presented, and the results verify the theoretical analyses. On the other hand, it is also found that larger entransy loss does not always lead to larger output work when the preconditions are not satisfied.

Output power analyses for the thermodynamic cycles of thermal power plants

Thermal power plant is one of the important thermodynamic devices, which is very common in all kinds of power generation systems. In this paper, we use a new concept, entransy loss, as well as exergy destruction, to analyze the single reheating Rankine cycle unit and the single stage steam extraction regenerative Rankine cycle unit in power plants. This is the first time that the concept of entransy loss is applied to the analysis of the power plant Rankine cycles with reheating and steam extraction regeneration. In order to obtain the maximum output power, the operating conditions under variant vapor mass flow rates are optimized numerically, as well as the combustion temperatures and the off-design flow rates of the flue gas. The relationship between the output power and the exergy destruction rate and that between the output power and the entransy loss rate are discussed. It is found that both the minimum exergy destruction rate and the maximum entransy loss rate lead to the maximum output power when the combustion temperature and heat capacity flow rate of the flue gas are prescribed. Unlike the minimum exergy destruction rate, the maximum entransy loss rate is related to the maximum output power when the highest temperature and heat capacity flow rate of the flue gas are not prescribed.