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Entropy
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Thermoeconomics for Energy Efficiency
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Thermoeconomics for Energy Efficiency

A special issue of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2016) | Viewed by 42570

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Vittorio Verda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
Interests: thermoeconomics; system optimization; heat storage; district heating systems; computational fluid dynamics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

An engineering approach to energy efficiency involves rationalization of demand, resources, and conversion processes. The analysis should consider the technical aspects typically addressed using thermodynamics, as well as environmental and economic evaluations or constraints. Various methodologies have been developed in the last few decades to properly address the design and analysis of energy systems.

Thermoeconomics combines exergy and cost analysis, with the intent of providing engineers with information about cost formation, taking into account the contributions due to the thermodynamics of conversion processes and to investment and operational costs. Pioneering works have mainly aimed at performing cost accounting of multi-product systems (e.g., cogeneration plants). Thermoeconomics has significantly evolved. Multiple approaches have been proposed, often with different purposes, such as the optimal design/design improvement of systems, operational diagnoses, the assessment of the environmental impacts of energy conversion plants, and the evaluation of natural resources. Applications that have been presented in the literature cover a large variety of systems and plants.

This Special Issue aims at collecting original papers focused on thermoeconomic analysis, with the goal of providing the reader with an overview of the current research conducted in this field and possible applications.

Prof. Dr. Vittorio Verda
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • thermoeconomic analysis
  • energy efficiency
  • exergy
  • system design
  • costing
  • diagnosis

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

1862 KiB  
Article
Formulation of Exergy Cost Analysis to Graph-Based Thermal Network Models
by Stefano Coss, Elisa Guelpa, Etienne Letournel, Olivier Le-Corre and Vittorio Verda
Entropy 2017, 19(3), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/e19030109 - 10 Mar 2017
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4736
Abstract
Information from exergy cost analysis can be effectively used in the design and management of modern district heating networks (DHNs) since it allows to properly account for the irreversibilities in energy conversion and distribution. Nevertheless, this requires the development of suitable graph-based approaches [...] Read more.
Information from exergy cost analysis can be effectively used in the design and management of modern district heating networks (DHNs) since it allows to properly account for the irreversibilities in energy conversion and distribution. Nevertheless, this requires the development of suitable graph-based approaches that are able to effectively consider the network topology and the variations of the physical properties of the heating fluid on a time-dependent basis. In this work, a formulation of exergetic costs suitable for large graph-based networks is proposed, which is consistent with the principles of exergetic costing. In particular, the approach is more compact in comparison to straightforward approaches of exergetic cost formulation available in the literature, especially when applied to fluid networks. Moreover, the proposed formulation is specifically considering transient operating conditions, which is a crucial feature and a necessity for the analysis of future DHNs. Results show that transient effects of the thermodynamic behavior are not negligible for exergy cost analysis, while this work offers a coherent approach to quantify them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermoeconomics for Energy Efficiency)
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832 KiB  
Article
Two Thermoeconomic Diagnosis Methods Applied to Representative Operating Data of a Commercial Transcritical Refrigeration Plant
by Torben Ommen, Oskar Sigthorsson and Brian Elmegaard
Entropy 2017, 19(2), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/e19020069 - 15 Feb 2017
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4498
Abstract
In order to investigate options for improving the maintenance protocol of commercial refrigeration plants, two thermoeconomic diagnosis methods were evaluated on a state-of-the-art refrigeration plant. A common relative indicator was proposed for the two methods in order to directly compare the quality of [...] Read more.
In order to investigate options for improving the maintenance protocol of commercial refrigeration plants, two thermoeconomic diagnosis methods were evaluated on a state-of-the-art refrigeration plant. A common relative indicator was proposed for the two methods in order to directly compare the quality of malfunction identification. Both methods were applicable to locate and categorise the malfunctions when using steady state data without measurement uncertainties. By introduction of measurement uncertainty, the categorisation of malfunctions became increasingly difficult, though depending on the magnitude of the uncertainties. Two different uncertainty scenarios were evaluated, as the use of repeated measurements yields a lower magnitude of uncertainty. The two methods show similar performance in the presented study for both of the considered measurement uncertainty scenarios. However, only in the low measurement uncertainty scenario, both methods are applicable to locate the causes of the malfunctions. For both the scenarios an outlier limit was found, which determines if it was possible to reject a high relative indicator based on measurement uncertainty. For high uncertainties, the threshold value of the relative indicator was 35, whereas for low uncertainties one of the methods resulted in a threshold at 8. Additionally, the contribution of different measuring instruments to the relative indicator in two central components was analysed. It shows that the contribution was component dependent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermoeconomics for Energy Efficiency)
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11845 KiB  
Article
Exergetic Analysis of a Novel Solar Cooling System for Combined Cycle Power Plants
by Francesco Calise, Luigi Libertini and Maria Vicidomini
Entropy 2016, 18(10), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/e18100356 - 29 Sep 2016
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5628
Abstract
This paper presents a detailed exergetic analysis of a novel high-temperature Solar Assisted Combined Cycle (SACC) power plant. The system includes a solar field consisting of innovative high-temperature flat plate evacuated solar thermal collectors, a double stage LiBr-H2O absorption chiller, pumps, [...] Read more.
This paper presents a detailed exergetic analysis of a novel high-temperature Solar Assisted Combined Cycle (SACC) power plant. The system includes a solar field consisting of innovative high-temperature flat plate evacuated solar thermal collectors, a double stage LiBr-H2O absorption chiller, pumps, heat exchangers, storage tanks, mixers, diverters, controllers and a simple single-pressure Combined Cycle (CC) power plant. Here, a high temperature solar cooling system is coupled with a conventional combined cycle, in order to pre-cool gas turbine inlet air in order to enhance system efficiency and electrical capacity. In this paper, the system is analyzed from an exergetic point of view, on the basis of an energy-economic model presented in a recent work, where the obtained main results show that SACC exhibits a higher electrical production and efficiency with respect to the conventional CC. The system performance is evaluated by a dynamic simulation, where detailed simulation models are implemented for all the components included in the system. In addition, for all the components and for the system as whole, energy and exergy balances are implemented in order to calculate the magnitude of the irreversibilities within the system. In fact, exergy analysis is used in order to assess: exergy destructions and exergetic efficiencies. Such parameters are used in order to evaluate the magnitude of the irreversibilities in the system and to identify the sources of such irreversibilities. Exergetic efficiencies and exergy destructions are dynamically calculated for the 1-year operation of the system. Similarly, exergetic results are also integrated on weekly and yearly bases in order to evaluate the corresponding irreversibilities. The results showed that the components of the Joule cycle (combustor, turbine and compressor) are the major sources of irreversibilities. System overall exergetic efficiency was around 48%. Average weekly solar collector exergetic efficiency ranged from 6.5% to 14.5%, significantly increasing during the summer season. Conversely, absorption chiller exergy efficiency varies from 7.7% to 20.2%, being higher during the winter season. Combustor exergy efficiency is stably close to 68%, whereas the exergy efficiencies of the remaining components are higher than 80%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermoeconomics for Energy Efficiency)
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1262 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Exergy Costs of a 332-MW Pulverized Coal-Fired Boiler
by Victor H. Rangel-Hernandez, Cesar Damian-Ascencio, Juan M. Belman-Flores and Alejandro Zaleta-Aguilar
Entropy 2016, 18(8), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/e18080300 - 15 Aug 2016
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6239
Abstract
In this paper, we analyze the exergy costs of a real large industrial boiler with the aim of improving efficiency. Specifically, the 350-MW front-fired, natural circulation, single reheat and balanced draft coal-fired boiler forms part of a 1050-MW conventional power plant located in [...] Read more.
In this paper, we analyze the exergy costs of a real large industrial boiler with the aim of improving efficiency. Specifically, the 350-MW front-fired, natural circulation, single reheat and balanced draft coal-fired boiler forms part of a 1050-MW conventional power plant located in Spain. We start with a diagram of the power plant, followed by a formulation of the exergy cost allocation problem to determine the exergy cost of the product of the boiler as a whole and the expenses of the individual components and energy streams. We also define a productive structure of the system. Furthermore, a proposal for including the exergy of radiation is provided in this study. Our results show that the unit exergy cost of the product of the boiler goes from 2.352 to 2.5, and that the maximum values are located in the ancillary electrical devices, such as induced-draft fans and coil heaters. Finally, radiation does not have an effect on the electricity cost, but affects at least 30% of the unit exergy cost of the boiler’s product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermoeconomics for Energy Efficiency)
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Graphical abstract

983 KiB  
Article
Thermoeconomic Coherence: A Methodology for the Analysis and Optimisation of Thermal Systems
by Antonio Rovira, José María Martínez-Val and Manuel Valdés
Entropy 2016, 18(7), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/e18070250 - 5 Jul 2016
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4953
Abstract
In the field of thermal systems, different approaches and methodologies have been proposed to merge thermodynamics and economics. They are usually referred as thermoeconomic methodologies and their objective is to find the optimum design of the thermal system given a specific objective function. [...] Read more.
In the field of thermal systems, different approaches and methodologies have been proposed to merge thermodynamics and economics. They are usually referred as thermoeconomic methodologies and their objective is to find the optimum design of the thermal system given a specific objective function. Some thermoeconomic analyses go beyond that objective and attempt to find whether every component of the system is correctly designed or to quantify the inefficiencies of the components in economic terms. This paper takes another step in that direction and presents a new methodology to measure the thermoeconomic coherence of thermal systems, as well as the contribution of each parameter of the system to that coherence. It is based on the equality of marginal costs in the optimum. The methodology establishes a criterion to design coherently the system. Additionally, it may be used to evaluate how much a specific design is far from the optimum, which components are undersized or oversized and to measure the strength of the restrictions of the system. Finally, it may be extended to the analysis of uncertainties of the design process, providing a coherent design and sizing of the components with high uncertainties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermoeconomics for Energy Efficiency)
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2692 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Robustness of Thermoeconomic Diagnosis of Fouled Evaporators: Sensitivity Analysis of the Exergetic Performance of Direct Expansion Coils
by Antonio Piacentino and Pietro Catrini
Entropy 2016, 18(3), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/e18030085 - 5 Mar 2016
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6082
Abstract
Thermoeconomic diagnosis of refrigeration systems is a pioneering approach to the diagnosis of malfunctions, which has been recently proven to achieve good performances for the detection of specific faults. Being an exergy-based diagnostic technique, its performance is influenced by the trends of exergy [...] Read more.
Thermoeconomic diagnosis of refrigeration systems is a pioneering approach to the diagnosis of malfunctions, which has been recently proven to achieve good performances for the detection of specific faults. Being an exergy-based diagnostic technique, its performance is influenced by the trends of exergy functions in the “design” and “abnormal” conditions. In this paper the sensitivity of performance of thermoeconomic diagnosis in detecting a fouled direct expansion coil and quantifying the additional consumption it induces is investigated; this fault is critical due to the simultaneous air cooling and dehumidification occurring in the coil, that induce variations in both the chemical and thermal fractions of air exergy. The examined parameters are the temperature and humidity of inlet air, the humidity of reference state and the sensible/latent heat ratio (varied by considering different coil depths). The exergy analysis reveals that due to the more intense dehumidification occurring in presence of fouling, the exergy efficiency of the evaporator coil eventually increases. Once the diagnostic technique is based only on the thermal fraction of air exergy, the results suggest that the performance of the technique increases when inlet air has a lower absolute humidity, as evident from the “optimal performance” regions identified on a psychrometric chart. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermoeconomics for Energy Efficiency)
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Graphical abstract

1790 KiB  
Article
Off-Design Modeling of Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plants: An Order Reduction by Means of Thermoeconomic Input–Output Analysis
by Sajjad Keshavarzian, Francesco Gardumi, Matteo V. Rocco and Emanuela Colombo
Entropy 2016, 18(3), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/e18030071 - 26 Feb 2016
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 9337
Abstract
In a European context characterized by growing need for operational flexibility across the electricity sector, the combined cycle power plants are increasingly subjected to cyclic operation. These new operation profiles cause an increase of production costs and decrease of revenues, which undermines the [...] Read more.
In a European context characterized by growing need for operational flexibility across the electricity sector, the combined cycle power plants are increasingly subjected to cyclic operation. These new operation profiles cause an increase of production costs and decrease of revenues, which undermines the competitiveness of the combined cycles. Power plant operators need tools to predict the effect of off-design operation and control mechanisms on the performance of the power plant. Traditional Thermodynamic or Thermoeconomic models may be unpractical for the operators, due to their complexity and the computational effort they require. This study proposes a Thermoeconomic Input–Output Analysis model for the on- and off-design performance prediction of energy systems, and applies it to La Casella Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) power plant, in Italy. It represents a stand-alone, reduced order model, where the cost structure of the plant products and the Thermoeconomic performance indicators are derived for on- and off-design conditions as functions of the load and of different control mechanisms, independently from the Thermodynamic model. The results of the application show that the Thermoeconomic Input–Output Analysis model is a suitable tool for power plant operators, able to derive the same information coming from traditional Thermoeconomic Analysis with reduced complexity and computational effort. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermoeconomics for Energy Efficiency)
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