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Mechanical Engineering

Technological University Dublin

Rational efficiency

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Thermodynamic Analysis Of Closed Steady Or Cyclic Systems, Jim A. Mcgovern Sep 2015

Thermodynamic Analysis Of Closed Steady Or Cyclic Systems, Jim A. Mcgovern

Articles

Closed, steady or cyclic thermodynamic systems, which have temperature variations over their boundaries, can represent an extremely large range of plants, devices or natural objects, such as combined heating, cooling and power plants, computers and data centres, and planets. Energy transfer rates can occur across the boundary, which are characterized as heat or work. We focus on the finite time thermodynamics aspects, on energy-based performance parameters, on rational efficiency and on the environmental reference temperature. To do this, we examine the net work rate of a closed, steady or cyclic system bounded by thermal resistances linked to isothermal reservoirs in …


Rational Efficiency Of A Heat Exchanger, Jim Mcgovern, Brian P. Smyth Sep 2011

Rational Efficiency Of A Heat Exchanger, Jim Mcgovern, Brian P. Smyth

Articles

The authors propose a new and unique definition for the rational efficiency of a heat exchanger. This new rational efficiency is defined in terms of its sub-rational efficiencies: a heat transfer rational efficiency and a friction rational efficiency for each of the fluid systems comprising the heat exchanger. The heat transfer rational efficiency is based on the definition of a mean temperature for the heat source and a mean temperature for the heat sink and reflects the exergy supplied and the exergy received, due to heat transfer only. The friction rational efficiency for each fluid system of the heat exchanger …


Some Experiences, Thoughts, Ideas And Open Questions Relating To Applied Thermodynamics, Jim Mcgovern Apr 2011

Some Experiences, Thoughts, Ideas And Open Questions Relating To Applied Thermodynamics, Jim Mcgovern

Articles

In this paper I present some of my thoughts and experiences relating to 'applied thermodynamics' over my career so far. I explain my interest in thermodynamics, describe some topics I have worked on, point out some questions that appear still to be open and outline some ideas for work that could be done. I describe how I was inspired to pursue the area of applied thermodynamics, with reference to a glass, opposed-piston internal combustion engine. I put my heat pump research in the late 1970s briefly into today's context. Some of my research has been in relation to compressors, which …


Termes De Signes Positif Et Négatif En Analyses Exergétiques Des Flux De Chaleur, Jim Mcgovern, Pierre Le Goff Jan 1996

Termes De Signes Positif Et Négatif En Analyses Exergétiques Des Flux De Chaleur, Jim Mcgovern, Pierre Le Goff

Articles

In various technical plants there are heat transfer rates at temperatures above that of the environment and other simultaneous heat transfer rates at temperatures below the temperature of the environment. This is the case in cryogenic industrial processes where a cooling effect is produced from a heat source. This is also the case for all absorption refrigeration plants or absorption plants that provide refrigeration and heat pumping, notably for air-conditioning of buildings. In these cases exergetic analysis leads to equations in which some terms are positive and others are negative. This can pose problems in the definition of exergetic, or …


Chp And Energy Conservation, Jim Mcgovern Sep 1995

Chp And Energy Conservation, Jim Mcgovern

Articles

The principles of the use of 'combined heat and power' (CHP) for the achievement of fuel energy conservation, minimisation of environmental impact and economic advantage are explained. A distinction is made between the two types of outputs: heat and work. It is argued that an efficiency value that is defined as the sum of the heat and work outputs divided by the energy of the fuel used is not very meaningful. An alternative, rational, efficiency is explained. It is concluded that CHP is an option to be considered where both heating and power are required, but is not a general …


A Virtual-System Concept For Exergy Analysis Of Flow Network Plant; Part I: Principles, Jim Mcgovern, Francis O'Toole Jun 1992

A Virtual-System Concept For Exergy Analysis Of Flow Network Plant; Part I: Principles, Jim Mcgovern, Francis O'Toole

Conference Papers

A new type of virtual system, named a flow constraint system (FCS), is proposed to facilitate, clarify, and simplify exergy analyses of plant that involve material flow networks. The need for the virtual system is outlined and the concept is demonstrated by applying it to a CHP steam cycle. The FCS concept allows the physical constraints on the exergy interactions associated with flow streams to be taken into account fully. It also simplifies the treatment of bifurcations in material flows and considerably reduces the need for absolute exergy evaluations. The new concept follows from the work already published by the …


A Virtual-System Concept For Exergy Analysis Of Flow Network Plant; Part Ii: Exergetic And Exergonomic Analysis Illustration, Jim Mcgovern, Francis O'Toole Jun 1992

A Virtual-System Concept For Exergy Analysis Of Flow Network Plant; Part Ii: Exergetic And Exergonomic Analysis Illustration, Jim Mcgovern, Francis O'Toole

Conference Papers

This paper is a continuation of Part I — Principles, to which it refers extensively. The virtual system concept and the methodology introduced in Part I are illustrated by means of a numerical example. This is an exergetic and exergoeconomic analysis of the CHP steam plant that was described in Part I without operating values and parameters. Matrix methods developed by Valero et al. (1986) are adapted to the new concept. It is shown that these methods are made simpler and less subjective. Bond-graph-type diagrams for exergetic and economic costs are presented.