Entropy production minimization of a CRHP

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Abstract

Compression resorption heat pumps (CRHP) are a promising option to upgrade waste heat from industry. One way to optimize a CRHP is by minimizing the entropy production rate of the heat pump; that is to minimize the lost work of the system. In this paper a CRHP operating with an ammonia-water mixture is analysed based on an application case from the chemical industry. First, a global approach is used to analyse the entropy production rate of each of the components in the heat pump cycle. Based on the result from the global approach the component with the maximum energy dissipation in the heat pump is identified, in this case the resorber. The resorber is therefore further analysed with a detailed thermodynamic state model and entropy production is calculated using the theory of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Measures to reduce the non-uniformity of the entropy production are then proposed based on the theory of equipartition.