A class of internally irreversible refrigeration cycles

Abstract

A Carnot-like irreversible refrigeration cycle is modelled with two isothermal and two non-adiabatic, irreversible processes. The generic source of internal irreversibility, measured by the Clausius inequality, is a general irreversibility term which could include any heat leaks into the Joule - Thompson expansion valve, the evaporator and compressor cold boxes. This cycle is optimized first for maximum refrigeration power and maximum refrigeration load, then for maximum coefficient of performance. Its performances are compared with those of the endoreversible refrigeration cycle, based on a propane stage of a classical cascade liquefaction cycle example. Both cycle models achieve optimum power and maximum refrigeration load at nearly the same refrigeration temperature, but only the coefficient of performance of the irreversible refrigeration cycle reaches a maximum. Moreover, its prediction of heat conductance allocation between evaporator and condenser appears to be not only more conservative, but also more realistic for actual design considerations of refrigeration cycles.