ARTICLE IN PRESS

Energy 32 (2007) 249253

www.elsevier.com/locate/energy

Denitions and nomenclature in exergy analysis and exergoeconomics

George Tsatsaronis
Technische Universitat Berlin, Institute for Energy Engineering, Marchstr. 18, 10587 Berlin, Germany

Abstract
This paper presents the denitions of some terms used in exergy analysis and exergy costing, discusses options for the symbols to be
used for exergy and some exergoeconomic variables, and presents the nomenclature for the remaining terms.
r 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords: Total energy; Exergy; Physical; Chemical; Kinetic; Potential; Thermal; Mechanical; Reactive and nonreactive exergy; Symbols for exergy;
Exergoeconomics

1. Introduction
The number of publications dealing with exergy analysis
and exergoeconomics has been increasing continuously in
the past years. The symbols used in these publications and
in textbooks (see Table 1) cover a rather large spectrum of
the Latin and Greek alphabets. There is an urgent need for
some consensus on the symbols to be used in the future.
This will facilitate both the communication among practitioners and the further development of the disciplines of
exergy analysis and exergoeconomics. The symbols used in
Sections 2 and 3 are suggested for publications in journals
and conference proceedings. In Section 4, some alternatives
are presented for use in textbooks.





chemical exergy (due to the deviation of the chemical

composition of the system from that of the environment),
kinetic exergy (due to the system velocity measured
relative to the environment), and
potential exergy (due to the system height measured
relative to the environment).
The physical exergy consists of:




mechanical exergy (associated with the system pressure),

and
thermal exergy (associated with the system temperature).

2. Exergy
Exergy of a thermodynamic system is the maximum
theoretical useful work (shaft work or electrical work)
obtainable as the system is brought into complete thermodynamic equilibrium with the thermodynamic environment
while the system interacts with this environment only. The
total exergy of a system consists of:

physical exergy (due to the deviation of the temperature

and pressure of the system from those of the environment),

Tel.: +49 30 314 24776; fax: +49 30 314 21683.

E-mail address: tsatsaronis@iet.tu-berlin.de.

0360-5442/$ - see front matter r 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
doi:10.1016/j.energy.2006.07.002

For a given thermodynamic state at a temperature T and

pressure p, the thermal exergy should be calculated along
the isobaric line at p (from state [T, p] to state [T0, p]),
whereas the mechanical exergy should be calculated along
the isothermal line at T0 (from state [T0, p] to state [T0, p0]).
The chemical exergy of a system can be split into:




reactive exergy (associated in its calculation with

chemical reactions), and
nonreactive exergy (associated in its calculation with
nonreactive processes such as expansion, compression,
mixing and separation).

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G. Tsatsaronis / Energy 32 (2007) 249253

250

Nomenclature
c
C
e
E
Esys
E PH
sys
Ec
h
H
kc
p
s
S
T
u
U
v
V
~
v
z
Z

average cost per exergy unit

cost associated with an exergy stream
specic exergy
exergy
total exergy of a system
physical exergy of a system
exergetic cost
specic enthalpy
enthalpy
unit of exergetic cost
pressure
specic entropy
entropy
temperature
specic internal energy
internal energy
specic volume
volume
velocity relative to the environment
height relative to the environment
cost associated with equipment

Greek letters
e

Z
Zs
k
l

energetic (or thermal) efciency

isentropic efciency
inverse of the exergetic efciency
marginal cost (optional)

Subscripts
D
F
L
P
sys
0

exergy destruction
fuel exergy
exergy loss
product exergy
system
conditions of the thermodynamic environment

Superscripts
c
CH
KN
M
N
PH
PT
R
T

exergetic cost
chemical exergy
kinetic exergy or energy
mechanical exergy
nonreactive exergy
physical exergy
potential exergy or energy
reactive exergy
thermal exergy

exergetic efciency

An option for splitting the chemical exergy into reactive

and nonreactive exergy is presented in Ref. [1]. The
splitting of physical and chemical exergy into their
components might be useful for dening more accurate
exergetic efciencies and for improving the costing
approach.
The symbol for exergy has been the subject of a lot of
controversy in the past. The exergy symbol should be easy
to use and recognize. We should not use two letters for this
symbol (e.g., Ex) because (a) this is not common for
important variables in thermodynamics, and (b) there is a
potential for missinterpretations when this symbol is used
with superscripts and subscripts.
With exergy we mean the potential to generate work
regardless of the cases, systems, or exergy components
being actually considered. Therefore, it is logical to use
only one and the same symbol for all cases, systems and
exergy components, as well as for exergy destruction and
exergy loss. The fact that in energy analysis we use
traditionally different symbols for total energy, internal
energy and enthalpy should not lead us to use different
symbols for the physical exergy of a system and the
physical exergy of a material stream simply because the
equations used to calculate each of these physical exergies
are different. If we would follow this way, we should use
different symbols also for the exergy associated with both
heat transfer and work, and we would soon arrive at a

completely unacceptable situation regarding symbols for

exergy.
If we now agree that a one-letter symbol should be used
in all cases in conjunction with exergy, the question arises
what letter should this be. The easiest and more natural
approach for publications in journals and conference
proceedings would be to use the letter E for exergy, as it
has been used in Germany and some other countries from
the very moment the exergy concept was introduced.
It should be taken into account that the vast majority of
publications involving exergy refer usually to control
volumes at steady state. In these applications the relevant
energy terms are only enthalpy, heat and work. Therefore,
there is no danger of confusing total energy, which is also
denoted by E, with any form of exergy. In cases where both
exergy and total energy appear in the same publication,
a slightly different font can be employed for total
energy, unless energy is mainly used and exergy is
mentioned only in passing. In the last case, a slightly
different symbol (for example, the roman font) can be used
for exergy. This should not result in confusion because it is
always clear from the context whether exergy or total
energy is meant.
Thus, for publications in journals and conference
proceedings, where a simple approach is very important,
the following equations should be employed in exergy
analysis. Alternatives are presented in Section 4.

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G. Tsatsaronis / Energy 32 (2007) 249253

251

Table 1
Symbols for exergy and exergetic efciency used in textbooks [initially compiled by Noam Lior]
Specic exergy
(kJ/kg) or (J/
mol)

Exergy (J)

The specic
The exergy
exergy function function (J)
(J/kg)

Specic energy
(kJ/kg)

Energy (J)

Exergy
destruction

Exergetic
efciency

Textbook reference

Db

b
F, b

e
e

E
E

Irreversibility
I

Keenan
Hatsopoulos and
Keenan (1965)
Kotas (1985)
Moran
Moran and Shapiro
Bejan

e
ex for open
systems, x for
closed
e

c for open
systems,
j for closed
c for open
systems,
j for closed

E
Ex for open
systems, X for
closed
E

b for open
systems, a for
closed
e

B for open
systems, A for
closed
E

e
e

E
E

Ed
Wlost

c
e
e
ZII

ED

db
I, Xdestroyed

ZB, Zp
ZII

Bejan, Tsatsaronis,
and Moran
Szargut et al.
Cengel and Boles

B
X

c, ~

Z2nd

Anderson

e
z
ZII
Z2nd

Gyftopoulos and
Beretta
Bosnjakovic
Sussman
Sontag, Borgnakke,
van Wylen

c, O
E

~
c for open
systems,
j for closed
e

E_ (only for
streams)

Total exergy of a system:

E sys

E PH
sys

KN

PT

CH

KN
esys ePH
ePT eCH .
sys e

(1)
(1a)

Baehr

hrsg for heat-recovery steam generator, and sr for storage

vessel).
Total exergy of a material stream:
E E PH E KN E PT E CH ,

To distinguish the physical exergy and the total exergy of

a system from the same exergies associated with a stream of
matter, a subscript sys is used here for the exergies of the
system.
Physical exergy of a system:

e ePH eKN ePT eCH .

E PH
sys U  U 0 p0 V  V 0  T 0 S  S 0 ,

ePH h  h0  T 0 s  s0 .

ePH
sys u  u0 p0 v  v0  T 0 s  s0 .

(2)
(2a)

Mechanical and thermal exergy of a system:

T
M
E PH
sys E sys E sys ,

(3)
(3a)

Reactive and nonreactive exergy:

E CH E R E N ,
eCH eR eN .

(6)
(6a)

Mechanical and thermal exergy of a material stream:

E PH E T E M ,

(7)

ePH eT eM .

(7a)
PT

The terms E and E

are calculated by

(4)

In applications of the exergy concept, the subscript sys

will be replaced by the abbreviation used for the
component being considered (e.g., ac for air compressor,

(5a)

E PH H  H 0  T 0 S  S 0 ,

E KN

(4a)

(5)

Physical exergy of a material stream:

KN

T
M
ePH
sys esys esys .

law

eKN

1
m~
v2 ,
2

1 2
~
v
2

(e

KN

and e

PT

) in Eqs. (1) and (5)

(8)
(8a)

and
E PT mgz,

(9)

ARTICLE IN PRESS
252

ePT gz.

G. Tsatsaronis / Energy 32 (2007) 249253

(9a)

Here, ~
v is the system velocity measured relative to the
environment and z represents the system height also
measured relative to the environment.

Option

3. Other exergetic variables

3.1 The product exergy represents the desired result
(expressed in terms of exergy) generated by the system
being considered. The product exergy is denoted by EP.
3.2 The fuel exergy represents the resources (expressed in
terms of exergy) expended to provide the product
exergy. The fuel exergy is denoted by EF. The term
fuel exergy here is not limited to fossil fuels but
represents in general the exergetic resources used to
drive (to fuel) the process being considered.
3.3 The exergetic efciency is the ratio between product
exergy and fuel exergy and is denoted by e (Greek
epsilon). The inverse of the exergetic efciency is
denoted by the symbol k (Greek kappa). The terms
second-law efciency and rational efciency are not
precise and should be avoided when an exergetic
efciency is implied by them.
3.4 The energetic (or thermal) efciency, dened in a
similar way as the exergetic efciency but using only
energy terms, is denoted by Z (Greek eta).
3.5 The thermodynamic inefciencies of a system consist of
exergy destruction (ED) associated with the irreversibilities (entropy generation) within the system boundaries and of exergy losses (EL) associated with the
transfer of exergy (through material and energy
streams) to the surroundings. The uses of the term
irreversibility (instead of exergy destruction) and of the
symbol I should be avoided. The term irreversibility
does not imply that the exergy concept is used because
the exergy destruction can be calculated with the aid of
only entropy values.
4. Alternatives in the nomenclature
The suggestions made above refer to publications in
journals and conference proceedings when exergy is mainly
used and total energy is mentioned, if at all, in passing. For
such applications addressed mainly to exergy practitioners,
the letter E can be used for exergy without creating
confusion.
The situation might be different if we deal with students
who might be easily confused by differences in notations.
For textbooks an E should be used for total energy. This is
in accord with current use in most textbooks.
Then we have the following options for the exergy
symbol. The options presented in order of decreasing
simplicity and degree of preference.
Option 1: Use the letter E in a different font, for example
the roman font E (instead of an italic E).

Option

Option

Option

Experience with textbooks using this option (e.g.,

[2]) shows that this seldom results in confusion.
Texts and instructors simply need to point out the
different fonts being used.
2: Use a Greek epsilon (e, e). This option requires
that a letter different than e (for example, Greek
zeta z) is used for the exergetic efciency since now
e represents the specic exergy.
3: Use the letter X (x) which is the second one in
the word exergy. This letter is used, however, to
denote an unknown variable in mathematics.
4: Use a Greek epsilon (e, e) for the exergy
associated with material and energy streams and
a Greek psi (C, c) for the exergy associated with a
system, to avoid the use of subscript sys.
5: Use the two letters Ex (ex).

It is apparent that several more options exist for exergy

and also for the other variables associated with exergy
costing. Authors should consider that simplicity and ease
of use are two very important factors in selecting the
symbol for exergy.
5. Exergoeconomics: exergy costing
Exergoeconomics is the branch of engineering that
appropriately combines, at the level of system components,
thermodynamic evaluations based on an exergy analysis
with economic principles, in order to provide the designer
or operator of a system with information that is useful to
the design and operation of a cost-effective system, but not
obtainable by regular energy or exergy analysis and
economic analysis. Exergoeconomics rests on the notion
that exergy is the only rational basis for assigning
monetary costs to the interactions that a system experiences with its surroundings and to the sources of
thermodynamic inefciencies within it. We call this
approach exergy costing. When exergy costing is not
applied, authors should use a different term (e.g., thermoeconomics). Thermoeconomics, being a more general term
and characterizing any combination of a thermodynamic
analysis with an economic one, might also be used instead
of the term exergoeconomics (but not vice versa). The
following denitions and symbols are recommended in
publications dealing with exergoeconomics:
5.1 The cost associated with a material or energy stream
(that means with an exergy stream) in exergoeconomics
is denoted by the symbol C. The average unit cost
(usually a cost per unit of exergy) is denoted by c.
5.2 The cost associated with an equipment item is denoted
by Z.
5.3 The exergetic cost of a stream represents the fuel exergy
that needs to be supplied to the overall system to
generate the exergy associated with that stream. The
exergetic cost is denoted by Ec. The product and fuel

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G. Tsatsaronis / Energy 32 (2007) 249253

exergetic costs are denoted by EPc and EFc, respectively. The unit of exergetic cost is the ratio between
exergetic cost and corresponding exergy and is denoted
by the symbol kc.
5.4 When marginal costs are used, these must be explicitly
dened. A l (Greek lambda) may be used for this
purpose.

Acknowledgment
This project was initiated by Noam Lior. Input was also
provided by many exergy practitioners including the
following:
Cai Ruixian
Michel Feidt
Christos Frangopoulos
Richard Gaggioli
Ben Hua
Signe Kjelstrup
Andrea Lazzaretto

253

Giampaolo Manfrida
Alberto Mirandola
Michael Moran
Silvia Azucena Nebra
Gordon Reistadt
Ricardo Rivero
Enrico Sciubba
Jan Szargut
Antonio Valero
Michael von Spakovsky
Andrej Ziebik
It should be mentioned that not all of the above listed
practitioners agree with every single suggestion made here.

References
[1] Bejan A, Tsatsaronis G, Moran M. Thermal design and optimization.
New York: Wiley; 1996.
[2] Moran M, Shapiro. Fundamentals of engineering thermodynamics,
5th ed. New York: Wiley; 2004.