06-Oct-15

Chapter 8 - Exergy

Lecture 10

Why do we study exergy?

Why it is important?
An effective method using the conservation of
mass and conservation of energy principles
together
with
the
second
law
of
thermodynamics for the design and analysis of
energy systems.
An efficient technique revealing whether or not
and by how much it is possible to design more
efficient energy systems. [1]
[1] Energy, Entropy and Exergy Concepts and Their Roles in Thermal
Engineering
Ibrahim Dincer and Yunus A. Cengel

Exergy
Closed
system

When this quantity is

maximum?

Heat & Work interaction between

the system and the environment

Environment at

&

A system delivers the maximum possible

work as it undergoes a reversible process
from the specified initial state to the state
of its environment, that is, the dead state.

the combined work of the

system and the environment

Dead State: If the system is in

thermal equilibrium
environment

with

the

Useful work potential

Exergy
2

06-Oct-15

Carnot Cycle

Definition:
system
Immediate
Surroundings

Surroundings

Note:
The exergy of a system at a specified state
depends on the conditions of the environment
(the dead state) as well as the properties of the
system. Therefore, exergy is a property of the
systemenvironment combination and not of the
system alone.

06-Oct-15

One more time!!

Exergy:

maximum possible useful work during a process that brings the system into
equilibrium with its surrounding.
Exergy Associated with Kinetic and Potential Energy
Exergy of kinetic energy:

Exergy of potential energy:

The exergies of kinetic

and potential energies
are equal to themselves,
and they are entirely
available for work.
5

Example 1:

A wind turbine with a 12-m-diameter rotor, is to be installed at a location where the wind
is blowing steadily at an average velocity of 10 m/s. Determine the maximum power that
can be generated by the wind turbine.
=
=
=

2
2

[ ]
[

06-Oct-15

Example 1:

A wind turbine with a 12-m-diameter rotor, is to be installed at a location where the wind
is blowing steadily at an average velocity of 10 m/s. Determine the maximum power that
can be generated by the wind turbine.

Example 2:

Pump some water from a large body of water (such as a lake) to a water reservoir at a higher elevation at times
of low demand and to generate electricity at times of high demand by letting this water run down and rotate a
turbine (i.e., convert the electric energy to potential energy and then back to electric energy). For an energy
storage capacity of 5x106 kWh, determine the minimum amount of water that needs to be stored at an average
elevation (relative to the ground level) of 75 m.
Answer: 2.45x1010 kg

=
5 10

= 2.45 10

3600
=
1

9.81 75 J

1
1000