Accepted Manuscript

Title: Finite-time thermodynamics optimization of an irreversible parallel flow

double-effect absorption refrigerator

Author: Brigitte Astrid Medjo Nouadje, Paiguy Armand Ngouateu Wouagfack,

Réné Tchinda

PII: S0140-7007(16)00046-3
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/doi: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2016.02.014
Reference: JIJR 3269

To appear in: International Journal of Refrigeration

Received date: 3-9-2015

Revised date: 11-2-2016
Accepted date: 12-2-2016

Please cite this article as: Brigitte Astrid Medjo Nouadje, Paiguy Armand Ngouateu Wouagfack,
Réné Tchinda, Finite-time thermodynamics optimization of an irreversible parallel flow double-
effect absorption refrigerator, International Journal of Refrigeration (2016), http://dx.doi.org/doi:
10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2016.02.014.

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Finite-time thermodynamics optimization of an irreversible parallel

flow double-effect absorption refrigerator

MEDJO NOUADJE Brigitte Astrid1, 3(*)

, NGOUATEU WOUAGFACK Paiguy Armand3,4,

TCHINDA Réné1,2,3

1
LESEE, Department of physics, University of Yaounde I, PO Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
2
L2MSP, Department of physics, University of Dschang, PO Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon
3
LISIE, University Institute of Technology Fotso Victor, University of Dschang, PO Box 134, Bandjoun,

Cameroon
4
Department of Renewable Energy, Higher Technical Teachers’ Training College, University of Buea, PO Box

249, Buea Road, Kumba, Cameroon

(*) Corresponding author: MEDJO NOUADJE Brigitte Astrid

Tel.: +237 698 04 86 90 /673 97 57 75
Institut Supérieur des Sciences et Technologies, Université des Montagnes
BP: 208 Bangangté-Cameroon
E-mail address: medjobrigitte@yahoo.fr

Page 1 of 52
 Highlights

 Finite-time thermodynamics optimization of double-effect absorption refrigerator

 Analytical and numerical ooptimization based on COP.

 Numerical optimization based on the new thermo-ecological criterion.

 We determine analytically the optimum parameters at maximum COP.

 Working fluid temperatures, ECOP, specific cooling rate and entropy generation rate.

ABSTRACT

Finite-time thermodynamics optimization analysis based on the coefficient of performance

and the ecological coefficient of performance criteria has been carried out. This was done

analytically and numerically for a double-effect parallel flow absorption refrigerator with

losses of heat resistance, heat leakage and internal irreversibility. The maximum of the

coefficient of performance and the corresponding optimal conditions have been derived

analytically. The optimum performance parameters which maximize the coefficient of

performance objective function have been investigated. The effects of irreversibility

parameters on the general and optimal performances on the basis of COP and ECOP functions

have been discussed. The results obtained may provide the basis for designing real double-

effect parallel flow absorption refrigerators.

Keywords: Double-effect absorption refrigeration system, finite-time thermodynamic,

optimization, coefficient of performance, ecological coefficient of performance.

Page 2 of 52
Nomenclature

A: total heat-transfer area (m2)

COP: coefficient of performance

ECOP: ecological coefficient of performance

I: internal irreversibility parameter

K: thermal conductance (kW K-1)

: rate of heat transfer (kW)

R: specific cooling load (kW m-2)

S: specific entropy generation rate (kW K-1 m-2)

T: temperature (K)

U: overall heat-transfer coefficient (kW K-1 m-2)

a : distribution rate of the total heat reject quantity between the condenser and the absorber

b : ratio of the total heat between the HP generator and the LP generator

Symbol

: entropy generation rate (kW K -1)

: heat leakage coefficient (kW K-1 m-2)

Subscripts

1: working fluid in the high generator

2: working fluid in the low generator

3: working fluid in evaporator

4: working fluid in absorber

5: working fluid in condenser

A: absorber

Page 3 of 52
C: condenser

E: evaporator

G: generator

HP: high pressure

LP: low pressure

env: environment conditions

L: heat leakage

max: maximum

m: at maximum COP

Page 4 of 52
1. Introduction

Absorption refrigeration processes take place in finite-size devices in finite-time;

therefore, it is impossible to meet reversibility conditions between the absorption refrigeration

system and the surroundings. Thus, the classical thermodynamic performance bound couldn’t

properly give the bound of absorption system (Bhardwaj et al., 2003; Kaushik et al., 2002;

Ngouateu Wouagfack and Tchinda, 2013a). For this reason, the finite-time thermodynamics

approach has been introduced to establish the performance bound of absorption system. The

finite-time thermodynamics tends to model real system in a way closer to reality. It enables to

distinguish the irreversibilities due to internal dissipation of the working fluid and that due to

the finite-rate heat transfer between the system, the external heat reservoir and heat-sink. It

tries to bridge the gap between thermodynamics and heat transfer. It deals with

thermodynamic performance optimization of real finite-time and finite-size thermodynamic

systems. The applications of finite-time thermodynamics include all the processes with

thermal phenomena of all devices and systems operating with the constraints of finite-time

and finite-size. The endoreversible cycle is the fundamental physical model adopted in finite-

time thermodynamics. The finite-time thermodynamics has been first proposed by Henri B.

Reitlinger in 1929 (Vaudrey et al., 2014) and later extended to nuclear energy by Chambadal

and Novikov independently in 1957. This method has been popularized in many works

including Curzon and Ahlborn (1975), Leff and Teeters (1978), Blanchard (1980), Bejan

(1982, 1996, 1997), Andresen (1983), Feidt (1987), Sieniutycz and Salamon (1990), De Vos

(1992, 1995), Radcenco (1994), Bejan et al. (1996), Chen et al. (1997), Bejan and Mamut

(1999), Berry et al. (2000), Sieniutycz et al. (2002), Stitou et al. (2001, 2002), Zheng et al.

(2003), Stitou, Feidt (2005),Chen et al. (2011), Li et al. (2013) and Feng et al. (2015a,b,c), in

many review articles including Sieniutycz and Shiner (1994), Hoffmann et al. (1997),

Chen et al. (1999), Durmayaz et al. (2004), Feidt (2013), Qin et al. (2013) and Ngouateu

Page 5 of 52
Wouagfack and Tchinda (2013b) and in books Wu et al. (1999) and Chen and Sun (2004).

Significant results have been obtained and are provided in the literature. In the case of

absorption refrigerators, the optimal operating region of endoreversible (Yan and Chen, 1989;

Chen and Yan, 1993; Chen, 1995; Wijeysundera, 1996; Wu et al., 1997; Ng et al., 1997; Chen

et al., 1997 a, b; Chen et al., 2004, 2011, 2013) and irreversible (Chen and Schouten, 1998;

Chen, 1999; Chen et al., 2002; Zheng et al., 2003a,b, 2004; Chen et al., 2006; Qin et al., 2010;

Ngouateu Wouagfack and Tchinda, 2011a; Ngouateu Wouagfack , 2012) single effect

absorption refrigerator have been established. For double-effect absorption refrigerator

systems, most of the theoretically work considers the mass and energy conversion approach to

calculate the coefficient of performance of the system (Xu and Dait, 1997; Arun et al., 2000,

2001; Ezzine et al.,2004a,b, 2005; Kaushik et al., 2009; Torrella et al., 2009; Arona et al.,

2009; Gebreslassie et al., 2010; Huicochea et al., 2011; Vasilescu et al., 2011; Sedigh and

Saffari, 2011; Farshi et al., 2011, 2012; Shatata et al., 2012; Dominguez-Inzunza et al., 2014;

Li et al., 2014) and the exergy efficiencies (Gomri and Hakimi, 2008; Arona et al., 2009;

Kaushik et al., 2009; Gomri, 2010; Shahata et al., 2012; Farshi et al., 2013a,b). Chua et al.

(2000) used the process average temperature to study the impact of the various dissipative

mechanisms on the inverse of the coefficient of performance (COP-1) . Much work has yet to

be done on the finite-time thermodynamics approach for double-effect absorption

refrigerators except the work of Göktun and Er (2000). They used the finite-time

thermodynamics approach to compare an irreversible double-effect absorption system

affected by three internal irreversibilities parameters with an irreversible cascaded absorption

refrigeration system. They did not establish the bound of the operating region of the system.

In this paper, the finite-time performance of a parallel flow double-effect absorption

refrigerator cycle with losses of heat resistance, heat leakage and internal irreversibility are

Page 6 of 52
derived. The irreversibility parameters and heat leakage effects on the COP and on the ECOP

of the irreversible cycle are investigated.

2. System description

Figure 1 shows the schematic illustration of a parallel flow double-effect system. It is seen in

this figure that the weak solution leaving the absorber is pumped to the low-temperature heat

exchanger (LTHE) after which it is divided into two streams. One stream flows to the HPG

through the high-temperature heat exchanger (HTHE) and the other to the low-pressure

generator (LPG) via EV4. In the LPG, the vapour refrigerant from the high-pressure generator

(HPG) is condensed and its latent heat is utilized to generate water vapour from the weak

solution in the LPG. A high-temperature heat source is used to provide heat to the HPG for

water vapour generation from the weak solution. The strong solution exiting the HPG passes

to the mixing point (P1), where it mixes with the other strong solution from the LPG. The

combined strong solution is passed to the absorber through LTHE and EV3.

3. Physical model

A parallel flow double-effect absorption refrigerator system has five main

components: a high pressure generator, a low pressure generator, an absorber, a condenser

and an evaporator. The system is a five-temperature (temperature in LPG, temperature in

HPG, evaporator temperature, condenser temperature, and absorber temperature) and three-

pressure levels (low pressure in the evaporator and absorber, medium pressure in the

condenser and the low pressure generator, the high pressure in the high pressure generator).

The diagram of a parallel flow double-effect absorption refrigerator system adapted by us is

represented in Fig. 2.

Page 7 of 52
 In this model, Q H P G is the rate of heat absorbed from the heat source at temperature

T H P G to high pressure generator, Q L P G is the rate of heat absorbed from the heat source at

temperature T L P G to low pressure generator, Q C is the heat rejection rate from the condenser

to the heat-sink at temperature TC , Q A is the heat rejection rate from the absorber to the heat-

sink at temperature T A and Q E is the heat input rate from the cooling space at temperature T E

to the evaporator. The work input required by the solution pump is negligible compared to the

energy input to the high and low pressure generator. According to the first law of

thermodynamics, we have (Göktun and Er, 2000):

Q LP G  Q E  Q C  Q A  0 (1)

The performances of an absorption refrigerator system closely depend on the irreversible

factors. We have considered the cycle of the working fluid as a three-irreversible isothermal

process and three-irreversible adiabatic process since the double-effect system is a triple

thermal system. The temperatures of the working fluid in the isothermal processes are

different from those of the external heat reservoirs such that the heat is transferred under a

finite temperature difference. Fig. 3 presents a schematic diagram of an irreversible parallel

flow double-effect absorption refrigerator.

In this figure, T1 and T 2 are respectively the temperatures of the working fluid in the HP

generator and LP generator. T 3 , T 4 and T5 are respectively the temperature of the working

fluid in the absorber, evaporator and condenser. We also considered the existence of heat

leakage from the heat sink to the cooled space denoted Q L .

The heat exchanged between the working fluid and heat reservoirs obey a linear heat

transfer law, such that the equation of heat transfer can be written as:

Page 8 of 52
Q H PG  U H PG AH PG  T H PG  T1  (2)

Q LP G  U LP G ALP G  T 2  T LP G  (3)

Q E  U E AE  T E  T 4  (4)

Q A  U A A A  T3  T A  (5)

Q C  U C AC  T5  TC  (6)

Following the idea developed by Chen and Schouten (1998), the heat-leak of a parallel flow

double-effect system is given by:

.
Q L  K L  T A  T E  TC  T E  T LP G  T E  (7)

where Eqs. (1)-(6) are written like Göktun and Er (2000). In equations (2)-(6), AH P G , ALP G ,

AE , AA and AC are the heat-transfer areas of the HP generator, LP generator , evaporator ,

absorber and condenser respectively, U HPG , U LP G , U E ,U A and UC are the overall heat-

transfer coefficients of the HP generator, LP generator, evaporator, absorber and condenser

respectively.

The total area of heat transfer between the cycle system and the external heat reservoirs is

given by the relationships:

A  AH P G  ALP G  AE  A A  AC (8)

the second law is written as:

. . . . . .
Q H P G T1  Q LP G T LP G  Q E T 4  Q A IT 3  Q LP G IT 2  Q C IT 5  0 (9)

. . .
Q A T 3  Q C T5  Q LP G T 2
where I  . . .
 1 is the internal irreversibility parameter.
Q H P G T1  Q LP G T LP G  Q E T 4

Defining the parameter a as the distribution rate of the total heat reject quantity

between the condenser and the absorber given as:

Page 9 of 52
 . .
a  Q A / QC (10)

and the parameter b as the ratio of the total heat between the HP generator and the LP

generator given as:

Q HPG
b (11)
Q LPG

Using Eqs. (1)-(11), we obtain the coefficient of performance, the specific cooling

load and the specific rate of entropy production of a parallel flow double-effect absorption

refrigerator given by the following equations:

. . .  .
 .  .

Q E Q L QE  QL  QE Q
 1 L 
COP   1 . (12)
. .   .  .

Q HPG Q HPG  Q E  bQ LPG 
QE


where
.
1 1 1 1
b  1  a T1   1  a   T LP G    1  a  IT 2   a  IT 3    IT 5 
1
QE
 (13-a)
1 1
a  IT 3    IT 5    1  a T 4
. 1
Q LP G

. . .
QL  1 bQ LP G Q LP G
   T A  T E  TC  T E  T LP G  T E    
 E E  4
. . .
U T T
QE Q E U H P G  T H P G  T1  Q E U LP G  T 2  T LP G 

 .
  .
 
 Q LPG   Q LPG  
a 1 . 1 .
    
 QE   QE  
   (13-b)
U A  T3  T A  1 a  U C  T5  TC  1 a 





and   K L is the heat leakage coefficient.

A
. . . .
Q E Q L  1 bQ LP G Q LP G
R   
 U E  T E  T4  Q U
. .
A
E H P G  T H P G  T1  Q E U LP G  T 2  T LP G 

10

Page 10 of 52
  .
  .
 
Q Q 
a  1 . L P G   1 L P G 
   .
 
 QE   QE  
      T A  T E  TC  T E  T L P G  T E  (14)
U A  T3  T A  1 a  U C  T5  TC  1 a 





and
 . . . . . .

1  Q A  K L  T A  T E  Q C  K L  TC  T E  Q L P G  K L  T L P G  T E  Q H P G Q L P G Q E  K L  T A  T E  TC  T E  T L P G  T E 
S     
A TA TC TLPG TH PG TLPG TE 
 

  .
  .
 
 
a 1 .
Q LPG   1 .
Q LPG  
 .     
 1 bQ L P G  QE   QE  
   .   
U A  T3  T A  1 a  U C  T5  TC  1 a  
 E  E
U T  T4 
Q E U H P G  T H P G  T1 
 
  
 
1
 .  
 Q E  TC  1  aT A  1  TC  1  aT A  1 1 

1
   T A  T E  TC  T E  T LP G  T E   b THPG 
 .    TE 
   1 a  1 a
  Q LP G  
 
 T  1  aT A  1 1 
1
 
.

 . E   T A  T E  TC  T E  T LP G  T E   C  b THPG  
Q 
   1 a 
 Q LP G   

 T  1  aT A  1 1   TC  1  aT A  1   TC  1  aT A  1 
   T A  TE  C  T A     TC  T E       T LP G  T E  
1 1
 TC  T LP G 
 1 a  1 a 1 a
     
(15)
According to the definition of the general thermo-ecological criterion function (Ust and

Sahin, 2007; Ust, 2009; Ngouateu Wouagfack and Tchinda, 2011a,b, 2013a,b; Ngouateu

Wouagfack, 2012 and Medjo Nouadje et al., 2013, 2014) the new thermo-ecological objective

function called ecological coefficient of performance (ECOP) of a parallel flow double-effect

absorption refrigerator system is written as:

11

Page 11 of 52
 .   . . 
1

Q Q L 1   Q E  TC  1  aT A  1  1  TC
1
 aT A
1
1 
ECOP  E    b THPG    TE 
 . 
.
T env      1 a  1 a 
T env   Q LP G 
 

  .
  .
 
 
a 1 .
Q LPG   1 .
Q LPG  
 . .     
 1 b Q LPG Q LPG  QE   QE  
   .  .   
U A  T3  T A  1 a  U C  T5  TC  1 a  
 E  E
U T  T4 
Q E U H P G  T H P G  T1  Q E U L P G  T 2  T L P G 
 
 
 

1 
  TC  1  aT A  1 1   TC  1  aT A  1 1 
   T A  T E  TC  T E  T LP G  T E    A E 
 T  T  T A   C
  T  T E   TC 
  1 a   1 a 


1
   
1
Q  T  1  aT  1 1   TC  1  aT A  1 1   
  E 
 T A  T E  TC  T E  T LP G  T E   C 1 a A  b  T H P G      T  T 
E   T 
 
LP G LP G
 1 a   
Q  
 LP G 
(16)

1 1
For the sake of convenience, let b1   1 a  bT1 1 , b2   1  a  IT 2  , b3  a  IT 3  ,

1
b4   1  a  T 4  1 and b5   IT5  . Then Eq. (12) may be written as:

 
1  
b1  b2  b3  b5   1  a   T L P G    1
COP  1    T A  T E  T C  T E  T L P G  T E 
b  b 3  b5  b 4    U  T  1 a  
E E b4 
 
  


 
b 3  b5  b 4  b 1 
   
 b  b  b  b  1 a   T
1 2 3 5 LP G 
1
 U 
 HPG  THPG 
1 a  b
b1
  1 a 
 U LP G  T
 Ib2  LP G


    

 
1
b1  b2  b4   1  a   T LP G   a 1  
   (17)
 b1  b2  b3  b5   1  a   T LP G 
1
  1 a   U A  a  T A  U C  1  TC   
 Ib3   Ib5   


12

Page 12 of 52
We obtain the following optimal temperature of the working fluid in the HP generator ( T1 m ),

LP generator ( T 2 m ), evaporator ( T 4 m ), absorber ( T3 m ) and condenser ( T 5 m ) that maximize the

COP:

T1m  T H P G 1 x  1 B   (18)

T 2 m  T LP G 1 y  1 B   (19)

T 3 m  T A 1 z  1 B   (20)

T 4 m  T E 1 w  1 B   (21)

T 5 m  TC B (22)

where

x  U C IU H P G  , y  U C U LP G  , z  U C U A  , w  U C IU E 
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

1

B
az  1  z  I T A   1  a U C I
1 1
 T A  T E  TC  T E  T LP G  T E   w 1 a 1 w T E  1 
1 1
 B1
1
Iw TC  1  a T E  z aTC T A   1  a TC U C   T A  T E  TC  T E  T LP G  T E   1
2 1 2 1 1

B1  1  a  aI  1  w  z  T E  1T A  1  I  1T E 1T C 1 1  a  w  1   a 1  z  T C  1T A  1
2 2 2

   aI 
1
U C  1  a  I  1  1  T A  T E  TC  T E  T L P G  T E  T C   1  a T E
1 1 1 1 1
TA  I (23)

Substituting Eqs. (18)-(22) into Eqs. (12) and (14)-(16) give the maximum coefficient of

performance ( C O Pm ax ), the corresponding ecological coefficient of performance ( E C O Pm ), the

specific cooling load ( R m ) and the specific entropy generation rate ( S m ).

4. Results and discussion

Numerical calculations are carried out by employing the relevant values U HPG=173500

W m-2 K-1, ULPG=171900 W m-2 K-1, UE=449000 W m-2 K-1, UA=379700 W m-2 K-1,

UC=278200 W m-2 K-1 taken from refs. (Chua et al., 2000) and THPG=443 K, TLPG=363 K

TC=303 K, TA=305 K, Tenv=300 K, TE=285 K. Maple software is used to carry out derivation

13

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and to solve polynomial equation. MATLAB software is used for numerical calculations and

to plot the curves.

4.1 Optimization based on the coefficient of performance

Fig.4 presents the variation of the coefficient of performance with respect to the
specific cooling load for different values of internal irreversibility. We obtained a similar
curve that obtained in the case of the single effect by Chen and Yan (1989). It can also be
observed that when the internal irreversibility increases, both the maximum coefficient of
performance and the maximum specific cooling load decrease.

Fig. 5 presents the effect of the heat leakage coefficient on the maximum coefficient of

performance for different values of the internal irreversibility parameter. We can observe that

the COPmax decreases with an increase in the heat leakage coefficient. It can also be seen that

when ξ = 0, that is there is no loss due to heat leakage and when I = 1, the system is

endoreversible and COPmax ≈ 1.32. This value is closer to 1.28 obtained by Chua et al.

(2000).

Fig. 6 presents the effect of the parameter a on the maximum coefficient of

performance for different values of the internal irreversibility parameter. We observe that the

COPmax decreases slightly with an increase in the parameter a, and tends to an asymptotic

value when the parameter a is large. We can conclude that the effect of the parameter a on the

maximum coefficient of performance could then be neglected.

Fig. 7 presents the effect of the parameter b on the maximum coefficient of

performance for different value of the internal irreversibility parameter. We observe that the

COPmax decreases when the parameter b increases. So, when b 1 the maximum of the COP

is very high and this result does not reflect the reality. And when b 1 , the maximum of the

COP tends to reasonable value.

14

Page 14 of 52
Figs. 8 and 9 present the effect of the internal irreversibility on the specific entropy generation

rate and the specific cooling load at the maximum coefficient of performance respectively. As

expected, the specific entropy generation rate increases with the increase in the internal

irreversibility while the specific cooling decreases.

4.2 Optimization based on the ecological coefficient of performance

The variations of the normalized ecop (ecop = ECOP/ECOPm) and cop (cop =

COP/COPmax) with respect to the normalized specific entropy generation rate and the

normalized specific cooling load have been plotted in Figs. 10 and 11 respectively. From

these figures, we can observe that unlike the maximum ECOP and COP for mechanical

compression refrigeration systems (Ust and Sahin, 2007; Ust, 2009) and single effect

absorption refrigeration systems (Ngouateu Wouagfack and Tchinda, 2011a, 2013b) the

maxima ecop and cop for the parallel flow double-effect absorption refrigeration systems do

not occur for the same value of normalized specific entropy generation rate and normalized

specific cooling load.

Another result from the interpretation of these figures is that there also exists a specific

T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 that maximize the ECOP function of parallel flow double-effect

absorption refrigerators for given I and ξ values. Therefore Eq. (16) can be maximized with

respect to T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. This optimization was done numerically.

The variations of the ecological coefficient of performance function for the parallel

flow double-effect absorption refrigerator with respect to the specific cooling load for

different values of a, b, ξ and I is given in Fig. 12. This figure reveals the optimal operating

region of an irreversible parallel flow double-effect absorption refrigerator system. Like in the

case of the single-effect absorption refrigerator, the ECOP-R characteristic curve is loop-

shape passing through the origin and divided into three parts. In positive slope part, the

15

Page 15 of 52
ecological coefficient of performance increases with the increase of the specific cooling load.

In the negative slope part, the ecological coefficient of performance increases with a decrease

in the cooling load. This is normal since the main goal of the ecological optimization consists

of maximizing the ecological coefficient of performance in order to produce a certain amount

of cooling load for a lower entropy generation (Ngouateu Wouagfack and Tchinda, 2011b).

The variations of the ecological coefficient of performance function for the parallel

flow double-effect absorption refrigerator with respect to the specific entropy generation rate

for different values of a, b, ξ and I is given in Fig. 13. It can be observed in this figure that

the ecological coefficient of performance increases with low value of the specific entropy

generation rate and when reached it optimal value it decreases with an increase in the specific

entropy generation rate.

The variations of the ecological coefficient of performance function for the parallel

flow double-effect absorption refrigerator with respect to the coefficient of performance have

been plotted in Fig.14 for different values of a, b, ξ and I. There, we observed that the

ecological coefficient of performance increases with an increase in the coefficient of

performance.

In Fig.12A, Fig.13A and Fig.14A, the ECOP decreases slightly with an increase in a.

Hence, we can see that when the parameter a tends toward infinity, its effect on the

performance of the system is negligible. We also observed that the specific cooling load (fig.

12A) and the coefficient of performance (fig. 14A) decrease slightly with an increase in a.

These relevant optimization parameters do not increase any longer when the parameter a takes

a high value. We can say that as much as the heat release at the absorber is higher than the

heat release at the condenser, the performance of the system is not influenced.

16

Page 16 of 52
 In Figs. 12B, 13B and 14B, when the parameter b increases the maximum of the

ecological coefficient of performance decreases. This result is also observed in the case of the

specific cooling load (Fig. 12B) and the coefficient of performance (Fig. 14B) which decrease

with an increase in parameter b. We notice that the value of the parameter b should be near

1.23 in order to have a higher value of the system performance. For instance, when b=1.4 in

fig. 14B, the maximum of the coefficient of performance is less than 0.5 compared to the

value of 1.2 given in literature.

In Figs.12C, 13C, 14C, 12D, 13D and 14D, the ECOP objective function decreases

when both heat leakage and internal irreversibility increase. Similar observations have been

made in the case of single effect absorption refrigerators (Ngouateu Wouagfack and Tchinda,

2011a,b, 2013b). The higher value of the ECOP is obtained in the endoreversible case

(Figs.12D, 13D and 14D). We also observe that as the heat-leak coefficient and the internal

irreversibility parameter increase the specific cooling load (figs. 12C and 12D) and the

coefficient of performance (figs. 14C and 14D) decreases.

5. Conclusion

The finite-time performance optimization for a parallel flow double-effect irreversible

absorption refrigerator system with the losses of heat resistance, heat leakage, and internal

irreversibility by considering the coefficient of performance (COP) and the ecological

coefficient of performance (ECOP) as objective functions has been investigated in this paper.

The five optimal temperatures of the working fluids in the main components of the system

that maximize the COP function and the corresponding ecological coefficient of performance,

specific cooling load and specific entropy production rate are investigated. Then, it has been

shown that the maxima COP and ECOP do not occur for the same operating conditions. The

effects of internal irreversibility, heat leakage, distribution rate of the total heat reject quantity

between the condenser and the absorber and ratio of the total heat between the HP generator

17

Page 17 of 52
and the LP generator on the general and optimal COP and ECOP have been investigated and

discussed.

18

Page 18 of 52
Acknowledgments

The present research work was carried out in LISIE and LESEE. All the senior researchers of

these laboratories are gratefully acknowledged for their helpful comments. We also thank the

administrators of these laboratories for the opportunity.

19

Page 19 of 52
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Figure 1: parallel flow double-effect absorption refrigerator (Farshi et al., 2012).

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Figure 2: Schematic diagram of a parallel flow double-effect absorption refrigerator

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Figure 3: Schematic diagram of an irreversible parallel flow double-effect absorption
refrigerator

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Figure 4: Variations of COP function with respect to the specific cooling load for different
values of I (a=2.5, b=1.23, =0.7).

33

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Figure 5: Effect of the heat leakage coefficient on COPmax for different values of I (a=2.5,
b=1.23).

34

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Figure 6: Effect of the parameter a on COPmax for different values of I ( =0.7, b=1.23).

35

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Figure 7: Effect of the parameter b on COPmax for different values of I ( =0.7, a=2.5).

36

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Figure 8: Variations of Sm with respect to the internal irreversibility I (b=1.23, a=2.5, =0.7).

37

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Figure 9: Variations of Rm with respect to the internal irreversibility I (b=1.23, a=2.5, =0.7).

38

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Figure 10: Variations of the normalized ECOP and COP with respect to the normalized specific

entropy generation rate (I=1.01, b=1.23, =0.7)

39

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Figure 11: Variations of the normalized ECOP and COP with respect to the normalized
specific cooling load (I=1.01, b=1.23, =0.7)

40

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41

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42

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43

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Figure 12: Variations of ECOP function with respect to the specific cooling load for different
values of (A) a (I=1.01, b=1.23, =0.7), (B) b (I=1.01, a=2.5, =0.7), (C) (I=1.01, a=2.5,
b=1.23) and (D) I (b=1.23, a=2.5, =0.7).

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Figure 13: Variations of ECOP function with respect to the specific entropy generation rate
for different values of A) a (I=1.01, b=1.23, =0.7), (B) b (I=1.01, a=2.5, =0.7), (C)
(I=1.01, a=2.5, b=1.23) and (D) I (b=1.23, a=2.5, =0.7).

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 Figure 14: Variations of ECOP function with respect to the coefficient of performance for
different values of A) a (I=1.01, b=1.23, =0.7), (B) b (I=1.01, a=2.5, =0.7), (C) (I=1.01,
a=2.5, b=1.23) and (D) I (b=1.23, a=2.5, =0.7).

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