Performance comparison of an irreversible closed variable-temperature heat reservoir brayton cycle under maximum power density and maximum power conditions

Abstract

The power density is taken as an objective for performance analysis of an irreversible closed Brayton cycle coupled to variable-temperature heat reservoirs. The analytical formulas about the relationship between power density and working fluid temperature ratio (pressure ratio) are derived with the heat resistance losses in the hot- and cold-side heat exchangers, the irreversible compression and expansion losses in the compressor and turbine, and the effect of the finite thermal capacity rate of the heat reservoirs. The obtained results are compared with those results obtained by using the maximum power criterion. The influences of some design parameters, including the temperature ratio of the heat reservoirs, the effectivenesses of the heat exchangers between the working fluid and the heat reservoirs, and the efficiencies of the compressor and the turbine, on the maximum power density are provided by numerical examples, and the advantages and disadvantages of maximum power density design are analysed. The power plant design with maximum power density leads to a higher efficiency and smaller size. When the heat transfers between the working fluid and the heat reservoirs are carried out ideally and the thermal capacity rates of the heat reservoirs are infinite, the results of this article become similar to those obtained in the recent literature.