Finite-time heat-transfer analysis and ecological optimization of an endoreversible and regenerative gas-turbine power-cycle

This paper deals with the application of finite-time heat-transfer theory to optimize ecologically the power output of an endoreversible and regenerative gas-turbine power-cycle for infinite thermal-capacitance rates to and from the reservoirs. The expressions for power, thermal efficiency, and exergetic efficiency corresponding to the maximum ecological function for the gas-turbine cycle are presented. The effects of regeneration and hot–cold temperature ratio on power, entropy-generation rate, thermal efficiency and exergetic efficiency, all at the maximum ecological function, are determined. It is shown that both the power output and entropy-generation rate are increased significantly by the use of regenerators, and increase monotonically with an increase with hot/cold temperature ratio. The results further indicate that the thermal efficiency and exergetic efficiency are decreased by the use of regenerators and rise with an increase in the temperature ratio. By the introduction of the ecological function, the improvements in exergetic efficiency and thermal efficiency are evident.