The effect of heat exchanger effectiveness and exergy loss in the estimation of cycle efficiency

Abstract

The effect of heat exchanger effectiveness on cycle efficiency is well known. But the relationship between exergy loss in heat exchangers and the effectiveness is less well documented. In this paper the relationship is explored; it is shown how the exergy loss in the heat exchanger is changed as effectiveness is altered. It is also shown how the exergy losses in other components of the recuperative gas turbine cycle are changed, together with the overall cycle performance, as the effectiveness is varied.