Exergy in Processes

Flows and Destruction of Exergy

Exergy of Different Forms of Energy

Chemical Energy
Heat Energy
Pressurised Gas
Electricity
Kinetic Energy

Oxidation of Methane

H = -890.1 kJ/mol
S = -242.8 J/(mol.K)
Exergy available = - H + T0*S
If T0 = 298K, then:
Exergy = 817.9 kJ/mol
Energy quality = 92%

Heat
If T0 = 10C (283K)
Heat at 2000C (2273K), energy quality = 87.5%
Heat at 100C (373K), energy quality = 24.1%
Heat sink at -100C?

Heat
Water at 100C , reference T 10C
As heat is taken from it, its temperature gradually
decreases.
So, the exergy of the first heat removed is that of
heat at 100C (energy quality 24.1%)
The exergy of the last heat removed is that of heat at
just above 10C (energy quality zero)
The average energy quality of all the heat can be
calculated either by doing a mathematical integration
or by looking up thermodynamic data and calculating
the changes in H and in S.
The result is 13%

Heat
Steam at 100C
Step 1 condense steam becomes water at 100C,
about 2260 kJ/kg of enthalpy, all at 100C.
Exergy = 544.7 kJ/kg
Energy quality = 24.1%
Step 2 as for water at 100C
Total Exergy = 594.3 kJ/kg, energy quality = 22.6%

Compressed Air
1 L volume of air at 2 atmospheres pressure,
expanded into 1 L of vacuum
Enthalpy of decompression .. zero!
Entropy change 0.47 J/K
If T0 = 298K, then
Exergy = 139 J
Energy quality. 139/0 ????

Electricity
No entropy
Nothing random about it.
If DC, the voltage is always the same.
If AC, the voltage is completely predictable.

Kinetic Energy
Movement of a body
(Laminar) flow of fluid
both predictable no entropy

Thermal motion
random entropy depends on temperature

Destruction of Exergy

Irreversible events during the process

leak
pressure drop in flowing fluid
heat transfer
friction
electric circuit losses
combustion

Effect of Irreversibility
Reversible only
Endpoint Entropy

With irreversible event

Endpoint Entropy

Reversible

Reversible

S
Irreversible

Reversible
Starting Entropy

Starting Entropy

Exergy Destruction
Reversible Process Only

With Irreversible Event

Enthalpy change H

Enthalpy change H

Entropy change S

Reversible entropy change

S Sirr

Exergy = - H + T0* S

Exergy =
- H + T0* (S Sirr)
Exergy destroyed = T0* Sirr

Exergy Loss
Irreversible event find S
How?

Use literature information on entropy of before and after

states
Look at heat flow from high T to lower
Look at reversible route for the same change and evaluate
the integral of dq/T

Exergy Loss
Example combustion
Definitely irreversible, and generally no work or heat transfer
take place during the event
Gases react, forming combustion products
Use H to calculate temperature achieved
Get entropy numbers for products
Compare total entropy of products with entropy of the starting
materials at the starting temperature
Result is the entropy change its all irreversible if there is no
heat transfer
Exergy loss is T0 S

Exergy Loss
Example heat transfer

Heat q moves from reservoir at T1 to reservoir at T2

Entropy of first reservoir decreases by q/T1
Entropy of second reservoir increases by q/T2
Increase is q(1/T2 1/T1)
Exergy loss is T0 * q(1/T2 1/T1)

Exergy Loss
Ideal gas expands to double its volume (leak)
What is an equivalent reversible process?
Isothermal expansion, doing work (heat in, work out)
If n moles of gas are at pressure P, temperature T, then work
out is: nRT ln(2)
heat in is also nRT ln(2)
So: S = nR ln(2)

Exergy loss = T0 nR ln(2)

Basic Heat Power Cycle

Heat in

Pressure high

Power in
Pump

Motor
Power out

Pressure low

Heat out

Power Plant the Exergy View

Steam

Turbine
Power

Air

Gas
Boiler

Exhaust

Condenser

Cooling Water

Water
Pump

1 - Combustion
Burn methane in just sufficient air to provide the
oxygen required. (Start at 25C, 298K)
Temperature reaches 1950C, 2223K.
Entropy increase from start is 802.0 J/(mol.K). This
is an irreversible process.
Exergy destruction is 239.0 kJ/mol, or 29% of the
starting exergy.

Combustion
Energy loss - nil
Methane, 25C
Gases, 1950C
Flame
Air, 25C
Exergy loss 29%

2 Heat Transfer
Hot gases from combustion transfer heat to water at
25C, making steam at 538C and critical pressure
(217.7 atm)
Combustion gases cooled to 25C, and water
condensed
Gas entropy decreases by 1060.3 J/K per mol of
methane
Water entropy increases by 1661.4 J/K per mol of
methane
Net entropy increase of 601.1 J/K per mol of methane
Exergy destruction 179.1 kJ/mol, or 22% of the
starting exergy.
Total destroyed so far is 51%

Heat Transfer
Gases + condensed
water, 25C

Gases, 1950C
Heat
Exchanger
Steam, 538C, 217atm

Water, 25C, 217atm

Turbine and Condenser

A big steam turbine can extract 80-90% of the
theoretically available energy
In this example, the turbine might produce work
equivalent to 30% of the exergy, and destroy 7%.
Condensers have big heat flows, but at temperatures
not much above ambient, so exergy losses there are
about 3%

Power Plant Energy Flows

Other Losses 3
Stack 5

Fuel 100

Steam 95
Boiler

Turbine

Shaft Power 32

Steam 60

Condenser

Cooling Water 60

Power Plant Exergy Flows and

Destruction
Stack 2
Fuel 92

Other Losses 1
Steam 43

65
27

Shaft Power 32

20
7

Combustion

Heat
Transfer

Turbine

Steam 3
2

Condenser

Cooling Water 1

Gas Turbine
Air is compressed
Natural gas is burned in the compressed air
A turbine takes power from the hot compressed air
There is still combustion, but no heat exchanger

Gas Turbine
Gas in
Turbine Inlet Temperature 1000 C
Air in

Shaft power
Compressor, 15x, 85% efficient

Shaft power out

Turbine, 85% efficient

Gas Turbine Energy Flows

Gas in 100
Turbine Inlet Temperature 1000 C
Air in

59

159

Shaft power 59
Compressor, 15x, 85% efficient

Heat out 68

Shaft power out 32

Turbine, 85% efficient

Gas Turbine Exergy Flows and

Destruction
Gas in 92
Turbine Inlet Temperature 1000 C
54

Air in

31

115

Heat out 16
8

Shaft power 59
Compressor, 15x, 85% efficient

Shaft power out 32

Turbine, 85% efficient

Home Furnace Losses 1st Law

Exhaust 5

Fuel 100

Heat to Building 95

Home Furnace Exergy Flows and

Destruction

Exhaust 1
Combustion

27
Fuel 92

Heat Transfer
58
Heat to Building 6

Energy Efficiency
Usually defined as the fraction of energy that goes
where you want it to.
The denominator is the enthalpy available
The numerator is the electricity produced, the heat
that goes to the purpose intended, a total of the two
(cogeneration)

Apples and Oranges

Power generation 50% is very good
House furnace 70% is very poor!
Its easy to avoid energy losses
Its very difficult to avoid exergy destruction.

Exergy Analysis
Levels the energy playing field
Consistent method to present the value of energy
that is in different forms
Choice of reference temperature depends on the
purpose of the analysis