Performance analysis of a new hybrid cooling-drying system

In this study, the Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT)-aided hybrid cooling and drying system (RHVTHCD), nonhybrid cooling and drying system (NCDS), and RHVT-aided hybrid cooling and drying system in which used the input stream of RHVT is obtained from the different system as a waste (RHVTHCDW) were investigated using energy and exergy analysis. In this aim, many systems were designed and evaluated with net present value (NPV) in the viewpoint of life cycle cost (LCC). Additionally, several RHVTs with the 9 different helical vortex generators, 3 different control valve angle (=30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees), 3 different vortex tube body (480, 350, and 210 mm), 5 different opening position of the control valve, and 5 different inlet flow pressure of RHVT (201.325-601.325 kPa) were performed experimentally. The cold outlet flow of RHVT was integrated to the vapor compression system with a heat exchanger, where the hot one was integrated in the drying system. The energy and exergy efficiencies of RHVTHCD system increase with the increase of the evaporator temperature. The maximum NPV value of the RHVTHCD system obtained was 37256.63 Euro. The highest energy and exergy efficiencies were calculated as 24.74% and 9.69%, respectively. (c) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1808-1828, 2018