Performance of a four-reservoir chemical potential transformer with irreversible mass transfer and mass leakage

A new cyclic model of a four-reservoir chemical potential transformer with irreversible mass transfer and mass leakage is put forward. The fundamental optimal relation between the coefficient of performance (COP) and the rate of energy pumping, the maximum rate of energy pumping and the corresponding COP, as well as the maximum COP and the corresponding rate of energy pumping are derived by using finite-time thermodynamics. Moreover, the optimal times of the four mass transfer processes and the optimal chemical potentials of th working fluid are also obtained. The results obtained herein are of importance to the optimal design of a four-reservoir chemical potential transformer. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.