This paper goes further with the aim at demonstrating the capabilities of the thermoeconomic approach to the diagnosis of energy utility systems. This paper deals with a common vocabulary, definitions of concepts and mathematical principles, and above all, focuses on the concept of malfunction,...

This work is the first part of a wider project aiming at demonstrating the capabilities offered by the thermoeconomic approach to the diagnosis of malfunctions in energy utility systems (TADEUS problem). The final goal is to create a common basis of work for people interested in applying...

There is growing concern about the decline of the ore grade in mines and the increased energy usage for processing and refining metals. In the limit, where no concentrated deposits exist, minerals must be obtained from bare rock. A method for quantitatively assessing the "free bonus" granted by...

The thermoeconomic diagnosis in operating power plants is more and more being demanded by the users of the same ones. Nevertheless, in spite of the efforts to unify the techniques or tactics of diagnosis, it seemed that we are even far from standardizing the analytical procedures to do it....

The present work is focused on the thermodynamic optimization of organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) for power generation and CHP from different average heat source profiles (waste heat recovery, thermal oil for cogeneration and geothermal). The general goal is to provide optimization guidelines for a...

An alternative way of increasing and improving the use of biomass resources and distributed generation is by using combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) small-scale plants. The first step in designing a CCHP plant is to determine the best configuration in terms of the thermodynamic...

NOX emission behavior of three different pelletized energy crops, a herbaceous one, Brassica carinata, a short rotation coppice, Populus sp., and a blend of them, was assessed during fixed grate conversion. Measurements of NOX emissions were done at combustion conditions that yielded both...