Question

A freezer is maintained at 20°F by removing heat from it at a rate of 75 Btu/min. The power input to the freezer is 0.70 hp, and the surrounding air is at 75°F. Determine (a) the reversible power, (b) the irreversibility, and (c) the second-law efficiency of this freezer.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Cop of reversible refrigerator = TL / ( TH - TL)

TL = low temperature of freezer = 20 °F

TH = temperature of air around = 75 °F

Heat removal rate QL = 75 Btu/min

W actual, power input = 0.7 hp

conversion on F to kelvin = (T (°F) + 460 ) × 5 / 9

COP ( coefficient of performance) reversible = (20 + 460) × 5/9 / (5/9 ( ( 75 +460) - (20 + 460) ))

COP reversible = 480 / 55 = 8.73

irreversibility expression, I = W actual - W rev

COP r = QL / Wrev

W rev = QL / COP r where 75 Btu/min = 1.76856651 hp where W actual = 0.70 hp

a) W rev = 1.76856651 hp / 8.73 = 0.20258 hp is reversible power

I = W actual - W rev

b) I = 0.7 hp - 0.20258 hp = 0.4974 hp

c) the second-law efficiency of this freezer = W rev / W actual = 0.20258 hp / 0.7 hp = 0.2894 × 100 = 28.94 %