Conventional and advanced exergy analysis of a novel wind-to-heat system

Exergy analysis are carried out on a novel 100 kW wind-to-heat system to investigate the thermodynamic performances by employing the experimental data. Nine different combinations of the wind speed and water flow rate are selected as the typical operating conditions. Through the conventional exergy analysis, the wind turbine accounts for the most of the system's total exergy destruction at high wind speeds. In terms of the heat pump subsystem, the compressor is the most critical component, followed by the condenser. For further obtaining the optimal design directions of the key components, the advanced exergy analysis is applied to this system. By establishing the mathematical model, the exergy analysis of the ideal conditions, experimental conditions and unavoidable conditions are compared. Averagely 87.32% exergy destruction of the compressor is endogenous and avoidable, which can be decreased by optimizing the internal structure parameters. The average proportions of the avoidable exergy and endogenous exergy destruction of the condenser are 57.48% and 68.41%, respectively. Both the internal parameters of the condenser and interactions with other components must be taken into consideration. The optimizing potential of the wind-to-heat system through exergy analysis methods can be used for further research and improvement of the system.