Thermoeconomic Analysis of Supplies Air Ductworks for Air Conditioning System

Abstract

Energy savings in air-conditioning systems are paramount to energy conservation in buildings. In the case of a large building, a central air-conditioning system install air ductwork to deliver air to the air-conditioned area. The selection of air duct type depends on the usage characteristics, budget, and project owner's needs. The different types of air ducts cause various energy losses, directly affecting energy costs. So, it is necessary to study energy consumption and energy loss together, the cost of air duct construction, and the cost of air ducts' electrical energy in the air-conditioning system to realize the energy conservation of the system. This research thus establishes an objective function to show the relationship between exergy loss, the thermodynamic variable, and total cost, the economic variable. Then use the optimization method to identify the optimal type, sizing, and the most suitable air duct types for air-conditioning systems in Thailand's buildings. The prototype system design developed in this research will aid engineers in constructing sustainable air ducts in air-conditioning systems, thereby facilitating subsequent projects.

Keywords: Ductwork, Cost, Objective function, Exergy, Thermoeconomic