Thermoeconomical analysis of a non-endoreversible Novikov power plant model under different regimes of performance

In this work, we study the thermoeconomics of a non-endoreversible simplified thermal power plant model, the so-called Novikov engine. Our study is made by means of the maximization of objective functions defined by the quotient of the characteristic functions (power output, efficient power and ecological function) and the total costs considered in the performance of the power plant. In our study three different costs are considered: a capital cost that is proportional to the investment and, therefore, to the size of the plant, a fuel cost that is proportional to the fuel consumption and a cost associated to maintenance of the power plant; that is, proportional to the power output of the plant. It is shown that under ecological conditions the plant dramatically reduces the amount of heat rejected to the environment, and a loss of profits is translated in an usage of fuels that dramatically reduces the heat rejected towards the environment in comparison to that obtained by means of maximum power regime.