Thermoeconomic analysis of steel heat treatment

ABSTRACTA method combining 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics was used for this study whichexamines the economic analysis of the vacuum heat treatment furnace. Separate analyses wereperformed for heating and quenching processes of the vacuum furnace and their results wereinterpreted.There are two steps in the exergy analysis. These are exergy and exergo-economic analyses.Separate ca1culations for each unit were performed for heating and quenching processes inthe exergy analysis. The exergies of heat transfers that are generated via radiation andconvection during heating process were calculated. Moreover input and output exergies werecalculated and presented in the forms of tables. On the other hand, financial expenses werecalculated by utilizing relevant equations in the exergo-economic analysis. The damagedexergy and thermodynamic factor were calculated by means of financial expenses andimprovement opportunities in the system were determined by evaluating these values.The implementation of the thermodynamic and exergy analyses on a system was examined inthis study. The objective is to ensure maximum utilization of the energy. Exergy losses orthermodynamic factors should be examined in order to interpret how the improvement wouldbe made. Another point that should not be disregarded is the necessity of the equipmentsselected for the maximum utilization of energy having longevity.Keywords: Exergy analyse, Second law analyse, coastal law, Thermoeconomic analyse,Vacuum heat treatment furnace