Thermoeconomic optimization of a heat pump system

We present the application of thermoeconomics to the optimization of a single-stage heat-pump cycle. The method is well suited for application to thermodynamic processes and yields exergy losses. The marginal cost of an arbitrary variable can also be calculated. The efficiencies of the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and electric motor are chosen as the decision variables which are to be optimized. Parameters such as the price of electricity and the temperature of the delivered heat may vary among optimizations, and results are presented for different parameter values.